Spraying of the Cicero Swamp to Take Place Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Due to the finding of EEE in a mosquito pool and the recent high mosquito count, aerial spraying of the Cicero Swamp and immediate surrounding areas will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 between the hours of 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm, weather permitting. Residents in the spray areas will be notified through the media and through the Reverse 911 emergency notification system.

The designated spray areas are generally bounded on the north by Route 31, on the west by Northern Boulevard, on the south by Taft Road, and on the east by the county line (Chittenango Creek).  Roads included in this area are:  all or parts of Route 298, Bull Street, Eastwood Road, Island Road, Cicero Center Road, Fergerson Road, Ferstler Road, and Oxbow Road. To view a map of the spraying area, visit: /health/documents/SprayMapCicero.pdf

The pesticide that will be used for aerial spraying is Anvil 10+10 ULV. This pesticide is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation for this use. A copy of the pesticide label can be found on the Onondaga County website at /health/documents/AnvilProductLabel.pdf. A written copy of the label can be provided by calling 435-1649.

If you live in the spray area, during spraying it is recommended that you:

  • Stay indoors and keep your windows closed for one hour after the area has been sprayed.
  • Keep your pets indoors if possible.
  • Cover outdoor gardens and rinse vegetables before eating.
  • Set your window air conditioners to circulate indoor air.  It is safe to use your central air conditioning.
  • Remove children’s toys that are outdoors, any outdoor furniture, and clothes from outdoor clotheslines.
  • If toys or clothes have been left outdoors, wash each thoroughly with soap and water before using and launder clothes before wearing.
  • If you are driving during the spraying, close your car windows and car vents.

For information about personal protection measures contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 435-1649 and visit /health/mosquitoborne.html.

Spraying of the Cicero Swamp to Take Place on Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Indu Gupta MD, MPH, has been notified that a mosquito pool from a trap near the Cicero Swamp has tested positive for EEE. Dr. Gupta explained, “EEE is a rare disease that is caused by a virus spread by the bite of an infected mosquito therefore, it is extremely important that people use personal protection measures to help reduce their risk of being bitten by a mosquito.” Gupta also explained that the risk is highest for people who live in or visit woodland areas, and people who work outside or are involved in outdoor activities, because of greater exposure to potentially infected mosquitoes. In 2014, there were two human cases of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

Reducing exposure to mosquitoes is the best way to protect you from EEEV and other mosquito-borne viruses. Personal protection is recommended during outdoor activities.  Personal protection measures include wearing shoes and socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outside for a long period of time. Applying a mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535 is also recommended to prevent mosquito bites.  Do not put the repellent directly onto children. Put it on your hands and apply it to your child.  Do not put insect repellent on your face. Wash skin and clothing after returning indoors.  Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for application.

It is also important to reduce mosquito breeding grounds, thereby reducing the mosquito population:

  • Throw away outdoor containers, ceramic pots or containers that hold water
  • Remove all tires from your property
  • Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors
  • Clean clogged rain gutters and make sure they continue to work properly
  • Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use
  • Change water in bird baths at least every four days
  • Clear vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds
  • Clean chlorinated swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs
  • Drain water from pool covers
  • Use landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulates

The Onondaga County Health Department will be conducting aerial spraying of the Cicero Swamp and immediate surrounding areas Tuesday, July 7, between the hours of 7 and 10 pm weather permitting. Aerial spraying will help to reduce the number of mosquitoes in this area and therefore reduce the risk of disease. Residents in the spray areas will be notified through the media and through the emergency notification system. The product that will be used is Anvil 10 + 10 and will be applied at very low concentrations to control mosquitoes. Anvil 10 + 10 is a pesticide product that is used to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas. It contains sumithrin and piperonyl butoxide as active ingredients. Sumithrin is a man-made pyrethroid insecticide that can also be found in other pesticide products used indoors and on pets to control ticks and insects, such as fleas and ants.

To view a map of the spraying area, visit: /health/documents/SprayMapCicero.pdf

For more information call Lisa Letteney, Director of Environmental Health at 435-3155.

For more information about personal protection measures contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 435-1649.

Take Steps To Protect Yourself From Rabies This Summer

Commissioner of Health, Indu Gupta, MD, MPH is reminding Onondaga County residents to take precautions to protect yourself and your family from rabies. Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals that is transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Many rabies cases occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Fortunately, human rabies is rare in the United States.  Although there is no treatment for rabies, it is PREVENTABLE.

Rabies cases in Onondaga County
In 2014, of the 482 animals tested for rabies, 22 animals tested positive for rabies. This included bats, raccoons, cats, foxes, and skunks. Even though Onondaga County has not had any cases of rabies in humans, due to the high number of animals being tested and testing positive for rabies, there is a greater risk of human exposure.
There are many steps that are recommended to help reduce of the risk of rabies in animals and humans:

Prevent your pet from getting rabies

  • Visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs. A requirement by New York State Public Health Laws states 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.
  • Maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision.
  • Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly.
  • Call your town or municipality for assistance or guidance on how to remove stray animals from your neighborhood.

Teach children rules to stay safe around animals
Give your child some guidelines to follow. Do not frighten young children, but make sure they learn some basic rules about protecting themselves from strange or unfamiliar animals.

  • Children should be supervised 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). Children younger than 5 years old should be extra cautious when visiting farms and having direct contact with farm animals, including animals at petting zoos and fairs.
  • Children and adults should be reminded to respect a dog’s personal space. Never approach a dog, especially one who’s tied or confined behind a fence or in a car. Don’t pet a dog—even your own—without letting him see and sniff you first.
  • Do not disturb a dog while sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or caring for puppies. Be cautious around strange dogs. Always assume that a dog who does not know you, may see you as an intruder or a threat.
  • Do not touch or go near an animal if it does not belong to you.
  • Do not ever try to feed a wild animal when you are at a park, or anywhere.

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

  • “Bat-proof” your home by looking 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 other openings or cracks.
  • Trap a bat if you find a bat in your house.  Before trapping the bat, protect yourself with gloves and a hat.  Keep the bat inside; do not let it escape outdoors.  Collect the bat in a container with a secure lid. For complete instructions of trapping a bat visit: /health/ADP.html.
  • Once the bat is caught, call the Animal Disease Control Program at Environmental Health at 435-3165 to bring the bat for testing.
  • If you cannot trap the bat, call a trapper for assistance.

For more information about rabies prevention, visit:
www.ongov.net/health/ADP.html
www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/
www.cdc.gov/rabies/

Like and visit the Onondaga County Health Department Facebook page.

Protect Yourself from Mosquito Borne Diseases: West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis

The Onondaga County Health Department is encouraging all residents to use personal protection to protect from mosquito bites and the threat of mosquito borne diseases. Indu Gupta MD, MPH, Onondaga County Commissioner of Health encouraged residents “With the warm weather and the summer almost here, it is important to consistently use personal protection measures to reduce the risk of mosquito bites that may transmit West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV).” Gupta explained that the Health Department has begun the annual mosquito surveillance and control program in late May.  This program collects and tests mosquitoes for viruses including WNV and EEEV.  The program also uses larvicides (an insecticide) to control mosquito breeding in standing bodies of water.

The Health Department reminds residents that mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn.

  • Personal protection measures are recommended during outdoor activities and includes:  wearing shoes and socks, long pants, long-sleeved shirt.
  • Consider using a mosquito repellent containing DEET or Picaridin. Mosquito repellents should be applied only to uncovered skin or over clothing.  Do NOT apply DEET or Picaridin directly onto children’s skin (apply to your own hands and then put it on the child). Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus also provide protection against mosquito bites.  With any mosquito repellent, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on proper use and reapplication.
  • Reduce mosquito breeding: Replace or repair broken screens,  clean clogged rain gutters, turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use, change water in bird baths every four days, properly maintain swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs, drain water from pool covers and use landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulatFor more information mosquito borne illness contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 435-1649.  For more information visit

OCHD: /health/mosquitoborne.html;
NYS: http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/
CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/ http://www.cdc.gov/EasternEquineEncephalitis/

 

Can You Prevent Lyme Disease?

By Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, Commissioner of Health and
Anna Amaya, RN, Public Health Nurse, Bureau of Disease Control

During the cold winter month of February, I was driving with Anna to attend a Lyme disease conference in Albany, NY. We were sharing life experiences, including our experiences with Lyme disease. She told me how she learned about the disease during her first week on the job here at the Health Department.

“On my first day at work as a communicable disease nurse for the Onondaga County Health Department, I inquired about Lyme disease. As a Texan, I was not familiar with Lyme disease. I knew people in the northern states should avoid walking in brush where ticks live and I knew Lyme disease was also common in Connecticut. I also knew it was feared because it made people very ill, so I inquired into the nature of this disease.

My nursing supervisor informed me that Lyme disease was prevalent in Onondaga County and I was given a good amount of information to read. She instructed me on what to do if I found a tick attached to me: remove the tick with pointed tweezers, apply alcohol, and cover the site with an antiseptic ointment and a Band-Aid. There was much discussion about using pointed tweezers as opposed to flat tweezers and the importance of checking your body thoroughly after you have been outdoors walking in brush.

Much to my surprise, this information proved to be priceless. That very day my seven-year-old son had been playing in his clubhouse with his brother. The clubhouse was located in the woods behind our townhouse. The clubhouse was in a beautiful tree surrounded by various treasures the boys and their friends had found in the woods. He was outside that day for only a brief time before coming inside to eat his dinner, followed by a shower. After his shower, I noticed a black spot on his chest that did not come off. It was a tick! Armed with the information that I had received that day, I was able to properly remove it.

My son had been outside for a mere 15 minutes but that short period of time is all that it took for a tick to find him. If it had remained attached for days, he could have become ill with Lyme disease. He never developed symptoms because of what I learned that day. I will never forget that day and I am grateful that I knew what to do when faced with an attached tick”.

Anna’s story reminds me of the arrival of spring…and ticks! Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks carry this bacteria.  These ticks cannot fly or jump. But when a host- such as a deer, cat, dog, or human-brushes the tip of the grass or shrub, the infected tick quickly climbs and bites into the skin and attaches. In humans, a tick must be attached for 36 or more hours to transmit the infection. In the beginning Lyme disease can present as rash, and if left untreated can cause joint, nervous system, and heart problems. All of these can result in life-long health issues.

I have seen it firsthand. Several years ago, I met a middle-aged man, who was admitted to the hospital with neurological complications of Lyme disease. I took care of him as a medical resident in New Jersey. When I last saw him, he was still quite disabled. My ward rotation ended and I went to other areas of training. I never saw him again but I often wonder today, how much was he able to recover? Life changed for him forever.

Years have passed and now I see Lyme disease in Onondaga County. We know that Lyme disease has become quite common in 14 northeastern states and also the upper Midwest of the US. A lot of health information is out there now, and I am keenly aware of the constant, unfiltered information without any checks or balances from print and digital media 24/7, 365 days a year. What I see at times causes confusion and stress. So my simple suggestion is- enjoy our beautiful spring and summer in CNY by participating in outdoor activities. We should find a good balance between fear and being carefree.

The great news is that we can prevent Lyme disease taking hold of us! How? First take steps to keep those deer ticks away by:

  • taking care of your yard;
  • keeping the deer away;
  • using insect repellents;
  • wearing light colored clothes when hiking;
  • checking your entire body for any ticks after coming inside the house;
  • and the to-do list goes on!

Secondly, if you find a tick, DO NOT PANIC! Pause, compose yourself, and find a pair of tweezers to remove it carefully. After this, keep an eye on the bite site for 30 days. Finally, you should consult your health care provider for any questions you may have regarding symptoms, testing, and treatment.

As a final note, spring is here. I am planning to spend a lot of time outdoors whenever I can, walking and biking. I am planning and preparing for prevention. I hope you do, too, because prevention is better than cure!

Resources:
OCHD: Lyme disease: http://www.ongov.net/health/lyme.html
NYSDOH: Tick and Lyme disease: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/
CDC: Lyme disease: http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/

Reduce Your Risk of Lyme Disease

Reduce Your Risk of Lyme Disease
May 20, 2015

The Onondaga County Health Department is encouraging all residents to take steps to reduce their risk of tick bites that may transmit Lyme disease. Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, Onondaga County Commissioner of Health, explained that, “Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium through the bite of an infected deer tick.  An infected tick must be attached to the skin for 36 hours to transmit the bacterium.” Gupta said, “Taking preventive measures to avoid tick bites and if indicated, timely antibiotic use after a tick bite can reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease.”

The Health Department recommends the following measures to prevent transmission of Lyme disease:

In your yard:

  • Keep ticks away by mowing your lawn often and remove brush. Stack wood neatly and in dry areas.
  • Keep playground toys, decks, and patios away from wooded areas.
  • Keep deer away by not feeding deer on your property, make a barrier to keep deer from going onto your yard, and get rid of plants that attract deer.

When outdoors:

  • Wear light colored clothes, long pants, long sleeves, and socks. Tuck in your shirt and tuck pant legs into your boots or socks.
  • Check for ticks after being outdoors, even when you are in your own yard.
  • Bathe or shower (preferably within 2 hours) after coming indoors.
  • Wash and dry clothing at a high temperature to kill any ticks that may remain on your clothing.

Use repellent when outdoors:

  • Follow the label directions. Do not spray repellent in enclosed areas.
  • Put a small amount of repellent on your hands and apply it to your child. Do not let children touch repellents. Repellents containing DEET should not be used on         children under two months old.
  • Use insect repellent containing a 20-30% concentration of DEET on clothes and on bare skin. Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin.
  • Do NOT use repellents containing permethrin directly on your skin.
  • Do NOT spray repellent directly on your face, especially near the eyes or mouth. Apply a small amount of repellent near the ears. Do NOT use repellent on cuts, wounds, or on irritated skin.
  • Wash your treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors. If you have a reaction to a repellent, wash the treated skin with soap and water right away and call your doctor.

Check for ticks:

  • Do a full body tick check on yourself, your children, and your pets after being outdoors.
  • Check your body for ticks especially your scalp, neck, armpits, groin, and ankles.
  • Look carefully when checking for ticks because they can be as small as a poppy seed.

How to remove a tick:

  • Take tweezers to the tick’s head or mouth, where it enters the skin.
  • Pull the tick firmly up, in a steady motion, away from the skin.
  • Clean the bite with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide.
  • Keep a record of the date, time, and where you were bitten.
  • Get rid of the tick by placing it in a container of rubbing alcohol.

For more information about tick removal visit: http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/tickfree/

When to call your health care provider:
If you had a tick bite and develop any of the symptoms below:

  • A skin rash known as “bulls eye” is commonly seen on thighs, groin, trunk, and armpits. It appears from 3-30 days with an average of 7 days. Other symptoms may include fever, fatigue, chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
  • Serious long-term complications can range from arthritis; facial palsy, headache, meningitis, neuropathy, impaired memory; and heart rhythm irregularities.

For more information call the Onondaga County Health Department at 435-3280 or visit:
/health/lyme.html
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/
www.cdc.gov/lyme

Recall on Baby Furniture

The Onondaga County Health Department’s Lead Poisoning Control Program is alerting parents about the voluntary recall for “Baby’s Dream Cribs and Furniture”. The grey paint on this furniture contains a high level of lead. Young children are especially at risk for lead poisoning because they often put non-food items in their mouth. Children with lead poisoning do not look sick. A blood lead test must be done to determine if a child has lead poisoning. If left untreated, lead poisoning can cause behavioral and learning problems.

Product Description:   Baby’s Dream Cribs and Furniture
Manufactured in:       Chile
Sold at:         Specialty furniture stores nationwide and online at BabysDream.com from March 2014-March 2015. Items sold for between $350 and $1,000.
Remedy:         If you have this furniture, immediately contact Baby’s Dream Furniture of Buena Vista, GA to arrange for an exchange.

Complete information about these recalled item(s) is available at:  https://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/Babys-Dream-Recalls-Cribs-and-Furniture/

To have your child tested for lead or for more information about lead poisoning prevention call your health care provider or the Onondaga County Health Department Lead Poisoning Control Program at (315) 435-3271.

Cycle in the City Starts on May 17th

Looking for a great way to see Syracuse and to get fit? Join us on Sunday, May 17th at 9:00 am at the Creekwalk Trail Head (Jefferson Street in Armory Square) to launch the 2015 Cycle in the City’s free guided bike rides.   Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play in Onondaga County Program, the City of Syracuse, and several community partners will be offering  both 10 and 20 mile guided bicycle rides once a month from May to October 2015.

Upcoming dates for the Sunday bicycle rides are: June 21, July 19, August 16, September 13, and October 4.  All rides will begin at 9:00 am from the Creekwalk Trail Head (Jefferson Street in Armory Square) with a different city bicycle route each month.  Riders must be 12 years of age or older to participate and helmets are required for every rider.  Rides are free and pre-registration is NOT required!

Riding a bicycle is good for your health!  People who ride bicycles regularly for either transportation or recreation may have reduced rates of disease and increased cardiovascular fitness.  Biking is also an activity that is environmentally friendly, utilizes no fuel, and creates no air or noise pollution.

Come join the fun and get fit too! For more information, or to view the bicycle routes that will be offered, contact the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play in Onondaga County Program at 435-3280 or visit www.ongov.net/healthyplaces.html.

Rabies Shot Clinics May – June 2015

The Onondaga County Health Department, in cooperation with local community partners, will be offering rabies shot clinics at the following locations in  May – June 2015:

Monday, May 11th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Village of Manlius Recreation Center located at 6 Stickley Drive, Manlius

Thursday, May 21st from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
S.P.C.A. located at 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale

Thursday, June 4th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Camillus Town Hall, 4600 West Genesee Street, Syracuse

Thursday, June 11th,  5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Meachem Ice Rink, 121 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse

Monday, June 22nd, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Cicero Highway Garage, 8236 Brewerton Road, Cicero

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 visit:  /health/documents/RabiesClinicSchedule.pdf or call 435-3165.

It’s Your Health: Take Charge!

Office on Women's HealthThis Mother’s Day marks the beginning of National Women’s Health Week. The week of May 10th – 16th is recognized as National Women’s Health
Week and is the perfect time to put your health at the top of your priority list! The goal of National Women’s Health Week is to empower women to make their health a priority and to help them understand what steps they can take to achieve better health.
One step that you can take towards accomplishing a healthier you is to have routine screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. The American Cancer Society predicts about 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime[1] and most cervical cancers are found in women who have not had routine Pap tests.[2] Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and men in the U.S. but can be prevented by finding and removing polyps during screening.[3]
The Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) would like to remind uninsured women aged 40 – 64 that free mammograms and Pap tests are available by calling 435-3653. Free colorectal cancer screening is also available for uninsured women aged 50 – 64. Routine screenings are an important step in the early detection of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. Early detection saves lives so get screened today!
[2] American Cancer Society. Cervical Cancer Overview. 2015. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/overviewguide/cervical-cancer-overview-prevention.
[3]American Cancer Society. What are the key statistics about colorectal cancer?. 2015. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-key-statistics.