Nassau County is warning residents about the rise of rabies. The Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat Monday over the spread of rabies among wild animals.

Raccoons with rabies have been detected across Long Island since last summer, according to health officials in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Nassau County reported seven cases of rabid animals in 2024,

Rabies is now an "imminent public health threat" in Nassau County, officials said Monday, warning residents to protect their pets and stay away from wild animals. Surveillance shows the virus is circulating throughout the county, which has collected and confirmed 25 rabid animals since July 2024. That number includes both raccoons and feral cats.