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Division of Public Health

Ground Baiting begins Sep. 3 and ends Sep. 12, 2008. Aerial Baiting begins on Sep. 11 and ends on Sep. 15, 2008 Suffolk County Rabies Baiting Program In an effort to contain the spread of terrestrial rabies on Long Island and potentially eliminate the virus from local wildlife, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health, the NY State Police Aviation Unit (Cornell University) and the US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, will begin distributing one inch square fish-meal baits containing an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) from both County vehicles and a helicopter.
Click the map for a Hi-Res map of the latest ground baiting areas.
About Rabies Rabies is one of the oldest known viral diseases, yet today it remains a significant wildlife-management and public-health challenge. Rabies affects the central nervous system of unvaccinated animals that are exposed to the virus and is nearly always fatal to humans if they become infected and are not vaccinated (i.e. post exposure prophylaxis or PEP). One recently documented case is the only known survivor. Estimate of 60,000 human fatalities per year worldwide. While endemic dog rabies is of major concern worldwide, rabies control programs have reduced the number of dog rabies cases in the United States to less than 200 per year.
Efficacy of ORV
Since 1995, there have been nearly 55 million doses of RabOral V-RG® distributed in 14 states and Canada; 63 million doses have been dispersed worldwide. RabOral V-RG® is currently the only effective oral vaccine licensed for use in free-ranging raccoons, gray foxes, and coyotes in the United States.	If you come across a piece, call the number printed on the bait.
For more information on rabies, visit the New York State Department of Health website at http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/rabies/rabies.htm, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/, or call the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Rabies Hotline at (631) 853-8405 weekdays from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.