Rabies cases surge across New York City, raising public safety concerns
A growing wildlife threat is raising concerns across the Big Apple as a surge in rabies cases is putting New Yorkers on notice.
NEW YORK CITY – A growing wildlife threat is raising concerns across the Big Apple as a surge in rabies cases is putting New Yorkers on notice.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system when transmitted from infected mammals to others and is invariably fatal once symptoms appear.
So far in New York City, there have been 34 reported cases of rabies, according to state officials.
Staten Island has been the main hotspot, as there have been 15 total animals infected with rabies, with 12 of them being raccoons and 3 skunks.
Raccoons account for the majority of reported rabies cases across New York City, making up 26 of the 34 infected animals.
Rabies is most often seen among animals such as raccoons, bats, and foxes.
AMERICA'S 10 RATTIEST CITIES REVEALED — AND THE NO. 1 SPOT MAY SURPRISE YOU
State officials warn you to look out for these symptoms if you suspect an animal has rabies:
It is unclear what has led to the surge in the deadly disease, but this is a significantly higher number of cases when compared to last year, which recorded 22 total cases of animals testing positive for rabies.
It is clear that this poses an increased risk to New Yorkers and all animals across all five boroughs.
In fact, two people were treated for rabies in 2025 after exposure to a rabid bat: one person was bitten inside their home, and another while working at an animal shelter.
WATCH: MASSIVE ALLIGATOR, DISPLACED BY RECENT FLORIDA FLOODING, LUNGES AT DEPUTIES
New Yorkers should avoid any wild animals and be sure to vaccinate pets against rabies for safety.
The post Rabies cases surge across New York City, raising public safety concerns appeared first on Fox Weather
