Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

New York will once again be taking part in a nationally coordinated effort to halt the spread of raccoon rabies in 16 states.

Ongoing field evaluation of a new oral rabies vaccine (ORV) called ONRAB will occur in Clinton, Essex counties in the Empire State as part of an evaluation that also includes parts of northern Vermont and New Hampshire.

Additionally, evaluations will also occur in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming counties.

These sites were selected in part because of ongoing collaborations with Quebec and Ontario, Canada in the fight against rabies to protect human and animal health and reduce significant cost associated with living with rabies across broad geographic areas.  Aerial and hand distribution of baits will take place in New York from July 26 – August 19, 2022.

Rabies is a serious public health concern because if left untreated it is generally fatal. Costs associated with detection, prevention and control of rabies conservatively exceed $500 million annually.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greater than 90 percent of reported rabies cases in the United States are in wildlife. The cooperative USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) was established in 1997 to prevent the further spread of wildlife rabies in the United States by containing and eventually eliminating the virus in terrestrial mammals.

The majority of the NRMP efforts are focused on controlling raccoon rabies, which continues to account for most of the reported wildlife rabies cases in the U.S.  Raccoon rabies occurs in all states east of the established ORV zone that extends from Maine to northeastern Ohio to central Alabama.  Continued access to oral vaccine and bait options that are effective in all target wildlife species remains critical to long-term success.

During 2011, the NRMP worked with other Federal, State and local partners to conduct the first raccoon ORV field trial in the U.S. in over 20 years. This field trial was designed to test the safety and immunogenicity (provoke an immune response in the body of a human or other animal) of the oral human adenovirus-rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine ONRAB (Artemis Technologies Inc., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ceva Sante Animale S.A., Guelph, Ontario, Canada), which has been successfully integrated into comprehensive rabies control programs that resulted in elimination of raccoon rabies from Canada.

Encouraging results from the U.S. trial in West Virginia represented a major milestone that led to expanded evaluations in 4 additional states (NH, NY, OH, and VT) in 2012-2021 and expansion into 2 new states (PA and TN) last year.

Data from these evaluations could lead to licensing of this vaccine for broader, more aggressive management of raccoon rabies by the NRMP and partners, with the goal of eliminating the variant of the rabies virus that cycle in raccoons.

The ONRAB bait consists of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blister pack, containing the vaccine. To make the baits attractive, the blister packs are coated with a sweet attractant that includes vegetable-based fats, wax, icing sugar, vegetable oil, artificial marshmallow flavor, and dark-green food-grade dye.

Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the bait. However, people who encounter baits directly are asked to leave the bait undisturbed.

Should contact with bait occur, immediately rinse the contact area with warm water and soap and contact your local health department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County or 585-589-3278 for Orleans County.

Please do not attempt to remove a bait from your dog’s mouth. The bait will not harm the dog.  If you have additional questions related to the field evaluation in New York, please contact the Wildlife Services office in Rensselaer, NY at (518) 477-4837.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported an increase in confirmed Covid cases in the past week.

In Orleans, the cases totaled 28 from July 6-12, up from 26 the previous seven days. Genesee more than doubled, going from 21 to 58.

Genesee County reported a Covid-related death in the past week and now has had 193 residents pass away from Covid since the pandemic started in march 2020. Orleans remains at 119 Covid-related deaths.

Statewide the 7-day positivity rate for Covid tests is at 9.21 percent, ending on Tuesday. Orleans County is in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region which has a positivity rate of 6.51 percent. That is almost the lowest rate in the state. Only the Southern Tier at 6.36 percent is lower. Long Island is the highest at 10.53 percent.

“We continue to respond to new variants as part of our ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers against Covid-19,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement today. “New Yorkers should get vaccinated and get the boosters doses for which they’re eligible. Parents and guardians should talk to pediatricians about getting our youngest New Yorkers vaccinated, too, now that they are able. Get tested if you feel ill and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about possible treatments.”

Provided photo: Pictured from left include Robin Govanlu, LMHC, LAC, LPC, director of Behavioral Health; Danielle Renodin-Mead, pediatrician and chief medical dfficer; and Peter Head, president of the Kiwanis Club of Brockport.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

BROCKPORT – Peter Head, president of the Kiwanis Club of Brockport, visited Oak Orchard Health to make a $1,000 donation to the new Mommy and Me program.

This program is designed to support mothers/primary caregivers and babies together in achieving optimal maternal and child health. The data shows that 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression or anxiety, according to Postpartum Support International.

“The Kiwanis Club of Brockport looks for opportunities to help families in our community. The Mommy and Me Program addresses a critical need in our area.  Our Club has always had a close relationship with Oak Orchard Health. We believe our missions are similar – supporting children and keeping everyone healthy,” said Peter Head, President of Kiwanis in Brockport.

The local program is co-founded by Dr. Danielle Renodin-Mead, pediatrician and chief medical officer; and Robin Govanlu, LMHC, LAC, LPC, director of Behavioral Health.

The Mommy and Me Program is an extremely innovative approach to improve child health outcomes in our region, and not only that but to also improve maternal health outcomes, with special attention to mental health in the postpartum period.

All Mom/Primary caregivers and babies of Oak Orchard Health are automatically enrolled in the program, from birth up to 5 years of age! In addition, some of the benefits of the program include enrollment in the WIC program and access to the Diaper Bank.

“As of the beginning of this year, 65 families were added to the WIC program who otherwise would not have had any way to get that service,” Dr. Renodin-Mead said.

Oak Orchard care managers are assigned to each mother to be evaluated for postpartum depression and anxiety, and then they are referred to one of our behavioral health counselors specializing in perinatal mental health.

“Mom’s mental health is so important to the whole family and we’re taking care of it in the early stages. Parents are very grateful for this service,” Govanlu said.

About Oak Orchard Health

Originally founded in 1973, Oak Orchard has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone located in the communities we serve. Currently serving over 30,000 patients at twelve locations, Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Hornell, Lyndonville and Warsaw.

Chart courtesy of the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

The local community levels for Covid-19 remain low, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Orleans and Genesee are both at low levels. That is determined by hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new Covid-19 cases in an area.

In Genesee, the confirmed Covid cases dropped from 37 from June 22-28 to 21 from June 29 to July 5. In Orleans, the cases went up slightly from 25 to 26.

State-wide the 7-day positivity for Covid tests was at 9.20 percent on Friday. About a week earlier, the 7-day rate was 5.91 percent. Orleans is the nine-county Finger Lakes Region where the positivity rate is at 5.79 percent. Long Island has the highest rate at 10.58 percent and Central New York is the lowest at 5.64 percent.

“As we continue to monitor the numbers, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using the tools we know that work to protect against and treat Covid-19,” Governor Hochul said in a statement on Friday. “Stay up to date on your vaccine and booster doses. If you’re a parent or guardian, talk to your pediatrician about getting your children vaccinated. Stay home if you feel sick and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.”

Mark Shurtz

MEDINA – The first half of 2022 has been full of achievements for Orleans Community Health and moments where rising to the occasion was needed, according to Marc Shurtz, chief executive officer at the hospital.

While the last couple of years have provided challenges for everyone, healthcare professionals have been at the forefront.

“Thanks to the dedicated team I have the privilege of working with on a daily basis, we believe our best days are still to come,” Shurtz said. “During a recent meeting I challenged some of our team to look back to the moments that truly make us who we are – a community health and wellness provider and resource.”

Below is the list they came up with which Shurtz said they feel encapsulates the true meaning of who they are.

In January they announced the opening of Orleans Community Health Surgery Clinic, located in Medina Memorial Hospital. The move not only brought the practice which Dr. Misiti built into the hospital, but also brought other surgeons and support staff to the community.

In March, they announced with Rochester Regional Hospital that they were partnering to bring the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute cardiology clinic to Medina Memorial Hospital. This provided a service that was needed in the community.

As a provider of healthcare services to the larger community, is always seeking new ways to get information out to a larger number of individuals. In April they launched the “Community Health Resource” column in an area paper. From misconceptions around popular dieting to women’s health, this column allows professionals from Medina’s team to provide health and wellness tips to the community. Even more exciting, according to Shurtz, is the fact that this concept will be expanding to other publications in the near future.

In May, the hospital’s chief nursing officer Kimberly Gray was named a finalist for the Community Nursing Award. She was listed among 14 others in all of Western New York.

As a community healthcare system, the entire Medina team prioritizes ways they can give back to the community. In May, tragedy struck neighboring Buffalo and on the following Monday, the conversation about doing something quickly gained traction throughout each of Orleans Community Health’s facilities. Internally, funds were donated, while donation drives were organized at each facility. After a month, multiple carloads of food and supplies were donation to FeedMore WNY.

In recent months, the wound care clinic doubled the hours in which services are provided, furthering their ability to provide care right in the community’s back yard.

An unfortunate theme for many industries has been the challenges presented by Covid-19. Staffing shortages have been a constant discussion, healthcare being one of the most publicized. That said, staffing at Orleans Community Health is stronger now than it was just prior to March 2020. Shurtz said they are excited and proud of the team that continues to be built at each of their facilities.

In conclusion, Shurtz said the next six months will include more engagement through events, an increased focus on sharing information about the hospital’s services and constantly providing health and wellness tips to the larger community.

2 counties still ranked low at community level for Covid by CDC

The local confirmed Covid cases is trending up after weeks of steady declines.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 25 Covid cases in Orleans from June 22-28, up from 15 the previous seven days. Genesee is up from 35 to 37 during that time frame.

Both counties continued to be ranked by the CDC as low for community levels. That is determined determined by hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new Covid-19 cases in an area.

The state’s seven-day average for positive Covid tests is at 5.91 percent, ending on June 29. A week earlier, the seven-day positivity was 4.68 percent statewide.

Orleans County is included int he nine-you the Finger Lakes region which has a seven-day positivity of 6.23 percent. Long Island has the highest positivity at 8.17 percent and the Southern Tier has the lowest at 4.54 percent.

“As we continue to monitor the current numbers, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using the tools we know that work to protect against Covid-19,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “Stay up to date on your vaccine and booster doses. Parents and guardians, now is a great time to consult with your child’s pediatrician about getting them vaccinated. Test if you have symptoms, and if you’re positive stay home and talk to you doctor about treatment.”

Charts courtesy of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered the Covid community level for both Genesee and Orleans counties from medium to low. The two counties were both put in the high community level about two months ago.

But the confirmed Covid cases have steadily been dropping. Orleans reported 15 cases total from June 15 to 21, which was down from 36 the week before. Genesee reported 34 cases, down from 43 the previous week.

Two months earlier, Orleans had 166 cases from April 20-26 while Genesee had 278 that week.

There was another Covid-related death in Genesee in the past week, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported. That brings the total Covid deaths to 192 in Genesee and 119 in Orleans since March 2020.

The cases have been steadily dropping in recent weeks in Orleans County.

The 34 cases in the past week are 13 percent of the 261 six weeks earlier.

The number of confirmed Covid cases in Orleans was up slightly from 36 during June 8 to 14 compared to 34 the previous seven days.

In Genesee County that cases dropped from 61 to 43, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The cases have been trending down in recent weeks.

In Orleans, the cases dropped from 120 (May 18-24) to 71 (May 25-31) to 34 (June 1-7) and then were slightly up to 36 (June 8-14).

In Genesee the cases are down from 170 (May 18-24) to 85 (May 25-31) to 61 (June 1-7) to 43 (June 8-14).

Both counties are now considered at the medium level for community spread by the CDC.

Statewide the percentage of positive tests over 7 days was at 5.48 percent on Friday. The Finger Lakes, which includes Orleans and eight other counties, was below the statewide average with a 4.88 percent positivity rate.

Genesee reports 3 more Covid-related deaths

Chart courtesy of Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

The number of Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties dropped in the past week, the second straight week of decline after a steady rise for two months.

There were 120 cases in Orleans from May 18 to May 24, which is down from the 10 the previous seven days and the 220 from May 4 to May 10.

The cases in Orleans in the past week include 90 from lab tests and 30 from take-home tests, the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments reported on Wednesday.

In Genesee there were 170 new confirmed cases from May 18 to May 24, which is down from 261 the previous seven days and 283 from May 4 to May 10.

Genesee County also is reporting three more Covid-related deaths during the seven days and now has had 191 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic since March 2020. Orleans has had 117 Covid deaths during the pandemic, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

The seven-day Covid positivity rate statewide is 7.68 percent. In the nine-county Finger Lakes Region, which includes Orleans, the positivity rate is at 10.10 percent in the past seven days. It’s higher in the Capital Region at 10.65 percent, Long Island at 10.68 percent and Western New York at 12.95 percent. Central New York has the lowest rate at 5.79 percent.

“As we head into the Memorial Day weekend and prepare to travel and gather with loved ones, I encourage everyone to continue taking advantage of the tools we have available to protect against and treat Covid-19,” Governor Hochul said. “The best way to avoid serious illness from Covid-19 is by keeping up to date with your vaccination and booster doses.”

By Chrissy Krueger RN, RD, CDN, CDCES,
Diabetes Education Specialist, Oak Orchard Health

Let us start by talking about diabetes since I am a Diabetes Educator, at Oak Orchard Health and have been a registered nurse and dietitian for 15 years. Much of this information will be helpful whether you have diabetes or not. I will also discuss nutrition tips that are helpful to everyone.

Two main types of Diabetes

With type 1 diabetes, genetics and viruses are often the main reasons why people get this. With type 1 diabetes, your own immune system destroys the cells that produce insulin. This is a problem as no one can live without insulin. Insulin is key to helping our bodies obtain energy.  Type 1 diabetes most often affects younger people, but it can also be found in people in their 30s-40s and even older.

Most people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes; some risk factors include family history, age above 35, and high blood pressure. Two main things are going on with type 2 diabetes. Your insulin doesn’t work the way it should and over time, you may not make enough insulin. Both these factors make it difficult for your body to obtain energy and lead to high blood sugars.

What does weight have to do with it?

Two risk factors found in many people with type 2 diabetes are also very common among people living in America today. You guessed it!  Being overweight and inactive.  Per the CDC 73.6% of adults and 22% of adolescents are overweight/obese. Physical activity stats are not much better. Only 23% of adults are meeting the physical activity guidelines, which is very similar to our younger folks.

Just having a diagnosis of diabetes puts you at increased risk of heart disease. Not surprisingly being overweight/obese also places you at higher risk.

What you eat helps control diabetes

Eating heart-healthy foods is one of the key tools to managing your diabetes. It also is effective for disease prevention. There is no diabetic diet currently endorsed by the American Diabetes Association. Overall, your nutrition plan should be individualized, so it fits within your lifestyle. Yes, it is true carbohydrates do affect your blood sugar more than other nutrients. However, carbs are your main source of energy for your body. So, what is a person with diabetes supposed to do? Include healthy carbs, spread your intake of carbs throughout the day, pay attention to the portion size, and have balanced meals.

For diabetes, we often review the meal planning method called carb counting. In this plan, you learn what foods are high in carbs, and what is a portion, and then learn to have a consistent amount at each meal. By following this type of plan, you will have blood sugars that are more predictable. Another type of plan commonly used is called the plate method. It is based on a 9-inch plate. Half your plate should include non-starchy veggies, ¼ is for starch and ¼ is for protein.

For people on insulin pumps or 3-4 injections of insulin per day, some learn how to adjust the insulin to the number of carbs they will eat. This gives people much more flexibility in their eating habits.

Carbohydrates are not necessarily bad for you

For everyone out there, carbs are not bad, just like fat and protein are not bad if eaten in moderation. They make up our nutrients and nutrients are what we all need to live on. It is true; however, if you have diabetes, it is important to pay attention to the number of carbs you eat.  Instead of eliminating an entire food group, work on including a variety of heart-healthy food choices most often and limit your intake of less healthy ones. With diabetes, you can really have your cake and eat it too! Just do not eat the whole cake whoever you are!

This article gives you a peek at diabetes and nutrition. There is so much more to know so if you have questions, talk with your primary care physician or a diabetes educator.

Charts courtesy of Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

The confirmed Covid cases in Orleans declined the past seven days after about two months of steady weekly increases.

There were 190 cases in Orleans from May 11 to May 17, which is down from 220 the previous seven days, 197 from April 27 to May 3, and 166 from April 20 to April 26.

The cases in Orleans in the past week include 140 from lab tests and 50 from take-home tests, the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

In Genesee the cases have declined from 286 from April 27 to May 3, to 283 from May 4 to May 10, and 261 the past week.

Both counties are reporting a Covid-related death in the past week, which brings the total Covid deaths to 188 in Genesee County and 117 in Orleans since March 2020.

The 7-day positivity rate state-wide was at 7.66 percent on Monday, and was the highest in Western New York at 18.20 percent. The nine-county Finger Lakes Region was second highest at 13.15 percent. New York City is the lowest at 5.18 percent.

The federal Food and Drug Administration on Monday authorized the first Covid-19 booster dose for 5 to 11 year olds.

“Following approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Yorkers will be able to safely provide this life-saving tool to their children,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “In the meantime, I am calling on our parents and guardians to do what they can to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. That includes getting boosted, if you haven’t already. Let’s continue to work together and take care of one another, New York.”

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a free drive-through anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, May 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. 4 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“We encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals (including baby wild animals), stray dogs or cats.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit four pets per car maximum.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinics are as follows:

Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)

• Thursday, August 11th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, September 15th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 13th, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31, Albion, NY)

• Saturday, June 4th, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, August 13th, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, October 15th, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 589-3278 for Orleans County or 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County.