Extreme Heat Precautions & Safety Tips for Seniors

Onondaga County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney, Indu Gupta MD, MPH, Commissioner of Health, and Peter J. Headd, Deputy Commissioner, Executive Director, Office for Aging are advising that individuals take precautions when the temperatures and humidity are high.

The National Weather Service forecast shows temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees today, Tuesday, July 12, through Thursday, July 14, 2016. The heat index—which is how hot it really feels—is expected to be as high as 100 degrees on Wednesday, July 13. Dr. Gupta explained, “During these extreme heat conditions, residents should take steps to stay cool. The elderly, small children, overweight individuals, those with chronic health problems, or those who take certain medications are at an increased risk for heat-related illness.”

Peter J. Headd encourages everyone in our community “to be aware of seniors in their neighborhood, to look for signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion or see if the person may be in need of assistance.” In case of a medical emergency call 911 directly. If you are concerned about the general well-being of an older person contact the Office for Aging and an Aging Services staff person will assess the older person’s needs and recommend appropriate services and programs.

During this hot weather it is important for everyone, but especially seniors and others who may be at an increased risk for heat-related illness, to follow these safety tips:

  • Drink water regularly, even if you’re not feeling thirsty. Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
  • Stay in an air conditioned indoor location. If your home is not air conditioned, visit public places such as senior centers, libraries, and malls.
  • Keep draperies and window shades closed.
  • Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
  • Try to do household chores early in the morning, before it gets too hot.
  • Schedule outdoor activities carefully and pace yourself.
  • Dress in loose-fitting clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
  • Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Avoid too much sun and use a sunscreen lotion with a high SPF rating.
  • Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
  • NEVER leave children or pets in cars.

The Health Department reminds individuals to take steps to prevent heat-related illness. Hot, humid weather causes the body’s temperature to rise, which puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels. Heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result, which occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. Be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illness: headache, nausea, muscle cramping, weakness, dizziness, or difficulty breathing. In extreme cases, a person may develop hot dry skin (no sweating), confusion, or unconsciousness which may indicate heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can result in death if not treated promptly. If you or someone you know is experiencing heat-related symptoms, contact your health care provider or 911 immediately.

For more information, including a list of air conditioned senior centers and other public cooling sites, call the Onondaga County Office for Aging at (315) 435-2362 or visit www.ongov.net/aging or www.health.ny.gov/environmental/weather/cooling/countycenters.

For more information about heat-related illness prevention tips call the Onondaga County Health Department at 435-3280 or visit www.ongov.net/health/heat.html or https://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp.

Fight the Bite in CNY: A Forum on Mosquitoes and Ticks Held

The Onondaga County Health Department and several community partners hosted a “Fight the Bite in CNY”  forum earlier today.  The forum featured both local and statewide experts who addressed what Onondaga County Health Officials are doing to prevent the spread of mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses.  Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, Onondaga County Health Commissioner, was pleased that many experts joined together to make the forum a success and provided current information about Zika, public and global health, mosquito- and tick-borne diseases, surveillance and control of mosquitoes, and what the public can do to reduce their risk of mosquito-borne illness. Dr. Gupta stated, “We are working diligently to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases in Onondaga County, however, the public must consistently use personal protection measures”. Those in attendance included people from local hospitals, town and village officials, and community-based organizations.

Bryon Backenson, Deputy Director, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, gave an overview of vector-borne illnesses. “With this weekend being Independence Day weekend, this forum is a great opportunity to reinforce with local officials that vector-borne diseases are present in central New York, and what can be done to prevent them.” Dr. Timothy Endy, Chief of Infectious Disease at Upstate University Hospital shared current information about Zika virus, West Nile virus, and Eastern Equine encephalitis. Dr. Endy reinforced to all, “Insect-borne infections are a serious health concern for central New Yorkers this summer. Prevention and early recognition is key to getting appropriate diagnosis and treatment.”

Following the expert speakers, table discussions by those who work directly in the field provided information on local tick surveillance; mosquito trapping and surveillance; current Zika information; personal protection measures; signs, symptoms, and tick removal; and habitat and landscape management.

For more information about this forum, please visit: /health/fightthebiteforum.html where you can download print-ready educational materials.

Spring is here and may bring fix-up projects around your house…could there be lead paint?

Ann Barnett, Public Health Educator

Along with spring flowers, the season usually brings home repair projects. If you are thinking about doing some home repairs or remodeling projects, which may disturb old paint, I urge you to take safety precautions. Lead paint and lead dust continue to be the major source of lead exposure for childhood lead poisoning in Onondaga County. If your home is one of the 77% of Onondaga County homes built before 1978, it may contain hazardous lead paint and lead dust. Before you start your spring home repair and/or remodeling projects, I would like you to consider the following questions:

  • Was your house built before 1978?
  • Will you be working on painted surfaces?
  • Have you had the paint tested to see if it is lead-based paint?
  • Are you planning on hiring someone? Are they EPA Lead Certified? 
  • Do you know what safety precautions you or your repair man should use to protect yourself and your children from hazardous lead paint/lead dust?
  • Do you qualify for a lead home repair grant?

Remodeling projects, home repairs, and normal wear and tear of painted surfaces like opening and closing windows and doors can create lead dust. Young children and pregnant women are especially at risk for exposure to lead paint and lead dust. In 2015, 391CD Ad individual homes were inspected by Onondaga County Health Department lead inspectors for lead hazards. Of the homes inspected, 86% were found positive for lead and will require repairs.

When remodeling an older home, we want you to WORK SMART, WORK WET, and WORK CLEAN. It is important to follow some safety steps:

  • Keep pregnant women and children out of the work area
  • Enclose the work area using heavy plastic (6 mil)
  • Use a spray bottle to wet an area before sanding or scraping
  • Avoid eating or drinking in the work area
  • Wear a mask and wash your hands often with soap and water
  • Clean up the work area using wet cleaning methods, only use a HEPA vacuum, carefully fold up used plastic, place it in a sealed garbage bag and put in the trash.

Let’s treat homes, not children.
There are resources to assist you! Visit www.ongov.net/health/lead  to get more  information about:

  • Childhood lead testing
  • Free home lead inspections
  • Safely remodeling your home
  • Lead paint home repair grants
  • EPA Lead Safe Worker training requirements

Fox and Raccoon Found Positive for Rabies in Onondaga County

Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, announced today that a fox and a raccoon in Onondaga County have both tested positive for rabies. The tests were confirmed by the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Laboratories. The fox was found in the Town of Clay and the raccoon was found in the City of Syracuse. Three residents and one pet were exposed to rabies as a result of these two cases; however, there are no human cases of rabies in Onondaga County. So far in 2016, six animals (one bat, one skunk, one fox, and three raccoons) have tested positive for rabies in Onondaga County.

Dr. Gupta stresses, “This is the time of year that the public may encounter wildlife. It is important not to touch or feed wildlife because they may be rabid.” Protecting yourself from rabies is important year round. Rabies is a fatal disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. It can take several weeks to several months for rabies symptoms to appear. Early treatment after an exposure can prevent rabies.
Any mammal can get rabies, but it is most often seen in bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Below are some steps to help prevent rabies:

  • Teach children to stay away from unfamiliar animals, either wild or domestic, even if the animal may appear friendly.
  • Wash any wound from an animal thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
  • If your family or your pet has been exposed to a bat, capture the bat and have it tested for rabies. If you awaken to find a bat in your room, or a bat is present in the room of an unattended or sleeping child, or in a room with someone with a mental impairment, seek medical advice and have the bat tested. To watch a video on how to catch  a bat visit: /health/ADP.html
  • Be a responsible pet owner by keeping 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.

Rabies Shot Clinics
The Onondaga County Health Department offers rabies shot clinics at many locations throughout Onondaga County. Upcoming clinics include:

  • Thursday, June 2, 5:00 to 7:00 pm Camillus Town Hall, 4600 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse
  • Thursday, June 9, 5:00 to 7:00 pm Meachem Ice Rink, 121 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse
  • Monday, June 20, 5:00 to 7:00 pm Cicero Highway Garage, 8236 Brewerton Road, Cicero
  • Thursday, July 7, 4:00 to 6:00 pm Onondaga Nation Fire Department, Route 11A, Nedrow

All shots are free for Onondaga County residents. Additional rabies shot clinics will be offered throughout the year. For a complete clinic schedule call 435-3280 or visit: www.ongov.net/health/documents/RabiesClinicSchedule.pdf.

For more information about rabies prevention call 435-3165 or visit:
www.ongov.net/health/ADP.html
www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/
www.cdc.gov/rabies/

Onondaga County Rabies Update

Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, announced today that a raccoon found in the town of LaFayette has tested positive for rabies. The test was confirmed by the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Laboratories. So far in 2016 three animals have tested positive for rabies in Onondaga County. One bat and one raccoon were found to be positive during the winter months.

Dr. Gupta reminds Onondaga County residents to take precautions to protect yourself, your family, and your pets from rabies. Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease that is transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Fortunately, human rabies is rare in the United States. Although there is no treatment for rabies, it is PREVENTABLE.

Prevent Rabies in Your Pet

  • Visit your veterinarian on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets. New York State Public Health Laws requires that all puppies and kittens get their initial shot at three months of age, the first booster shot within 1 year after the initial shot, and then a booster shot every three years.  Ferrets must get a shot every year.
  • Maintain control of your pets. Keep cats and ferrets indoors and keep dogs under direct supervision.
  • Call your town or local municipality for assistance or guidance on how to remove stray or wild animals from your neighborhood.

Teach Children to Stay Safe Around Animals

  • Supervise children while interacting with animals.
  • Teach children to wash their hands right after playing with animals or anything in the animals’ environment (e.g., cages, beds, and food and water dishes).
  • Respect a dog’s space. Never approach a dog, especially one that is tied or confined behind a fence or in a car. Don’t pet a dog—even your own—without letting it see and sniff you first.
  • Do not disturb a dog while sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or caring for their puppies. Be cautious around strange dogs.
  • Do not touch or go near an animal if it does not belong to you.
  • Do not approach or feed wild animals.

Protect your Family from Bats
About 5 percent of bats may carry rabies so take steps to keep bats out of your house:

  • Bat-proof your home. Look for holes in places like the garage, attic, and basement and plug them with steel wool. Repair window screen holes with wire mesh and caulk any openings or cracks.
  • Trap any bat found in your home—do not let it escape outdoors. Before trapping the bat, protect yourself with gloves and a hat. Collect the bat in a container with a secure lid. For complete instructions and a video on how to trap a bat visit: www.ongov.net/health/ADP.html.
  • Once the bat is caught, call the Animal Disease Control Program at 435-3165 to bring the bat in for testing at our East Syracuse location at 6230 East Molloy Road.
  • If you cannot trap the bat, call a local trapper for assistance.

Vaccinate Your Pets
Onondaga County Health Department offers rabies shot clinics at many locations throughout Onondaga County. Upcoming clinics include:

  • Thursday, May 19, 5:00 to 7:00 pm SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale
  • Thursday, June 2, 5:00 to 7:00 pm Camillus Town Hall, 4600 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse
  • Thursday, June 9, 5:00 to 7:00 pm Meachem Ice Rink, 121 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse

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

For more information about rabies prevention call 435-3165 or visit:
www.ongov.net/health/ADP.html
www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/
www.cdc.gov/rabies/

Rabies Shot Clinics, May – July 2016

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 May through July 2016:

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

Monday, May 9th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Village of Manlius Rec. Ctr., 6 Stickley Dr., Manlius

Thursday, May 19th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale

Thursday, June 9th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Meachem Ice Rink, 121 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse

Thursday, June 2nd, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Camillus Town Hall, 4600 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse

Monday, June 20th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Cicero Highway Garage, 8236 Brewerton Road, Cicero

Thursday, July 7th, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Onondaga Nation Fire Department, Route 11A, Nedrow

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

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 your time! Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women in the U.S. but 1 in 3 adults aged 50-75 years are not getting tested for colorectal cancer as recommended. Screening can find polyps early so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Don’t delay…schedule your colorectal cancer screening test today!

Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for men and women aged 50-75 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. There are often no symptoms during the early stages of colorectal cancer, making routine colorectal screening extremely important.

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 waiting to be screened because you are without health insurance, the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) may be able to help. Free colorectal cancer screening is available for men and women aged 50-64 years who do not have health insurance. Call the CSP at 435-3653 to see if you qualify or visit our website at /health/cancerscreening.html to register online. Screening and early detection saves lives so call today to see if you qualify for a free colorectal cancer screening!

Bat Found Positive for Rabies

Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, announced today that the New York State Health Department laboratory has reported that a bat found at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse has tested positive for rabies.

The Health Department is asking residents who may have come into direct contact with a bat on the grounds of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo between the dates of
Sunday, February 7, and Monday, February 8, 2016 to contact the Onondaga County Health Department’s Bureau of Disease Control at 435-3236.
Dr. Gupta explained, “This finding serves as an important reminder to residents that rabies exposure can happen any time of the year. To protect yourself against rabies, do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals.”

For more information on rabies go to  /health/ADP.html, or call 435-3165.

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Advisory to Women of Child Bearing Age and Pregnant Women Who Travel to Countries with Ongoing Transmission of Zika Virus

New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued guidance regarding the risk of Zika virus infection to pregnant women who travel to countries and/or territories that currently have on going transmission of Zika virus. These areas include: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Samoa, Suriname, Venezuela, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Dr. Indu Gupta, Commissioner of Health, explained that Zika virus is transmitted by the bite of the day time mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and probably Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes can be found in southern states such as Florida, Texas (A. aegypti), and up the east coast to New Jersey (A. albopictus). There is no local transmission of Zika virus in the continental United States. Most of the cases in the U.S. are in returning travelers from outbreak countries.

Symptoms of Zika virus infection include fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes. There is no specific treatment for Zika infection. In most cases, Zika virus infection is a mild illness. However, in the current outbreak, Zika virus infections have been confirmed in fetal losses and several newborns with microcephaly (small head because of underdeveloped brain) in women infected during pregnancy.  Zika virus infection should be considered in returning travelers who become ill within 14 days of travel to areas with Zika virus transmission.

The Onondaga County Health Department advises women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, if at all possible, to postpone travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing until further notice. For those who have to travel to areas with active ongoing Zika virus transmission, it is recommended that you protect yourself against mosquito bites, both indoors and outdoors, by staying in dwellings with good screened windows and doors, by safe and consistent use of insect repellents, and by always wearing protective clothing such as long pants, long sleeved shirts, and socks to cover all exposed skin. If you are sick with a febrile illness (illness with no known cause) within 14 days of travel to any of the areas with ongoing transmission of Zika virus, please seek health care immediately and inform the provider of your travel history. For more information please visit https://www.cdc.gov/zika/.
Zika VirusZika

Even Healthy People Need Flu Vaccines. It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine!

Do you think that you do not need a flu vaccine because you are healthy?  Unfortunately, even healthy people, especially the very young and very old, and pregnant women, can get serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia and dehydration, and could even end up in the hospital. The CDC reports that about 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of flu complications every year, with most of them being otherwise healthy children.

It’s important to understand that even if you get the flu and recover quickly, during your illness you could spread the flu to others including a newborn, an elderly person, or a toddler who cannot get vaccinated because of medical reasons.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get a flu vaccine each year. Getting a flu vaccine helps to protect your health as well as the health of your family, friends, and others. The CDC strongly recommends that people who are at high risk for complications get a flu vaccine every year.  This includes young children, persons over 50 years of age, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications should also get a flu vaccine each year.

The Onondaga County Health Department is reminding you that it is not too late to get a flu vaccine. The Onondaga County Immunization Clinic continues to offer the flu vaccine at the weekly clinic on Wednesday mornings in the Civic Center, 421 Montgomery Street, Syracuse. Call 435-2000 for more information.  Get your flu vaccine…to protect yourself and others!