Category Archives: Press Releases

Jamesville Beach Closed for Swimming Due to Visual Presence of Algal Bloom 

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 10, 2025 – The Onondaga County Health Department announced today that Jamesville Beach located in the Town of LaFayette is closed for swimming due to the visual presence of an algal bloom. Water sampling will be conducted to confirm there are no toxins before the beach is reopened. Please note that this… Read more >

Tell Us What You Think About the Health of Our Community

The Onondaga County Health Department, in partnership with Crouse Health, St. Joseph’s Health, and Upstate University Hospital is preparing a Community Health Assessment and wants to learn more about what people in our community think about health. You can take a Community Health Survey to share your thoughts. The survey asks questions about what health… Read more >

Unmasking the Appeal: Tobacco-Free CNY Recognizes World No Tobacco Day

TOBACCO-FREE CNY, MAY 30, 2025 –  This year, Tobacco-Free CNY recognizes World No Tobacco Day on May 31st with the theme selected by the World Health Organization (WHO), “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.” World No Tobacco Day is a day set aside each year to focus on educating on… Read more >

Onondaga County Health Department Identifies New Cases of Mpox

ONONDAGA COUNTY, MAY 22, 2025 — The Onondaga County Health Department has identified several cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in our community. All individuals are recovering at home, and contact tracing is underway to help prevent further spread. Mpox is a rare but potentially serious illness caused by a virus similar to smallpox,… Read more >

Onondaga County Health Department Issues Health Alert Regarding Potential Increase in Ocular Syphilis Cases

ONONDAGA COUNTY, MAY 1, 2025 – The Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) is issuing a health alert to inform healthcare providers and the public about a potential increase in cases of ocular syphilis in Onondaga County. Ocular syphilis is an eye condition that can occur at any stage of syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI)… Read more >

Eliminating Tobacco Waste on Earth Day

TOBACCO-FREE CNY, APRIL 24, 2025 – While progress has been made concerning secondhand smoke exposure and its impacts on air quality, tobacco use continues to threaten the environment. Cigarette butts are the most littered item around the world. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered globally each year, equaling 766,570 metric tons. In addition, Americans… Read more >

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

ONONDAGA COUNTY, FEBRUARY 28, 2025 –March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, and close to 52,000 people die every year. National and New York State data show that 9 out of… Read more >

Local Onondaga County Reality Check Youth and Tobacco Control Representatives Take Tobacco Industry Fight to State Capitol

New Surgeon General’s Report highlights need for continued investment in tobacco control to reduce the appeal, availability and addictiveness of tobacco products  #SavesLivesSavesMoney  #TobaccoIsStillTakingLives  #TobaccoControlProgram TOBACCO-FREE CNY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025 – Reality Check youth from Onondaga County traveled to the Legislative Office Building at the New York State Capitol on February 12, joining dozens of… Read more >

Tobacco-Free Policies Offer Year-Round Protection and Benefits for the Community

TOBACCO-FREE CNY, JANUARY 6, 2025 – Tobacco-free policies offer many benefits to the community. These policies protect the public from the dangers of secondhand smoke, reduce the death and disease associated with smoking and secondhand smoke, protect the environment from tobacco waste, and promote a tobacco-free lifestyles. At this time of year, many people engage… Read more >