It’s a disease that’s so serious that only 14 people have ever survived it. Now that the number of reported non-human rabies cases has skyrocketed in Nassau County, its health commissioner has declared it to be an imminent public health threat to residents through animal transmission.

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 declared that the spread of rabies has become an "imminent public health threat" after afflicted animals from Queens have made their way onto Long Island, reigniting a problem that has been locally dormant for years.