Press Releases

Rabies is a deadly disease that kills both animals and humans. When untreated, the rabies virus is almost always fatal. Fortunately, rabies is also almost 100 percent preventable. The Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) would like to help members of the public take the necessary steps to stay clear of exposure to rabies.

In the Town of Kirkland, a person was bitten by a cat that was acting sick and aggressive. The cat was tested this week. The cat was rabid.

Mosquitoes usually are considered a nuisance pest, but occasionally they can transmit viruses to people and some animals. These viruses can cause illness and even death.

While sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect individuals of all ages, STDs take a particularly heavy toll on young people. Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that youth ages 15-24 make up just over one quarter of the sexually active population, but account for half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur in the United States each year. May and June are prom season months, a time to get educated and tested for STDs. Some of the most common STDs are chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhea.

Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) has received its first notification of a confirmed case of Zika virus in the County; the person acquired the disease while travelling to South America and at this time, there is no threat to public health in Oneida County. It is important to keep in mind that the infection occurred, not locally, but in a country where the Zika virus is prevalent. In fact, to date, no local transmissions (person who has not traveled recently gets bitten by an infected mosquito where they live) have been reported in the U.S.

In the Town of Whitestown, a person was bitten by a cat that was sick and needed help. Individuals brought the cat to a vet; the vet determined the cat was too sick to treat. The cat was euthanized and sent for rabies testing. The cat was rabid.