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.
Keywords: Long Island; New York; United States; epidemiology; oral rabies vaccination; phylogenetic analyses; phylogeny; rabies; rabies-free zone; raccoon variant; viruses; whole-genome sequencing; wildlife surveillance; zoonoses.