Nassau County is warning residents about the rise of rabies. The Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat Monday over the spread of rabies among wild animals.

Nassau County health officials have declared an “imminent public health threat” over rabies. Officials made the formal declaration Tuesday, July 22, after confirming two dozen rabies cases among raccoons and feral cats.

Authorities in one Long Island county are issuing an imminent public health threat over a concerning rise in the number of cases of rabies, a disease local health officials say they eradicated nearly a decade ago.