Press Releases

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.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States.

In the Town of Ava, a dog that was tied up outside was in a fight with a skunk. The owner was able to kill the skunk while remaining a safe distance away to protect the dog from further harm. The skunk tested positive for rabies. The dog will be quarantined for six months due to the incident.