Otsego County Department of Health

03/09/2026

As the weather is warming up and we are spending more time outdoors please remember to check for ticks!

Some tips for preventing tick bites include:
- Conducting frequent and thorough tick checks
- Wear protective clothing such as long pants and boots
- Use an EPA registered repellent such as permethrin (do not use on skin or pets)

Don't believe ticks are quite active yet? Check out this video of one of our coworkers 2 years ago right around this time of year!

03/02/2026

UPDATED - 2026 FREE RABIES VACCINATION CLINIC SCHEDULE DATES AND TIMES!

-All clinics are 6pm - 8pm
-NO registration required

**We would like to sincerely thank everyone in our community who spread the word and shared our previous post about seeking licensed veterinarians. Because of your support and outreach, we were able to schedule additional clinics!**

02/17/2026

Thinking about quitting smoking? Check out this FREE program!

02/17/2026

Reminder that February is National Heart Month and we are offering free cpr courses. Here is the list of remaining courses for Heart Month. To register please email cprtraining@otsegocountyny.gov or call 607-547-4328.

02/11/2026

02/11/2026

The 2025–2030 Otsego County Community Health Assessment Has Been Released!

The Otsego County Department of Health, in partnership with Bassett Medical Center and A.O. Fox Hospital, is proud to share our newly completed Community Health Assessment (CHA) for 2025–2030.

Over 2,900 Otsego County residents from every zip code participated in this process. Along with state and federal health data, your voices helped us better understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities shaping health in our community.

What we learned:
• Otsego County remains a proud rural community of nearly 60,000 residents with strong community ties and valuable local assets.
• We are an aging county, with growing demand for healthcare and aging-related services.
• Provider shortages and difficulty accessing timely appointments continue to impact care.
• Mental health, obesity, diabetes, housing affordability, and transportation barriers are key concerns.
• Social determinants of health — including income, housing quality, food access, and transportation — significantly influence overall well-being.

Our Priority Areas Moving Forward:
- Access to Care
- Nutrition, Obesity & Physical Activity
- Mental Health

This assessment is more than a report — it is a roadmap. The findings will guide our upcoming Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and shape collaborative action over the next several years.

We are grateful to our community partners, stakeholders, and residents who contributed their time and insight to this effort. Together, we will continue working toward a healthier, more equitable Otsego County.

Read the full report here:
https://cms2.revize.com/revize/otsegocountynynew/COMMUNITY%20HEALTH%20ASSESSMENT%202025-2030.pdf?t=202602110810340

This can also be found on our department's website: https://cms2.revize.com/revize/otsegocountynynew/departments/health_department/index.php

02/02/2026

Public Health PSA, Grammy Edition

Big congrats to Tyler Childers for winning Best Country Song for “Bitin’ List”

Which feels like the perfect reminder to check and make sure your pet up to date on their rabies vaccination and that you know what to do if you find a bat in your home?

Because while Tyler’s song is great, actual bites from bats, raccoons, skunks, or unvaccinated pets are NOT Grammy-worthy

Please remember:
-Don’t touch bats with bare hands
-If a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person, child, or pet call your local health department
-Keep pets’ rabies vaccines current (it protects them and you)

For rabies data in Otsego County as well as a video on how to properly catch a bat visit: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/811bf16e0871430abf71178278f656f8

01/22/2026

Otsego County Office of Emergency Services staff has issued the following statement regarding the weather event for this weekend. Please share.

01/22/2026

With the threat of extremely cold temperatures this weekend, here are some winter safety tips to keep in mind;

01/22/2026

Click the link below for our Monthly Disease Surveillance Report for the month of December!

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/otsegocountynynew/Disease%20Surveillance%20&%20Response%20Report%20December%202025.pdf?t=202601220931530

**Check out the Influenza data:
December 2024 = 73 cases
December 2025 = 431 cases

For more flu data visit our dashboard: https://otsegocountyny.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/7a945004193843cbb2fadf11203b3382