Category Archives: Press Releases

Health Alert: Sudden Increase in Syphilis Cases in Onondaga County

Onondaga County has seen a sharp rise in syphilis cases so far this year. In the first three months of 2021, Onondaga County has seen 28 cases of syphilis—as many cases as in all of 2020. Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta stated, “Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is CURABLE with antibiotics if detected… Read more >

County Executive McMahon & Health Commissioner Gupta Announce Immediate Pause in Use of J&J Vaccine in Onondaga County

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Onondaga County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Indu Gupta today announced a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine immediately at all Onondaga County clinics following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and New York State Department of… Read more >

FREE Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests Available

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. All men and women are at risk for colorectal cancer but it occurs most often in adults over the age of 50. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United States. Early… Read more >

Family Planning Clinic Temporarily Closed

The Onondaga County Family Planning Service Clinic located at 301 Slocum Avenue, Syracuse will be closed again for utility repairs on Monday, February 22 and Tuesday, February 23. Those with appointments will be contacted to reschedule, and patients may be seen at the North Syracuse clinic location at the corner of Taft Road and South… Read more >

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Oncenter Rescheduled

The Onondaga County Health Department Vaccine Clinic at the Oncenter Convention Center* scheduled for Monday, February 15, 2021 is being rescheduled to Tuesday, February 16. All individuals who have an appointment at the Oncenter clinic on Monday, February 15 will be rescheduled for Tuesday, February 16; the appointment time will not change. This affects anyone… Read more >

FREE Tests to Detect Cervical Cancer Are Available

All women are at risk for cervical cancer, but it occurs most often in women over the age of 30. In the United States, approximately 13,000 (2017:12,831) women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Cervical cancer is preventable with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and regular screening tests (Pap test and HPV test) and… Read more >

Rise in Opioid Overdoses in Onondaga County

Over the last year, there has been a significant increase in the number of fatal opioid overdoses in Onondaga County. From January through September 2020 there was a 40% increase in opioid overdose deaths compared to the same time period in 2019 (121 deaths vs 86 deaths, respectively). The pandemic has exacerbated the opioid epidemic,… Read more >

Dog Positive for Rabies After Encounter with Raccoon

Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Dr. Indu Gupta announced today that a dog in Onondaga County has tested positive for rabies after an encounter with a wild raccoon while on a walk with its owner. This dog, a household pet, was not up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations and began having seizures and a change in behavior… Read more >