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Are The Rabid Raccoons Coming For Us?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 30, 2010
Modified Jan 30, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 30, 2010
Modified Jan 30, 2010
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Back in December the Department of Health issued an alert regarding rabid raccoons taking over Central Park. Their warning stemmed from having serious intel on at least three rabid raccoons in the area. They warned New Yorkers to stay away from any raccoons, skunks, bats, stray dogs and cats—because the rabies could be spreading and we'd pretty much be looking at an I Am Legend scale outbreak if it crossed over to humans. (The last human case of rabies in the city was back in 1953.)
Now CNN reports that authorities and medical experts warned the public yesterday that a rabies outbreak in Central Park could spread from raccoons to humans... and that there are now at least 28 rabid raccoons in the area!
For their part, the DoH is working with the Parks Department to increase surveillance and vaccinate wild raccoons in Central Park, Morningside Park and Riverside Park. One expert told them: "Urban ecosystems sometimes have the ideal measures. When you get an infectious agent like rabies, it tends to have these untoward effects, meaning an outbreak." In other words: we are screwed, because there are no predators taking these suckers out.
Tagged
animals
central park
doh
outbreak
rabies
raccoons
warning
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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