Press Releases

Oneida County Health Department, along with Rome City School District and the City of Utica, is setting up mobile vaccination clinics in Oneida County to offer vaccines to school-aged children.
The events will take place at the following locations:

• Rome Free Academy, 95 Dart Circle, Rome, on August 23rd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students entering grades 9–12.
• Parkway Recreation Center, 220 Memorial Parkway, Utica on August 24th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students entering grades K–12.
• Rome Free Academy, 95 Dart Circle, Rome, on August 28th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students entering grades 9–12.
• Gansevoort Elementary School, 758 W. Liberty Street, Rome, on August 31st from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for students entering grades K–5.
• Strough Middle School, 801 Laurel Street, Rome, on August 31st from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for students entering grades 6-8.

Upstate University Hospital Mammography Van will be visiting two Oneida County locations to provide breast cancer screenings through a partnership with the Oneida County Health Department and Mohawk Valley Health System. The first clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 26, 2024 at 50 Forward Mohawk Valley at the Parkway Center located at 220 Memorial Parkway in Utica. The second event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 19, 2024 at the Deerfield Volunteer Fire Company located at 5476 Trenton Road in Utica.

Recent news stories have reported Oneida County having two cases of Mpox. “There are no current cases of Mpox in Oneida County. The first case was identified September 24, 2022. As a result of that case, Oneida County hosted a Mpox vaccination clinic on October 5, 2022. The second case was identified on November 8, 2023”, explained Daniel W. Gilmore, Ph.D., MPH. As routine in any communicable disease, Oneida County Health Department investigated each case, both patients isolated and contact tracing was conducted. Neither of the cases were residents of Oneida County, and both had history of travel.

A horse has tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) in Town of Verona.
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.

A fox has tested positive for rabies in Kirkland. The fox was sent to the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center for testing on July 10, 2024, and positive results were reported on July 11, 2024. 

Summer brings sunny days, warm weather and unfortunately, mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are pesky nuisances that can cause itchy bites but can occasionally transmit disease causing viruses to people and animals.