State to bait for rabid raccoons

Due to an increasing rate of rabid raccoons being found in Queens and Long Island, the New York State Department of Health has announced that they will be conducting a baiting initiative beginning on September 13 to combat the dangerous virus.
The Department of Health, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services and Nassau and Suffolk County Health Departments, will be distributing bait containing rabies vaccine for raccoons. The Queens neighborhoods of Little Neck, Bayside, Douglaston, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Oakland Gardens, Bellerose, Hollis Hills and Queens Village will be affected, in addition to most of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
The initiative is of concern to residents because the bait, which is a small brown cube filled with a packet of liquid rabies vaccine, can be easily ingested by pets and children. It is recommended that pets be kept on leashes at all times and that children are watched over carefully. The packets will be distributed on state and federal ground, and so special attention should be paid to children and pets at parks.
The bait will immunize raccoons of rabies to prevent the spread of the disease to other humans and animals, and will attract them via scent. When consumed by dogs and cats, the vaccine cubes may cause some vomiting, but side effects should be minimal. However if ingested by a human, medical attention should be sought immediately. The vaccine does not contain rabies, but it does contain another virus that can cause rashes and in rare cases infection, and so bare skin contact is not recommended.
It is also advised by the NYS Department of Health that if anyone finds one of the bait capsules, they not handle it but instead kick it beneath trees or shrubbery.
Although the baiting will end on September 23, the Department of Health advises citizens to keep aware of the potential hazards of the bait until September 29.