Press Releases

As a part of National PrepaAthon! Day the Oneida County Health Department is releasing its animated B’Ready Family “Walk the World Prepared” YouTube disaster preparedness videos in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bosnian, Russian, Karen and Burmese.

Giant Hogweed is a public health hazard that ranks up there 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

Lisa Worden, Oneida County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator was selected as a 2015 New York State Public Health Works! Honor Roll awardee. Lisa was selected for the award based on her dedication to the field of public health and her exceptional contributions to public health, preparedness, and community health assessment in Oneida county and New York State.

Drill for Distribution of Medication In the Event a Biological Attack
On September 1st, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (MVCC Jorgensen Athletic Center) the Oneida County Health Department will be conducting a trial Point of Dispensing Exercise to test the Health Department’s effectiveness in responding to a biological attack. It is a 1.5 hour real-time drill administered by Oneida County Health Department in cooperation with the Oneida County Executive’s Office, Oneida County Office of Emergency Management, and Mohawk Valley Community College. “This drill reminds us of the importance of preparing in advance for man-made or natural hazards that could occur in any community” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. He added, “These exercises help us to test and improve our effectiveness in getting life-saving medication to the public in real public health emergencies.”

One pool of mosquitoes collected in the western region of Oneida County has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Health Department officials confirmed today.
“This is the first positive EEE mosquito pool detected in Oneida County this year.” Dan Gilmore, Director of Environmental Health said. Gilmore continued, “Earlier this summer we had one West Nile Virus (WNV) positive pool of mosquitoes.

Oneida County Health Department is assessing the ability to dispense medications to hundreds of community members (pretend medication). This Point of Distribution (POD) Exercise, in a true emergency, would identify sites to dispense potentially lifesaving medicine to the public when a large portion of the community’s health is at risk.