Seneca County, NY- Seneca County Health Department would like to inform residents of an increase in rabies cases over the last few months. This summer, three confirmed cases which involved two raccoons and one fox resulted in seven individuals receiving medical treatment and rabies shots, and four domestic animals receiving rabies booster shots and treatment. Rabies is a viral disease that can be spread to animals or humans by means of a bite or a scratch from an infected animal or bat. Rabies is deadly if medical care is not received before symptoms start.
If you or your pet have been exposed to an animal that could carry rabies, including wild animals, such as racoons, skunks, foxes, feral cats, or bats, contact the Seneca County Environmental Health Division immediately for guidance at 315-539-1945 during normal business hours. After business hours, please call the Seneca County E-911 Center and ask for the Environmental Health personnel on call. If you discover a bat in your home and you believe you or your pet may have been exposed, do not release or discard the bat, until you have discussed the situation with Seneca County Environmental Health.
It is required by New York State law to have all domesticated pets vaccinated against rabies. To assist in these efforts, the Seneca County Environmental Health Division will be holding two FREE rabies vaccination clinics:
- Tuesday, August 27th, 6:30pm at the Ovid Fire Department, 2136 Brown Street, Ovid, NY 14521
- Friday, October 25th, 6:00pm at the Waterloo Fire Department, 39 East Water Street, Waterloo, NY 13165
Pre-registration is required. To register, please call 315-539-1671 or visit: www.senecacountyhealthdepartment.com and click on the 2024 Drive-Thru Rabies Clinic flyer. Space is limited for each clinic, so register today!
