Category Archives: Press Releases

New Tobacco Products to Look Out for This School Year

TOBACCO-FREE CNY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 – With a new school year approaching, there may be more in your child’s backpack than their books and binders. Tobacco companies are continuing to launch new products that are marketed towards youth, and may even look like traditional school supplies. Below is a guide on what new products to… Read more >

Additional Mosquito Pools Found Positive for EEEV and WNV, Spraying of Cicero Swamp Planned

ONONDAGA COUNTY, AUGUST 6, 2024 – The Onondaga County Health Department has been notified that additional mosquitoes collected from traps located in the Cicero Swamp area in the town of Cicero tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and West Nile virus (WNV). On July 30, the Health Department received confirmation that mosquitoes from… Read more >

Onondaga County Health Department Alerts Residents About Nationwide Recall of Boar’s Head Deli Meats

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 30, 2024 – The Onondaga County Health Department advises residents to immediately check their refrigerators for Boar’s Head deli meats following a nationwide recall due to a potential Listeria Monocytogenes contamination. This recall affects several products distributed by Boar’s Head and could pose a serious health risk. The recall includes specific Boar’s… Read more >

Two Public Beaches Closed for Swimming Due to Visual Presence of Algal Bloom 

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 29, 2024 – The Onondaga County Health Department announced today that Jamesville Beach located in the Town of LaFayette and Gillie Lake in the Town of Camillus are both closed for swimming due to the visual presence of an algal bloom. Once the beaches are visually free of algae for 24 hours,… Read more >

Mosquitoes Found Positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus and West Nile Virus in Onondaga County

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 24, 2024 – The Onondaga County Health Department was notified by the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory today that mosquito pools from traps in Onondaga County show the presence of several viruses. West Nile virus (WNV) and Flanders virus (FLAV) were detected at East Taft Road in the Town… Read more >

Jamestown Canyon Virus and Flanders Virus Detected in Mosquito Pools in Onondaga County

Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Kathryn Anderson announced today that lab results show the presence of the Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and Flanders Virus (FLAV) in mosquitoes trapped in Onondaga County. The finding was the result of the Health Department’s mosquito surveillance and control program which collects and tests mosquitoes for viruses. There have been… Read more >

Oneida Shores Beach Closed for Swimming

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 9, 2024 – The Onondaga County Health Department announced today that Oneida Shores Beach, located in the town of Cicero, will be closed for swimming due to elevated levels of bacteria (E.coli) in the water. Swimming will not be allowed until bacteria levels return to acceptable levels. The Health Department will be… Read more >

Tobacco Industry’s Negative Impact on Environmental Health

ONONDAGA COUNTY, APRIL 19, 2024 – Earth Day comes around every year on April 22 and is used as a time to acknowledge the health of our environment and doing what we can to help. Clean-up events often happen in various settings such as parks, beaches, and schools. Unfortunately, tobacco products are a prevalent source… Read more >

Tobacco Flavors Target Youth

Additional restrictions on flavored tobacco products would reduce youth use ONONDAGA COUNTY, APRIL 10, 2024 – Tobacco flavors including menthol have long been used to hook youth on tobacco products. In addition to youth, flavored tobacco products have been heavily marketed to groups including the LGBTQIA+ community, and African Americans. These flavors can be found… Read more >

Remains Identified as 5-Year-Old Nefertiti Harris

ONONDAGA COUNTY, MARCH 27, 2024 – The Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office announced today that preliminary autopsy results confirm the identity of the human remains recovered on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in the City of Syracuse as those of 5-year-old Nefertiti Harris. An autopsy performed on March 27, 2024 determined the immediate cause of death… Read more >