Category Archives: Blog Articles

What is SIDS?

By Sunny Jones, Public Health Educator October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. SIDS is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is one of the leading causes of Infant Mortality (when a baby dies before their first birthday). Many SIDS deaths can… Read more >

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

As 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… Read more >

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… Read more >

COVID-19 Update, School Reopening

Dr. Indu Gupta, MD, MPH Onondaga County Health Commissioner Fall is knocking at our doorsteps and kids are ready to go back to school. I am sure you and your kids are very excited. At the same time, are concerned because of the increasing number of cases in our community and throughout the United States… Read more >

Taking Down Tobacco: “It’s Not Just” about Menthol Flavored Tobacco Products

In Onondaga County, African Americans are at a higher risk for poor health outcomes related to many chronic diseases, including those caused by tobacco use! Sadly, the tobacco industry has spent decades marketing menthol-flavored tobacco products in Black or African American communities1,2. As a result, 85% of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes, compared to 29%… Read more >

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Reluctance: A Fact-Based Conversation!

As of May 11, 248,962 people in Onondaga County have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 216,069 have completed the vaccine series. Among people eligible to be vaccinated, vaccination rates by zip code range from 41.6% in Syracuse 13204 to 84.7% in Fayetteville 13066. When looking at the entire county population,… Read more >

COVID-19 Vaccination Saves Lives! Are you ready?

A few years ago, I had written a health blog regarding the importance of vaccination titled “My Salute to the Power of Vaccination”. It seems like déjàvu as I am writing the same topic, this time focusing on the importance of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though three different COVID-19 vaccines are widely available… Read more >

COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Our Lives: A Year in Review!

When I woke up on January 1, 2020, I never thought that we will be facing the global pandemic of our lifetime and I will be leading the public health response in Onondaga County as the Health Commissioner of the Onondaga County Health Department. Though our lives feel so far apart from those who live… Read more >

October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month

As a new parent, one of the most important decisions you will make is where your baby will sleep. Problem: Every year, there are thousands of sleep-related deaths among babies. 22% of mothers report NOT placing their baby on his or her back to sleep. 39% of mothers report using soft bedding when placing babies… Read more >

Take Care of Yourself by Getting Screened for Colorectal Cancer

By Kara Verbanic, Public Health Educator, Cancer Services Program March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! Did you know that about 1 in 3 adults between the ages of 50 and 75 years old are not getting tested for colorectal cancer? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the third leading… Read more >