Rabies Alert Issued In Westchester County After 25 Cases Reported
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY (WCBS 880) - There have been 25 rabies cases in Westchester County this year - the most in the state. But that is on par with previous years.
WCBS 880's Sean Adams In Briarcliff Manor
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By comparison, neighboring Rockland and Putnam counties have had none.
Recent cases seem to be clustered north of the Tappan Zee Bridge, along the Hudson River.
There has been a rabid kitten in Mount Pleasant (near the entrance from Saw Mill River Road/Route 100 to Route 9A North), a skunk in Sleepy Hollow (in Rockefeller State Park), and a woodchuck in Ossining (in the vicinity of Morningside Drive, between Nord Circle and Ridgeview Drive).
LINK: Rabies Warning From Westchester Health Dept.
Last month, a rabid gray fox attacked people, and got into Susan Johnson's home in Briarcliff Manor.
"He kicked this thing off of her, my neighbor, and it went running at us, and then it jumped on to my mother-in-law's pants and she shook it off and it ran in the house," she tells WCBS 880 reporter Sean Adams. "It was terrifying. I mean, the night before had been awful, with my neighbor, and then to have it fighting with my dog, it was just...like 'Are you kidding me?' This can't get get anymore insane. This is a crazy story."
The fox bit four people, two dogs, leaped off a wall and invaded Johnson's house, where it holed up while animal control officers surrounded it.
Rabid animals are dangerous because they are dying and demented. They can be passive, but also very aggressive.
Experts warn if you see any animal acting strangely, keep your distance. If it bites you, make sure the authorities can find it to make sure it isn't diseased and you can get treatment before it's too late.
Health officials say make sure your pets are vaccinated and if you have bats in your home, trap them for testing.
Are you concerned about the rabies incidents in the area? Sound off in our comments section.
