'Zombie Virus' Fears Cause Dog Leash Rule In Central Park

CENTRAL PARK, NY — Central Park is like heaven to dogs, but the city is warning dog owners of letting their pets run free following an outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus among the park's raccoon population.

The city Parks and Health departments issued an advisory Thursday "strongly recommending" that all dogs — regardless of whether they've been vaccinated for the disease — be kept on their leashes while walking through the park.

"If you are visiting Central Park, we strongly recommend that any dogs be kept on leashes, especially during dawn and dusk, due to a distemper outbreak affecting raccoons in the park. This illness cannot be transmitted to humans," the advisory reads.

The advisory was issued after it was found that two dogs that were off-leash had run ins with raccoons in the park, city officials said. The two dog vs. raccoon altercations occurred Wednesday and Thursday, and resulted in pet owners being scratched by the rodents, city officials said.

The death toll among Central Park's raccoons has risen to 85 as of Thursday, according to city officials. None of the dead animals tested positive for rabies.

Humans are not affected by Canine Distemper Virus but are warned not to interact with wildlife in the park. If bit by a raccoon, one should wash the wound with soap and water and get tested for rabies, parks officials said.

The first two raccoons who died of distemper were found on June 24 at East 72nd Street and on June 28 at East 102nd street, a Parks Department spokeswoman said. None of the animals have tested positive for rabies, which leads parks officials to believe there's no threat to humans.

Most pets receive vaccinations for the virus, but pets whose immunizations are not up to date are at risk of infection.

"Canine distemper outbreaks in local raccoon populations can signal increased risk for pet dogs in the area," reads the American Veterinary Medical Foundation's website.

Other wildlife in the park such as skunks are also vulnerable to the virus, officials said. The disease spreads through contact with infected saliva, urine and feces. Canine Distemper Virus is likened to a "zombie virus" because it can make animals display strange behavior.

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