Press Releases

The Oneida County Health Department reported today that one horse located in the town of Lee, tested positive for the Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE). The horse died on September 30, 2019.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious viral disease spread by mosquitoes that can affect people and horses. EEE is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes will then occasionally feed on horses, humans and other mammals. EEE is not spread person-to-person, from people to animals or from animals (other than mosquitoes) to people.

Oneida County Health Department Services Will Reach More Residents
Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that the New York State Department of Health has lowered threshold Blood Lead Levels for home inspections and educational services.
Beginning Oct. 1, NYSDOH will require local health departments to provide home inspections and educational services to families with children who have Blood Lead Levels (BLLs) which are 5 mcg/dL or greater. Previously, these services were provided to families with children who had BLLs which were 15 mcg/dL or higher.

Oneida County Working to Keep Pets & Families Safe
With World Rabies Day occurring on Sept. 28, Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. is urging residents to “Vaccinate to Eliminate” in order to keep their pets and families safe.
“World Rabies Day is a good opportunity to remind our residents to ensure their pets are current on their vaccinations,” Picente said. “Every ten minutes, someone in the United States is treated for possible exposure to rabies. We will continue to fight each day to reduce exposure here in Oneida County with education, vaccination clinics and treatment information and options.”

Oneida County Health Department Urging Owners to Keep Pets Updated on Vaccinations
A skunk has tested positive for rabies in the Town of Bridgewater. The skunk was sent to the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center for testing on Monday, September 16th, where positive results were reported yesterday. The skunk was killed by resident, and no humans were exposed to it.

Awareness Raised as Part of Child Passenger Safety Week
As part of national Child Passenger Safety Week, Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. is urging parents to make sure their children are in the correct car seat and that it’s installed and used properly.
“This week is the perfect opportunity to remind parents to take a moment to ensure their kids are safely secured in any vehicle they ride in,” Picente said. “We need to be sure all children are riding as safely as possible, every trip, every time. Their lives could depend on it.”

Free Vegetables Offered for August’s ‘Tasteful Tuesdays’
Oneida County is harvesting an abundance of fresh produce from garden boxes planted earlier this spring, and will be offering free vegetables to Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible residents during “Tasteful Tuesdays” this August.
Three planter boxes located on the southwest side of the County Office Building in Utica were maintained since spring by volunteers in the Oneida County Employee Wellness Program. They are now yielding an abundant crop of vegetables including kale, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, beans, peas, arugula, radishes and tomatoes.