STDs: You Don’t Always See the Signs

By Melanie Drotar, Public Information Specialist
and Karyn Johnson, Public Health Educator

The Onondaga County Health Department recently collaborated with students at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University on a video public service announcement (PSA) project. It was a perfect partnership: students produced these videos for course credit while gaining real world experience with a government agency, and the Health Department—which does not have in-house video production expertise—is now able to use these professional-quality videos to get important public health messages out to the community.

The Newhouse professor and students met with a team from the Health Department early in the process to gather information and discuss the Health Department’s goals. The students then presented their concepts to the team and went to work writing the storyboards and scripts, recruiting actors, then shooting and editing the videos. This all resulted in high quality video PSAs that can be used for Health Department promotions.

The first videos in the series deal with two priorities in Onondaga County:

April is Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month, so this month’s article features the video PSA entitled “STDs: You Don’t Always See the Signs”:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHlZsrnky04?rel=0&w=700&h=394]

This video captures people’s initial reaction to signs printed with the names of numerous STDs. Individuals infected with an STD may not experience any physical signs or symptoms. That is why it is so important to step up and get tested!

Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD. The good news is STDs are preventable and treatable. Use the following tips to protect yourself and your partner:

The only sure way to prevent STDs is to not have sex. This means not having vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Using a condom correctly every time you have sex can help prevent STDs; however, some STDs, including herpes and HPV, can be spread even when using a condom.
Reducing your number of partners can help reduce the spread of STDs. By having sex with only one person who has been recently tested, you can reduce your risk for getting an STD.
Getting an HPV vaccine can help protect you from HPV, a virus that can cause some cancers and genital warts. The vaccine is recommended for boys and girls 11 to 12 years of age, but can be given to women through age 26 and men through age 21.
Talking with your partner about preventing STDs before having sex is important. It may be uncomfortable, but protecting your health is up to you!
Get tested: just because you or your partner has no symptoms does not mean you are STD free. Getting tested is the only way to know. If you have a positive STD test, make sure you follow through with your treatment to prevent getting re-infected or infecting others.

Get peace of mind. Get checked. There are many options for STD testing. Some people choose to go to their doctor while others prefer to come to the Onondaga County Health Department STD Center. The STD Center provides confidential STD testing and treatment. For more information about the STD Center, call (315) 435-3236 or visit our website.

Special thanks to the faculty and students of S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications for the production of this video:
Robert Emerson, Adjunct Professor ─Television, Radio, and Film
Students: Fatima Bangura, Adam Ganley, Laura Hegstetter, Rachel Kucharski, and Maxine Williams

National Infant Immunization Week, “Immunization. Power to Protect.”

Did you know that making sure your children get their required immunizations (shots) is one of the most important ways to protect them against serious diseases? Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases. Therefore, it is essential that children be protected by getting all the immunizations that are recommended. National Infant Immunization Week is recognized during the week of April 22 – April 29, 2017.

Immunizations protect the individual and both families and communities. Children who are not immunized increase both their risk of disease, as well as the risk to others. In the United States, we can protect children against fourteen (14) different diseases before the age of two.

This health observance helps to remind and encourage all parents to consult with their health care provider to ensure that their children are up-to-date on their shots. Health care professionals remain parents’ most trusted source of information about vaccines for their children. While there may be some risk from immunizations, the protections provided by them far outweigh the possible risks. Parents should contact their health care provider if they have specific questions about vaccine safety.

Take time during National Infant Immunization Week to contact your child’s health care provider to be certain your child is up-to-date on their immunizations. For more information about vaccine preventable diseases and the importance of immunizations, contact your health care provider, the Onondaga County Health Department at 435-2000, or visit the CDC Immunization website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html .

Get Screened to Prevent Colorectal Cancer

By Emily Young, Public Health Educator, Cancer Services Program
Onondaga County Health Department

John* has been experiencing colorectal symptoms for a few months yet he hasn’t seen a doctor because he doesn’t have health insurance. He works full-time but his company doesn’t offer health insurance coverage. John is 55-years-old and knows that he should have had a colonoscopy when he turned 50, but he put it off because he couldn’t afford to pay the out-of-pocket cost.

John finally decided to call his primary care doctor for an appointment. His rectal bleeding and abdominal pain was getting worse and his stool was starting to look black in color. When John saw Dr. Smith*, he told her about his symptoms and how long they had been going on. Dr. Smith asked John if he had any family history of colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps. John didn’t know of anyone in his family ever having colorectal cancer. Dr. Smith asked John when his last colonoscopy was. John reluctantly told Dr. Smith that he had never had a colonoscopy because he doesn’t have health insurance. Then Dr. Smith gave John some good news. She told him about the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) which could cover the cost of his colorectal cancer screening because he didn’t have health insurance. John couldn’t believe there was a program that could help him get screened and find out what was causing his colorectal symptoms.

Dr. Smith gave John the telephone number. John called and spoke to the program’s Case Manager who quickly got him set up for a colonoscopy at a convenient location. During John’s

Colorectal cancer can be prevented through the removal of pre-cancerous polyps!

colonoscopy, the doctor found and removed five pre-cancerous polyps. The doctor told John he would need to follow up with another colonoscopy in three to five years. John was very thankful to Dr. Smith for telling him about the CSP and was so grateful for the peace of mind knowing that he had help with his colorectal cancer screening when he did not have the financial means to do so himself.

When was the last time you had a colorectal cancer screening? Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for men and women between the ages of 50 and 75 years old using high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer can be prevented through the removal of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon and/or rectum. For men and women without health insurance or those who have other barriers to accessing screenings, the CSP provides free colorectal cancer screening. Uninsured men and women may call 435-3653 to register for their free screening.

For more information on colorectal cancer and free colorectal screenings for uninsured men and women please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/ or http://ongov.net/health/cancerscreening.html.

*Names changed for confidentiality purposes.

Make the Right Choice and Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer

If you’re aged 50 or older and haven’t been screened for colorectal cancer, now is the time! Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S. but 1 in 3 adults aged 50 to 75 years old are not getting tested for colorectal cancer as recommended. Screening can find polyps early so they can be removed before turning into cancer.

There are often no symptoms during the early stages of colorectal cancer, making routine colorectal screening extremely important. Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for men and women aged 50 to 75 years old using high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer can be prevented through the removal of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon and/or rectum.

A person’s chances of developing colorectal cancer can be increased by certain factors such as having:

a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps,
a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease,
had polyps or colorectal cancer in the past.

If you are without health insurance or have other barriers to accessing colorectal cancer screenings, the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) may be able to help. Free colorectal cancer screening is available for men and women aged 50 to 64 years who do not have health insurance and qualify for the program. Call the CSP at 315-435-3653 or visit our website at www.ongov.net/health/cancerscreening.html to register online. Screening and early detection saves lives. Don’t delay…schedule your colorectal cancer screening test today!

First Positive Rabies Case in Onondaga County for 2017 Found in Raccoon

Onondaga County Commissioner of Health, Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, reports that the New York State Health Department’s laboratory confirmed that a raccoon found in the City of Syracuse tested positive for rabies. This is the first positive rabies finding in 2017.

The Health Department reminds residents that rabid animals can be present any time of the year and advises taking the following steps to help prevent exposure to rabies:

Never handle unfamiliar animals, either wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
Wash any wound from an animal bite or scratch thoroughly with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
Call the Animal Disease Control Program at (315) 435-3165 if you find a bat in your home Capture a bat that you or your pet were exposed to especially if the bat is dead or appears sick. Click here to learn how to capture a bat.
Bat-proof your house by plugging any holes in the house with steel wool.
Seek medical attention and have the bat tested if you awaken to find a bat in your room.

Keep your pet’s vaccinations current. This is especially important for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Getting your pet vaccinated can help stop the spread of rabies from wild animals to humans. New York State Public Health Laws require that all puppies and kittens get their initial shot at three months of age, with a booster shot every three years. Ferrets must get a shot every year. Click here to see our 2017 Rabies Clinic schedule.
For more information about rabies prevention, visit /health/ADP.html.

Rabies Shot Clinics March – May 2017

The Onondaga County Health Department, in cooperation with local community partners, will be offering rabies shot clinics at the following locations during the months of March through May 2017:

•Saturday, March 4th, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale

•Thursday, May 4th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Clay Highway Garage, 4483 Route 31, Clay

•Thursday, May 18th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale

•Thursday, May 25th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
NBT Bank Stadium (Lobby), 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse

Please remember to keep your pets on a leash (or in a carrier) at the rabies clinic and keep them close to you. Also, please bring your pet’s past shot records. New York State Public Health law requires that all puppies and kittens get their first rabies shot at three months of age. They also need to get a booster shot at one year old and then again every three years. Ferrets must get a shot every year.

All shots are free for Onondaga County residents. A voluntary donation per family is appreciated. Additional rabies shot clinic programs will be offered throughout the year. For a complete rabies shot clinic schedule or for more information please call 435-3280 or visit: /health/documents/RabiesClinicSchedule.pdf

“Love Yourself” With a FREE Mammogram

The very successful “Love Yourself” campaign is back for February 2016! Love yourself and get your mammogram today! Free mammograms are available for women without health insurance through the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP). Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in American women according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancers that are detected early, during routine screening exams, tend to be smaller and have better treatment outcomes.

Through the “Love Yourself” campaign, the CSP is reminding you that the best way to find breast cancer early is by having routine mammograms. Screening guidelines recommend that women aged 50 to 74 have a mammogram every two years. Women aged 40 to 49 are encouraged to discuss their need for mammography screening with their healthcare provider. This special campaign is a partnership between the Onondaga County Health Department, local physicians, and community partners to encourage routine screening for breast cancer.

Free breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings are available year round for eligible women and men who do not have health insurance. Women aged 40 to 64 may qualify for a free clinical breast exam, Pap test, and/or mammogram. In addition, men and women aged 50 to 64 may qualify for free colorectal cancer screening. Call 435-3653 today to begin your registration or register online by visiting the CSP website at ongov.net/health/cancerscreening.html.

How is the Health of Onondaga County?

By Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, Commissioner of Health

To kick off 2017, I would like to make you aware of a new and important document that is now available. A community health assessment (CHA), also known as community health needs assessment (CHNA), is performed on a regular basis to identify key health indicators in a community through a collaborative, systematic, and comprehensive data collection and analysis process. The indicators for interventions are selected after active input from the community.

The Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) worked with Crouse Health, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, and Upstate University Hospital in this comprehensive process throughout 2016. We also worked with several community-based organizations. The yearlong effort has resulted in shared ownership of community health improvement, including assessment, planning, investment, implementation, and evaluation. Various strategies are aimed to address disparities among subpopulations, while improving community engagement and accountability. We also placed a strong emphasis on evidence-based interventions, while encouraging innovative practices with thorough evaluation and continuous improvement.

A community health improvement plan (CHIP) is a long-term, systematic process to address the identified public health problems in a community, following a thorough assessment (CHA).

Based on Onondaga County’s CHA, two priority areas were selected by OCHD and the partner hospitals to address during the 2016-2018 cycle:

Promote mental health and prevent substance abuse. We will give special attention to the ongoing opioid epidemic and its relationship with mental health.
Prevent chronic disease: This will focus on improving nutrition and physical activity by changing the environment.

To fully engage the community in this effort, a survey on health issues was created and distributed. The survey was completed by almost 3,000 individuals, and provides an eye-opening perspective into the true voice of our community. Review the summary of the results.

The full CHA / CHIP is an easy read and will be helpful to anyone. For example, identifying racial and geographic disparities in the rate of emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the diabetic population can help support the need for resource allocation to improve care.

Together we will make our community a better place for everyone! Please join our hands in achieving this in 2017!

Happy New Year!

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Flu is Widespread in Onondaga County

Influenza activity is widespread in Onondaga County, with the number of local flu cases rising significantly in the past couple of weeks. We currently have 124 cases of flu reported as of January 8, 2017.

Flu is a respiratory infection that causes fever, aches, and coughing. It is easily spread from one person to another by cough droplets or by direct contact with someone who has the flu. Flu is contagious one day before symptoms appear until 24 hours after fever is gone.

The current prevalent circulating virus is flu A H3, a strain which is included in this year’s vaccine. Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, strongly urges county residents to take steps to protect themselves and others against the flu:

Practice precautions to stop the spread of flu infection: If you are sick, stay home until you are free of fever for at least one day. Practice social distancing, cover your cough and sneeze, and wash your hands often with soap and water.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you think you have flu and are at high risk to develop severe complications such as chronic lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or if you are obese or pregnant.
Prevent flu by getting vaccinated: Anyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot. Getting the flu shot is one of the most important ways to protect against influenza. It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine.

Please contact your healthcare provider if you have not received a flu shot. Onondaga County Health Department also provides free flu shots for uninsured and underinsured Onondaga County residents every Wednesday from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon in room 30 of the John H. Mulroy Civic Center. Call 315-435-2000 for more information.

For weekly flu data updates, visit our website: www.ongov.net/health/fluandpneumonia.html

It’s Not Too Late for a Flu Shot

Flu season has arrived. As family and friends are gathering for the holidays, now is a great time to get a flu vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones. In the United States, cases of the flu are usually highest between December and February, but flu season can last until May. This week during National Influenza Vaccination Week the Onondaga County Health Department urges you to protect yourself and your family by making sure everyone is vaccinated against the flu.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It is impossible to predict how severe you will be affected by the flu. The best protection is to get a flu vaccine every year. A vaccine is needed every year because the flu viruses are always changing, and the vaccine is changed every year to match the circulating flu viruses. In addition, protection from the flu vaccine declines over time, making a flu shot necessary every year.

The flu shot is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age. The flu shot is especially important for those at high risk of serious illness due to the flu, including young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, and people aged 65 and older.

No insurance? The Onondaga County Health Department Immunization Clinic has flu shots available free for Onondaga County residents aged 6 months and up. The clinic is held every Wednesday from 9:00am – 12 Noon in the John H. Mulroy Civic Center, Room 30. This is a walk-in clinic, no appointments are necessary. For more information on the flu or where you can get a flu shot, ask your health care provider or call 435-2000.