World No Tobacco Day Calls Attention to the Environmental Risks of Tobacco

Protecting the Environment is Just One More Reason To Quit

SYRACUSE, NY: The Tobacco-Free CNY program partnered with the Reality Check youth program to celebrate World No Tobacco Day on May 31st. This year, the World No Tobacco Day global campaign highlights tobacco’s threat to the environment and aims to educate the public about the environmental impacts of tobacco, including the toxic waste it leaves behind. In honor of this campaign, Reality Check youth leaders from the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Center (ITC) gathered in nearby Roesler Park for a cigarette butt cleanup event.

   

Reality Check youth leader Ali Kareem states, “We were able to beautify our community during our World No Tobacco Day event by cleaning up hundreds of cigarette butts from the park. This cleanup event gives us the opportunity to educate our peers and community members about the environmental dangers of tobacco litter.”

Cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item in the world. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered worldwide each year, resulting in 1.69 billion pounds of tobacco waste. Rachael Russell, Public Health Educator for Tobacco-Free CNY states, “Cigarette butts may look like they are made of paper and cotton, but they are actually made of plastic fibers. These plastic fibers are not biodegradable and can take at least ten years to break down.” Russell continued “Cigarette butts contaminate water and soil with hazardous chemicals such as arsenic, lead, and nicotine. These chemicals are toxic to humans, pets, and wildlife.”

Within an hour of contact with water, cigarette butts begin leaching toxic chemicals into the marine environment, poisoning fish and other aquatic wildlife. Cigarette butts have also been found in the stomachs of fish, whales, birds, and other animals, leading to ingestion of hazardous chemicals and digestive blockages. Policy change has proven to be an effective tool to reduce tobacco litter and prevent these environmental hazards.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the US. World No Tobacco Day provides an opportunity for municipalities, employers, and property managers to reevaluate and strengthen their current tobacco policies. The Tobacco-Free CNY program, serving Onondaga, Oswego, and Cayuga Counties, assists community partners with the creation and implementation of tobacco-free policies. Tobacco-Free CNY works to create tobacco-free environments for Central New York residents to live, work, and play. Reality Check is a youth program that works to educate and engage local stakeholders, community leaders, and the public to strengthen tobacco and e-cigarette policies that prevent and reduce tobacco and vape use among youth.

For more information about the Reality Check and Tobacco-Free CNY programs, please visit our website at tobaccofreecny.org or call (315) 435-3280. For help with quitting, please call the New York State Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 or visit nysmokefree.com for more information.

Fight the Bite: Protect Yourself from Diseases Caused by Mosquitoes and Ticks

SYRACUSE, NY:  With some sunny days in the forecast and the arrival of spring in Central New York, the Onondaga County Health Department urges the public to protect themselves from diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks now and throughout the fall season.

Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta reminds residents, “After the long winter in Central New York, as we are doing yard work, hiking, going to parks, and spending time outside enjoying the warmer weather, it is important to protect yourself and your family from mosquito and tick bites that may transmit West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), Lyme, and other diseases.”

At the end of May, the Health Department will begin the annual mosquito surveillance and control program for 2022. 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.

Personal Protection Measures
The Health Department reminds residents that there are steps everyone should take to protect themselves from mosquito and tick bites during outdoor activities:

  • Wear shoes, light-colored socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt—it is much easier to see ticks on light-colored clothing. Tuck in your shirt and tuck pant legs into boots or socks.
  • Check your body for ticks after being outdoors.
  • Consider using insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and other products that have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Use this EPA search tool to help you choose the repellent product that is right for you, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on proper use for safety and effectiveness. Not all products containing the repellants listed above protect against ticks; read the manufacturer’s label for details.
    • Insect repellents should be applied only to intact skin or over clothing, and need to be reapplied regularly. Do NOT apply DEET or Picaridin directly onto children’s skin (apply to your own hands and then put it on the child). Repellent should not be used on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home
It is also important to mosquito-proof your home by replacing or repairing broken screens and getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed. Keep your property free of standing water by cleaning clogged rain gutters; turning over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use; changing water in birdbaths every four days; properly maintaining swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs; draining water from pool covers; and, using landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulates.

Signs and Symptoms of WNV and EEE
Most people who are infected with WNV or EEE do not develop any signs or symptoms. However, both WNV and EEE are potentially serious illnesses. Signs and symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, confusion, tremors (shaking), convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, irritability, drowsiness, numbness, paralysis, vomiting, diarrhea, and coma. Consult your healthcare provider if you have been bitten by a mosquito and develop any of these signs and symptoms.

Check for and Remove Ticks
After outdoor activities, it is critical to check your body for an attached tick. Early removal is important—the longer an infected tick is attached to the skin, the higher the chances are for transmitting disease. According to the CDC, an infected tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Keep ticks away by mowing your lawn often and removing brush.  Playground toys, decks, and patios should be kept away from wooded areas. In addition, do not feed deer on your property. If you see a tick embedded in your skin, follow the steps below (or watch this video) to learn how to remove it:

  • 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.

Symptoms of Tickborne Diseases
Call your health care provider if a tick has been attached to your skin for more than 36 hours, or if you had a recent tick bite and develop any symptoms. Lyme is the disease most commonly transmitted by tick bites in CNY, but other viruses have been detected in our area including those that cause Borrelia miyamotoi disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.

  • Lyme disease symptoms may include a “bull’s-eye” rash, fever, fatigue, chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Lyme disease can be prevented and effectively treated with appropriate and timely medical treatment.
  • Borrelia miyamotoi disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis may cause nonspecific flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue. These symptoms may start days or weeks after the bite of an infected tick. Left untreated, these tick-borne diseases may become severe and may result in death.

Keep an Eye On Your Pets
Ticks and fleas can attach to your dog or cat and be brought into the house.  There are several oral and topical preventive measures available to protect your pet. Talk with your veterinarian for advice on how to keep your pets and family safe!

More Information and Resources
For more information about mosquito-borne illnesses or Lyme disease, contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 315.435.1649 or visit:

Onondaga County Health Department
ongov.net/health/env/mosquitoes.html
ongov.net/health/env/lyme.html

New York State Department of Health
www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/ 
www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/westnile/
www.cdc.gov/EasternEquineEncephalitis/
www.cdc.gov/lyme/

The Pandemic’s Newest Facelift with Omicron BA.2 Subvariants!

Indu Gupta, MD, MPHAs we are seeing more contagious new Omicron subvariants BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1 in Onondaga County and Central New York, I cannot help comparing this to the latest version of a do-over by this SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease. I have been told that no one wants to hear the same prevention messages of the pandemic, however the problem with that argument is that the pandemic is still impacting our lives. Just look at the facts regarding the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths at our COVID-19 webpage.

I know you are tired of hearing about COVID but this virus is not tired. Therefore I would urge you to please read the entire message and share with your network and have important conversations as you are learning to live with this virus and calculate the impact it may have on your life.

The last 2 years of living through a pandemic has worn everyone out except the virus which continues to change itself to become more infectious and harm many people’s lives without mercy. Our daily reported cases (laboratory and home tests) continue to be elevated, and according to the CDC our COVID-19 community level is “high”.

However, all of us have the power to stop this virus in our homes and communities! How? We must work together in this fight against this virus by:

  • Getting COVID-19 vaccine today: Whether it is your first dose or a booster. It will protect your health and reduce your chance of getting serious disease including hospitalization and death.
  • Get tested for concerning new symptoms, whether with a PCR/antigen or home test. If you are positive, isolate, inform those you might have exposed to disrupt the path of the virus, and call your doctor to see if you may benefit from any treatment including either of two oral antivirals Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (brand name Paxlovid) or Molnupiravir (Lagevrio). You and your doctor can locate these medications at a pharmacy near you. These medications should be prescribed and started within 5 days of symptom onset, so acting quickly is the key to initiating this treatment.
  • Reclaim the life-saving measures which helped us in 2020: Stay home when sick, wash your hands, and most importantly, WEAR A MASK while indoors and in crowded public places! These measures worked when we did not have vaccines or treatment, and even before tests were widely available. Abandoning these simple behaviors is like walking in the rain without an umbrella or appropriate rain gear. These measures are basic but powerful tools in our toolbox in our fight against this relentless virus in order to stop it in its tracks.

I NEED YOUR HELP so we can put this pandemic behind us in the future! Would you work with me?

Thank you and stay safe,

Dr. Indu Gupta
Commissioner of Health
Onondaga County

Tell Us What You Think About the Health of Our Community

Every three years, the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) performs a community health assessment and improvement plan. An important part of this process is a Community Health Survey to get feedback from you Onondaga County residents about health issues that matter to them. These thoughts on the health of our community will be used to set goals and inform strategies to positively impact health in Onondaga County. Given the challenges of the past two years, it’s more important than ever that the community’s perspectives and priorities are understood.

The 2022 Community Health Survey is now available online at: ongov.net/health in both English and in Spanish. 

Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Dr. Indu Gupta, explained “The Community Health Survey is especially important now as we work to assess the full impact of the pandemic on our community’s health. It asks questions on COVID-19, mental health, chronic disease, cancer screening, substance use, and other important health-related issues. This initiative is led by the Onondaga County Health Department in partnership with local hospitals, and multiple community-based organizations. The goal is to create a long-term plan and systematic approach to improve the health of community residents.” Dr. Gupta also shared that Health Department staff will be conducting engagement activities directly with community members and stakeholders to further help understand their health-related priorities.

All survey responses will remain anonymous and will not be shared. As a thank you, participants can register to win one of five $50 gift cards! The survey will be open until May 13, 2022. For more information or questions about the survey, call the Onondaga County Health Department at 315.435.3280.

 

Reality Check Program Says Rate Smoking “R”

This year for International Week of Action for Smoke-Free Movies, the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central (ITC) Reality Check group spoke out against the tobacco industry using entertainment media to market their products to youth by creating and displaying posters with facts and statements throughout their school to educate their peers. International Week of Action for Smoke-Free Movies is held every year during the same month as the Academy Awards to raise awareness about the impact of smoking in movies and television programming.

Reality Check’s efforts seek to educate and prompt changes in the rating process for major motion pictures; specifically to generate support for giving an R-rating to movies that contain any tobacco imagery. The Motion Picture Association, Inc. (MPA) is the trade group that protects the business interests of six major US film studios: AT&T (Warner Bros.), Comcast (Universal), Disney, Sony, Netflix, and Viacom (Paramount). The MPA manages the US film rating system through its Classification and Rating Administration (CARA). Despite research indicating youth audiences being negatively affected by exposure to on-screen smoking, there has been little action to adopt the R-rating for future films.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, exposure to onscreen smoking in movies increases the risk that young people will start smoking. Giving movies with tobacco use an R-rating would lead to an 18% reduction in youth smoking and would avert 1 million tobacco-related deaths among today’s children and teens. Images of any type of tobacco use, including e-cigarettes have influence. In NYS, nearly 40% of 12th graders use e-cigarettes. As youth vaping remains at epidemic levels, tobacco imagery in movies can contribute to an overall problem with the normalization and glamorization of smoking and vaping in entertainment media and pop culture.

The Reality Check program is part of Tobacco-Free CNY and works to engage local stakeholders, educate community leaders and the public, and mobilize community members and organizations to strengthen tobacco and e-cigarette policies that prevent and reduce tobacco and vape use. Efforts also focus on reducing youth exposure to harmful tobacco and e-cigarette marketing in retail settings, limiting exposure to secondhand smoke, and reducing smoking imagery in the media. For more information about Reality Check and Tobacco-Free CNY programs, visit www.tobaccofreecny.org or call 315-435-3280.

New Screening Recommendations for Colorectal Cancer

By Kara Verbanic, Public Health Educator
Onondaga County Health Department Cancer Services Program

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that the US Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society are now recommending colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed among adults in the United States.

Colorectal cancer can be prevented with regular screening and the removal of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon and/or rectum. At first, precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms. That is why having a screening test is so important. If symptoms do appear, a person may notice blood in the stool, abdominal pain that doesn’t go away, bloating, or unexplained weight loss.

Are you up to date with your colorectal cancer screening? Talk with your primary care doctor about getting screened. For those age 45 and older who do not have health insurance or have other barriers to accessing screening, the Onondaga County Health Department Cancer Services Program offers free screening tests. Call 315-435-3653 to see if you qualify today!

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

Watch Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta’s video message here:

Colorectal Cancer Screening Begins at Age 45: Free Screening Tests Available

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The newest guidance from the US Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society recommends that colorectal cancer screenings begin at age 45. The recommended age to begin screening was lowered because colorectal cancer cases are on the rise among individuals younger than 50. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

Early detection saves lives. It usually starts from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum, which can develop into cancer over time. Sometimes polyps will bleed and a person may notice blood in their stool. Other symptoms of colorectal cancer may include abdominal pain or bloating that doesn’t go away or unexplained weight loss. But, it is important to remember that colorectal cancer does not always cause symptoms at first. This is why having screening tests for colorectal cancer on a regular basis is important to find colorectal cancer early when treatment works best. Colorectal cancer can be PREVENTED with regular screening and the removal of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon and/or rectum.

All women and men age 45 and older should be screened for colon cancer. The FIT (fecal immunochemical test) Kit is an at-home stool testing kit that looks for blood in a person’s stool. A colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to view the inside of the entire colon to find and remove polyps in the colon or rectum. Talk to your doctor to determine which test is right for you and how often you should be screened.

Free colorectal cancer screening tests are available. The Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) offers free tests for men and women age 45 and older who do not have health insurance. Take home fecal tests, such as FIT Kit are an easy and effective way to get screened. If the FIT test comes back abnormal, follow-up with a colonoscopy will be scheduled. Any follow-up procedures, including colonoscopies, will be covered at no out-of-pocket cost. If diagnosed with colorectal cancer, CSP staff will assist with the Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program (MCTP) application process. Services are available at many healthcare provider sites throughout the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Call 315-435-3653 or visit the CSP website to register for your free screening test.

Remember, if you are over 45 years old and do NOT have health insurance, call 315-435-3653 to see if you qualify for free colorectal cancer screening. Early detection of colorectal cancer saves lives. Take care of yourself and schedule your appointment today!

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, FREE Screening Tests Available

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. All women are at risk for cervical cancer, but it occurs most often in women over the age of 30. Unlike many cancers, cervical cancer can be prevented with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and regular screening tests (Pap test and HPV test) and follow-up. Screening tests can help prevent cervical cancer by finding the cells that lead to cancer. Those cells can then be removed before cancer starts. Screening tests can also find cancer early, when treatment may be most effective.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sexual activity. Usually, HPV will go away on its own, but when it doesn’t, cervical cancer can develop over time. The HPV vaccine can prevent infection from the nine most common types of HPV.  The vaccine is recommended for males and females at age 11 or 12, but can be given between 9 to 26 years of age. Adults between the ages of 27 to 45 who are not adequately vaccinated may benefit from the HPV vaccine. Check with your provider to determine if you should receive the vaccine. If you do not have insurance that covers the vaccine, please call 315-435-2000 for more information on the Onondaga County Immunization Clinic.

There are two tests that can find cervical cancer early. Cervical cancer screening tests are recommended for women between the ages of 21 to 65. Women aged 21-29 should be screened regularly with Pap tests every three years. Women aged 30 and older may be screened with both Pap and HPV testing every five years. Routine screenings are an important step to help find cancer early.

Free Pap and HPV tests are available through the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) for women between the ages of 40 to 64 who do not have health insurance or experience other barriers to completing their screenings along with any necessary follow-up testing. Services are available at many healthcare provider sites throughout the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County. “Women without health insurance are less likely to get some preventive care services, like cancer screenings. Our program can help close the cervical screening gap for women without health insurance,” said Dr. Indu Gupta, Onondaga County Commissioner of Health.

Whether you have health insurance or not, having cervical cancer screening tests is important. Do not delay your screening. Talk to your doctor, and if you are a woman between the ages of 40 to 64 and do NOT have health insurance, call the Cancer Services Program at 315-435-3653 or visit our website to see if you qualify for free cervical cancer screening tests.  Take care of yourself and schedule your test today!

New Documentation Available for COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine

The recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the state and in Onondaga County has caused a delay in the case investigation and contact tracing process. It is crucial to remind those who test positive to immediately isolate and notify their close contacts who may have been exposed.

To alleviate this problem and meet the needs of residents in isolation and quarantine, Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) is now providing self-attestation forms in place of the Commissioner’s Orders that were previously sent by the case investigators and contact tracers. These new forms are legal documentation and may be used for release from isolation or quarantine, and for New York Paid Family Leave COVID-19 claims.

Attestation Forms
Affirmation of Isolation
Affirmation of Quarantine

Know the Difference Between Isolation and Quarantine
Isolation keeps someone who is infected with COVID-19 away from others.
Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.

The isolation period is typically ten days from symptom onset OR from the date of the positive test if you are asymptomatic. Some employers may allow fully vaccinated, asymptomatic essential workers to return to work after 5 days if they meet certain criteria.

The quarantine period is typically ten days following the last day of exposure as long as you have remained symptom-free. Quarantine may end after day seven if you test negative five days from exposure.

For more detailed information please visit https://covid19.ongov.net/isolation-quarantine/.

These changes will be addressed at the County Executive’s next press briefing tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, January 4.

Overdose Spike Alert in Onondaga County

The Onondaga County Health Department reports that fourteen suspected overdoses occurred over a 24-hour period on November 23rd and 24th. Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) data has shown that, while this issue is prevalent throughout the county, recent reports show a concentration in the North and West sides of the City of Syracuse, with sporadic events in the Baldwinsville and Fayetteville areas. Unconfirmed reports link some occurrences to drugs sold in wax bags with a blue crown similar to the Rolex logo stamped on it.

While the substances involved in these overdoses are yet to be confirmed, since the beginning of 2020 approximately 92% of the drug-related fatalities in Onondaga County have been fentanyl-related. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. Powdered fentanyl looks like many other drugs and is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine to make pills that resemble other prescription opioids. For this reason, fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may not know they are using a substance that contains an opioid.

Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta states, “As we go into the holiday weekend, keep watch for any signs of unusual behavior in your loved ones. The holiday season can trigger both bad and good forms of emotions and stress, which can cause increased rates of substance use.”

These behaviors could include:

  • Drastic mood changes, including irritability and defensiveness
  • Loss of interest in things they were once passionate about
  • Changes in sleep habits
  • Isolation from family or friends
  • New financial difficulties

You are encouraged to talk with your loved one if you notice any signs of a substance-use disorder. You can find tips from the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration on starting the conversation https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/starting-the-conversation-guide.pdf.

The Onondaga County Health Department continues to warn people that taking illegal drugs is dangerous. Those who choose to use them should take advantage of harm reduction services that can reduce risk of dying from an overdose. Call or text the Onondaga County Health Department at 315-418-5365 for access to free Naloxone and fentanyl test strips, as well as access harm reduction services through the local Drug User Health Hub, ACR Health at (315) 475-2430. For information and linkage to local treatment and/or harm reduction services, please call 2-1-1.