Oneida County Rabies Cases Up 75% in 2026: 14 Confirmed So Far
Rabid animals have turned up this fall in Rome, South Utica, Vernon, Deansboro, Chadwicks and Westmoreland, so the risk isn't limited to rural back roads. A current rabies shot for your dog or cat is the simplest protection.
Oneida County has confirmed 14 rabies cases in animals so far this year, up from 8 at this point in 2025, WKTV reported on Nov. 10. That's a 75% jump.
Think you or your pet were exposed? Call the Oneida County Health Department at 315-798-5064.
County public health director Dan Gilmore said a mild fall that keeps people and animals outside longer may be part of the reason. He also noted that the virus spreads through saliva, so a bite isn't the only risk: a pet that licks its paws after tangling with a rabid animal can carry it.
Recent local cases:
- A fox near Stevens Field in Rome (our story)
- A raccoon in Vernon (our story)
- A raccoon in Deansboro
- A bat in South Utica
- A bat and a raccoon in Chadwicks and Westmoreland
The county posts low-cost pet vaccination clinics at oneidacountyny.gov/rabies.
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Coming up
- Rome· Shopping $5; opening gala $30 ($25 each for two or more); Ladies Night $15Holiday House 2026 at the Carpenter Center in Rome, Nov. 13–22: Gala, Ladies Night & Weekend Shopping
- Utica· FreeVictorian Groove-tide: Munson's '60s Holiday Show at Fountain Elms in Utica, Nov. 13–Jan. 3
- Herkimer· Not published; tickets sold on EventbriteHerkimer Originals 2026–27 Home Games at DNA Evolution, East Herkimer: Next Up Sat., Nov. 14, 3 p.m.