Origin of 3 rabid terrestrial animals in raccoon rabies virus-free zone, Long Island, New York, USA, 2016-2017

Abstract

During 2016-2017, three rabid terrestrial animals were discovered in the raccoon rabies virus-free zone of Long Island, New York, USA. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed the likely origins of the viruses, enabling the rabies outbreak response (often costly and time-consuming) to be done less expensively and more efficiently.