Onondaga County Health Department

07/24/2025

YAY! 🎉 to Onondaga County Health Department for offering another chance for you to protect your cats, dogs, and ferrets from deadly rabies!

Look for us and say Hi! Fixing to Help volunteers will be out in full force to hand out flyers and chat up the joys of spay and neuter! 😍 We'll begin signing up pets for surgeries this fall, but promoting your pet's health and safety never stops.

Sign up your pet. There are plenty of rabies vaccination appointments available, so why not snag one online today!
https://ochdrabiesclinic.as.me/schedule/d0ede0db/appointment/31137429?fbclid=IwY2xjawLuKN5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFyaDR2endKWkpQamZyZlRnAR4If4hXol3abYxvBuSM94i0j6yZON4iWHWvuuhuyjcll3h5lOYZwDXsiY7XsA_aem_r7ril4apA0EjFcHW2PnFNA
Walk-ins are welcome, too. There is no fee but donations are always appreciated.

Your pet must be securely leashed or in a secure carrier. Your pet's first rabies vaccination must be boosted one year later. After that one-year booster, vaccinations must be repeated every three years. Ferrets must be vaccinated every year.

If your pet has a record of receiving a previous rabies vaccination, please bring it to secure a 3-year rabies certificate.

If you are not an Onondaga County resident and need a rabies vaccination for your pet, it's best to contact the Onondaga County Health Department at 315-435-3165 to confirm the current policy for FREE vaccinations and explore options. You can also contact your local county health department for information on free or low-cost rabies clinics in your area.

See you soon - and please share!

07/24/2025

🌞 Extreme heat can be harmful—know what to watch for and take steps to protect yourself! 🌡

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can happen when your body can’t cool down effectively. Normally, we cool off by sweating, but in very hot conditions, that might not be enough. When body temperature rises too quickly, it can cause serious health issues, including damage to vital organs like the brain.

✅ Need a place to cool off? Find a cooling center near you: https://tinyurl.com/Cooling-Center-Finder
💧 Keep cool. Drink plenty of water. Take care of yourself and others.
📖 More heat safety tips: http://www.ongov.net/health/heat.html

☀️💦

Good afternoon, summer weather returns tomorrow with heat and humidity returning. Friday will have a cold front moving in so the heat will be short lived but will be dealing with thunderstorms as the front moves through.

07/21/2025

Jamesville Beach Closed for Swimming

JULY 19, 2025: The Onondaga County Health Department announced today that Jamesville Beach, located in the town of Lafayette, has closed to swimming due 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 does not affect the park's other amenities during normal hours of operation. While Jamesville Beach is closed, the public can enjoy Oneida Shores Beach in Brewerton which is open Monday-Thursday, 12-6pm; Friday-Sunday, 11-6pm.
For updates visit: https://onondagacountyparks.com/about/water-quality-testing

07/21/2025

Found a syringe on the ground?
Don’t touch it if you’re not comfortable!
Call 📞 315-418-5365 to request a safe needle cleanup.

✅ Stay safe.
✅ Keep your community clean.

07/21/2025

Yay 🎉 to Onondaga County Health Department for offering another chance for you to protect your cats, dogs, and ferrets from deadly rabies!

Look for us and say Hi! Fixing to Help volunteers will be out in full force to hand out flyers and chat up the joys of spay and neuter! 😍 We'll begin signing up pets for surgeries this fall, but promoting your pet's health and safety never stops.

Sign up your pet. There are plenty of rabies vaccination appointments available, so why not snag one online today! https://ochdrabiesclinic.as.me/schedule/d0ede0db/appointment/31137429 Walk-ins are welcome, too. There is no fee but donations are always appreciated.

Your pet must be securely leashed or in a secure carrier. Your pet's first rabies vaccination must be boosted one year later. After that one-year booster, vaccinations must be repeated every three years. Ferrets must be vaccinated every year.

If your pet has a record of receiving a previous rabies vaccination, please bring it to secure a 3-year rabies certificate.

If you are not an Onondaga County resident and need a rabies vaccination for your pet, it's best to contact the Onondaga County Health Department at 315-435-3165 to confirm the current policy for FREE vaccinations and explore options. You can also contact your local county health department for information on free or low-cost rabies clinics in your area.

See you soon - and please share!

07/18/2025

Lead Recall Alert – The Dlesot Snap Children’s Hair Clips have been recalled due to high levels of lead, posing a possible health risk. The hair clips were sold on Amazon.com. Customers are advised to immediately stop using the hair clips and to keep them away from their children. If your child has used this product, consider having them tested for an elevated blood lead level. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can cause permanent damage to the nervous system. This can result in learning disorders, developmental delays, and other long-term health problems. For more information about blood lead testing, contact your child’s healthcare provider. If your child does not have a healthcare provider or if you have other questions, contact us at LeadFreeKids@ongov.net or call (315) 435-3271. To read the full product recall, please visit: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Dlesot-Snap-Childrens-Hair-Clips-Recalled-Due-to-Lead-Poisoning-Hazard-Violation-of-Federal-Ban-for-Lead-in-Paint-Sold-Exclusively-on-Amazon-by-YFLGOTOO

07/18/2025

👏 Congratulations to PEACE, Inc. Genesee Head Start for earning the Lactation-Friendly Worksite and Community/Public Space Designation through our BFFNY program! 💜

PEACE, Inc. Genesee Head Start, created a lactation room, adopted a lactation policy, and signed a pledge. Thank you for fostering a supportive environment for chest/breastfeeding among your employees and building visitors.

07/17/2025

Extended to July 25tht!

Thanks to you, we’ve had a great response to the Onondaga County Community Health Survey so far!

If you haven’t taken the survey yet, there is a little more time-don't miss your chance to share what matters most to you.

Please take the survey and share this post with your friends, family, and community groups. Every response counts!
Go to http://ongov.net/health/ to complete the survey!

07/16/2025

🌞 Extreme heat can be dangerous—know the signs and stay safe! 🌡

Heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke happen when your body can’t cool itself properly. Sweating helps, but during very hot weather, it might not be enough. If your body temperature rises too fast, it can lead to serious health problems, including damage to the brain and other vital organs.

✅ Find a local cooling center: https://tinyurl.com/Cooling-Center-Finder
💧 Stay cool. Stay hydrated. Stay safe.
📖 Learn more tips to beat the heat: http://www.ongov.net/health/heat.html

☀️💦

Very warm and humid conditions are expected today. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and evening. A few storms could produce heavy downpours.

07/16/2025

PRESS RELEASE: Onondaga County Reports First Human Case of West Nile Virus Since 2019; First Finding of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Mosquitoes this Season

ONONDAGA COUNTY, JULY 16, 2025 – Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Kathryn Anderson announced today that the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection since 2019 has been reported in an elderly adult residing in the Town of Cicero. The individual was hospitalized, has since been discharged, and is currently recovering. Additionally, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) was detected in mosquitoes collected from a mosquito trap located on East Taft Road in the Town of Cicero through the Onondaga County Health Department’s mosquito surveillance program.

LEARN MORE HERE: https://healthnews.ongov.net/human-case-of-wnv-eee-in-mosquitoes-7-16-25/

07/16/2025

Jamesville Beach Reopened for Swimming

The Onondaga County Health Department announced today that Jamesville Beach is reopened for swimming following satisfactory laboratory test results. The beach was closed on Thursday, July 10 due to visual presence of an algal bloom that has since dissipated.

FOR FUTURE UPDATES on testing and closure status of Onondaga County Parks beaches please visit www.onondagacountyparks.com/about/water-quality-testing/ or call the Division of Environmental Health at 315.435.6617.

07/15/2025

Another hot day today in CNY! A heat advisory has been issued for for Onondaga County from 11am to 8pm for tomorrow, Wednesday July 16th with heat index values of up to 98 expected. 🔥

Stay cool and safe as temperatures climb into the low 90s with a heat advisory continuing into this evening.

💧 Keep Cool
• Hydrate early and often, water is your best friend today!
• Seek shade whenever you can! Especially between 11 AM and 4 PM when sun is strongest.
• Cover up with light, breathable clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and SPF 30+ sunscreen.

⚠️ Know the Warning Signs
• Look out for heat exhaustion symptoms: dizziness, nausea, headaches, heavy sweating.
• If you or someone else feels overheated, move to a cool spot, sip water, and apply cool compresses.
• Heat stroke signs (confusion, high body temp) are serious—call 911 immediately.

🌬️Breathe Easy
• Air quality may be poor today due to wildfire smoke. If you have asthma or respiratory concerns, it’s best to avoid strenuous work outdoors .

High pressure moves into the area today bringing mostly sunny skies and warm, muggy conditions.