Press Releases

The New York State Department of Health and the Oneida County Health Department are urging residents to avoid the risk of rabies and rabies treatment by capturing and submitting for testing any bat found in their home that may have had contact with humans or their pets.

The DEC recently received a report of a likely cyanobacteria HAB (Harmful Algae Bloom) on Otter Lake in Oneida County. Although the size of the bloom is small and localized, exposure to any cyanobacteria HAB’s can cause health effects in people and animals when water with blooms is touched, swallowed, or when airborne droplets are inhaled. This is true regardless of toxin levels; some blue-green algae produce toxins, while others do not.

The Oneida County Health Department announced today that the Village of Camden won the 2018 Tap Water Taste Contest. The contest was held at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. The contest promotes awareness of the value of public drinking water to the public. The contest has been held throughout New York State for the past 21 years. Its goal is to enable the general public to become aware of the value and the quality of public tap water through a non-scientific and publicly involved competition.

The Oneida County Health Department is reminding people to be safe and proactive this summer when it comes to water recreation and pools and beaches.

The Oneida County Health Department wants to remind of the importance of staying safe if using fireworks.

Giant Hogweed is a public health hazard that ranks higher than poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac in respect to its potential to harm humans. The reason for concern is that the sap from this plant can cause a severe skin reaction known as photo-sensitivity. The reaction can happen up to 48 hours after contact. After coming in contact with the sap, the skin blisters when exposed to sunlight. Contact with the eyes can lead to temporary or possibly permanent blindness