Orleans County currently has 49 active Covid cases, which is the same since Thursday when the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments last updated the local Covid data.

Orleans has had 28 new reported cases since then – and also 28 recoveries where previous positive individuals completed their 10-day isolation and were removed from mandatory isolation.

Those 28 new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. There are three Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Orleans currently remains in an orange zone from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That signifies “substantial” community spread of Covid, but is down from being in a red zone for “high” community spread.

Genesee County is currently in a red zone, like 89 percent of the counties in the United States, according to the CDC database.

Genesee is reporting 39 new positive cases of Covid since Thursday, and 35 more recoveries. That increases the county’s number of active cases to 53. The new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There are 10 Genesee residents currently hospitalized due to Covid, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

If bat comes inside house, Health Dept. has tips for catching it

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Rabies is a deadly but 100 percent preventable viral disease of mammals that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

Each year, the vast majority of rabies cases reported occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.

“It is very important to get your pets vaccinated and not to touch or handle any stray or wild animals including baby animals and bats,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Remember not to touch animals out in public as they may be scared and bite or scratch out of fear.”

Bats can occasionally find their way into houses, which most often occurs during the summer nights. What should you do when you find a bat in your home? It is extremely important to safely capture the suspected animal if it has or may have been in contact with people, pets or livestock so it can be tested for rabies. If the bat cannot be captured, you should call the health department for advice and next steps. If you are certain that the bat did not come in contact with a person or pet, close the room and closet doors, open the windows and watch the bat until it leaves your house.

In some situations, it is possible that a bat bite could go undetected. For example, when a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person or a bat is found next to an unattended young child.

“If the bat is available for testing and the test results are negative, post exposure treatment will not be needed,” stated Pettit. Rabies post exposure prophylaxis is recommended for all persons with a bite, scratch or mucus membrane exposure to a bat, unless the bat is available for testing and is negative for evidence of rabies.

To safely capture a bat:

• Turn on room lights and close all the windows.
• Close the room and closet doors.
• Wait for the bat to land.
• While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat. (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).
• Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.
• Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.

By avoiding contact with stray or wild animals, saving the bat or animal that may have had contact with humans or domestic animals, and reporting an incident to your local Health Department, we may be able to avoid unnecessary medical treatment that averages over $3,000 per person. As a pet owner, if you see your pet bite someone or know that your pet bit someone, please report it to the health department so we can get rabies verification. This will help avoid unnecessary medical treatment for the victim.

Please take note of our upcoming free drive thru anti-rabies immunization clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties.

Orleans County: Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 RT. 31, Albion, NY)

• Oct. 2 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Genesee County: Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)

• Sept. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Oct. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Active cases increase from 81 to 99 in 2 counties since Monday

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported an increase in the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 from three Monday to 11 today. That includes three in Orleans and eight in Genesee.

The number of active Covid cases in the two counties also is up from 81 on Monday to 99 today.

The G-O Health Departments provided the first Covid update today since Monday. There are 19 new cases in Orleans in the three days and 30 in Genesee.

The 19 new positive cases in Orleans include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The three Orleans residents who are hospitalized are up from one on Monday. Orleans also is reporting 18 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee, the 30 new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 80s. The eight people who are hospitalized with Covid is up from two on Monday. Genesee is also reporting 10 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Orleans and Genesee are in the Finger Lakes region where the 7-day positivity rate for Covid tests is at 4.1 percent, and 3.5 percent on Wednesday when the region had 234 positive tests out of 6,634. The Capital Region currently has the highest 7-day positivity rate at 4.7 percent.

State-wide the positivity rate on Wednesday was 3.03 percent or 5,138 positive tests out of 169,710. This is the first time the state is over 5,000 new cases in a day since April 17 when there were 5,704 new cases. A year ago, there were 631 new cases in the state and the positivity rate was 0.8 percent.

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that up to $500 million in American Rescue Plan emergency rural health care funding will be newly available, Senator Gillibrand is encouraging all eligible New York entities to apply ahead of the deadline.

Applicants may apply for Impact Grants by October 12^th and Recovery Grants on a continual basis until funds are expended. Senator Gillibrand fought hard to pass the American Rescue Plan package, which included this funding to expand access to Covid-19 health care services and nutrition assistance for New York State’s rural health care facilities, tribes, and rural communities.

“The federal government is delivering on its promise to provide direct relief to our nation’s rural communities. I am so pleased to announce that up to $500 million in emergency federal funding will help bring immediate relief to thousands of rural health care systems struggling to recover from the economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic and will help strengthen their long-term sustainability,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I strongly encourage all eligible New York entities to apply before the October 12th deadline.”

Who is eligible to apply for this program?

1. Public bodies
2. Community-based nonprofits
3. Federally-recognized Tribes

What is an eligible rural area?

Rural areas including cities, villages, towns, townships, and federally-recognized Tribal lands with no more than 20,000 residents as determined by the latest U.S. Census data are eligible for this program. Facilities and projects must be located in — and primarily serve — rural areas. Population statistics may be adjusted to exclude long-term prison populations, and the first 1,500 service members living in government quarters on a military installation.

How to apply

Recovery Grants are available to help public bodies, nonprofit organizations and tribes provide immediate Covid-19 relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. Recovery Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are expended. These funds may be used to:

• Increase Covid-19 vaccine distribution and telehealth capabilities;
• Purchase medical supplies;
• Replace revenue lost during the pandemic;
• Build and rehabilitate temporary or permanent structures for health care services;
• Support staffing needs for vaccine administration and testing;
• Support facility and operations expenses associated with food banks and food distribution facilities.

Impact Grants are available to help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits, and tribes solve regional rural health care problems and build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic. Impact Grant applications must be submitted to your local USDA Rural Development State Office by 4 p.m. local time on Oct. 12. USDA encourages applicants to plan and implement strategies to:

• Develop health care systems that offer a blend of behavioral care, primary care, and other medical services;
• Support health care as an anchor institution in small communities;
• Expand telehealth, electronic health data sharing, workforce development, transportation, paramedicine, obstetrics, behavioral health, farmworker health care, and cooperative home care.

USDA encourages potential applicants to review the application guide at www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.

This map from the CDC shows the levels of transmission for each of the counties in the state. Red means there is high transmission, while orange (the next level down) shows substantial transmission and yellow means moderate community spread of Covid-19.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now lists Orleans County in the red zone as a community with high transmission.

In Western New York, only Orleans and Monroe counties are in the red zones. Genesee is listed in the orange zone, the next level down, with “substantial” community transmission based on new cases last week.

Wyoming and Livingston counties are at moderate levels or the yellow zone. The CDC map shows nearly the entire state is in either a red or orange zone.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments today are reporting 19 new cases in Orleans since Thursday and 27 more in Genesee County.

The number of active cases in each county has increased 26 a week ago in Orleans to 48 today, and 21 in Genesee a week ago to 33 today.

Of the 19 new cases in Orleans, the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Orleans also is reporting 17 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

There is currently one Orleans County resident hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 27 new positive cases and they are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s  and 90s.

Genesee is reporting 16 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

There are currently two Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee also reports a death from Covid

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also is reporting a death of a Genesee County resident under age 65 due to Covid.

“No other information will be shared to protect the privacy of this individual,” the Health Departments said. “Our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of this person.”

According to the State Department of Health, there have been 124 Covid-related deaths in Genesee County and 83 in Orleans during the pandemic.

G-O Health Departments urge people to get vaccinated; No mask mandate in either county

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments issued a news release this afternoon about the community Covid spread:

“We continue to encourage everyone to follow the public health prevention precautions as noted below. It is important for those who are not currently vaccinated to talk with their primary care provider to determine whether getting vaccinated is right for them.

“There are currently no masking mandates that have been issued by either county, however, per the CDC recommendations for communities with substantial or high spread of Covid-19, we encourage everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to wear masks when indoors in public and when at crowded outdoor settings.

“Everyone should continue practicing the following public health prevention precautions:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• If water is not readily available, use hand sanitizer.
• Wash and sanitize frequently shared/touched items.
• Stay 6 feet away from others and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Wear a face mask indoors in public and crowded outdoor settings.
• Monitor your health daily and stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms.
• Get tested if you are experiencing symptoms and self-isolate until you get your results back. If you test positive for Covid, you are to isolate for 10 days.

“The best way to protect yourself from Covid-19 or health complications from Covid-19 is to get vaccinated,” stated Paul Pettit, public health director in the two counties. “Now is the best time to take advantage of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 before the new school term starts and the weather changes and we start moving back indoors.”

Home testing kits: For those who are using home testing kits, please note that the Health Departments are unable to verify the results and will not be able to provide paperwork for your employer/insurance company.

Home tests that need verification will have to complete a follow-up test with an approved provider for documentation and state reporting purposes. If you do either a home test or a test at approved provider, it is important to remember to self-isolate until you receive test results. For home testing, you are to self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days from onset of symptoms or getting your test result.  Contact your primary care physician for further instructions.

Employees at hospitals, long-term care facilities need first dose by Sept. 27

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that all healthcare workers in New York State, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings, will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by Monday, September 27.

The State Department of Health will issue Section 16 Orders requiring all hospital, long-term care facilities, and nursing homes to develop and implement a policy mandating employee vaccinations, with limited exceptions for those with religious or medical reasons. To date, 75% of the state’s 450,000 hospital workers, 74% of the state’s 30,000 adult care facility workers, and 68% of the state’s 145,500 nursing home workers have completed their vaccine series. Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration was briefed prior to the announcement.

“The Delta variant is spreading across the nation and across New York – new daily positives are up over 1000% over the last six weeks, and over 80 percent of recent positives in New York State are linked to the Delta variant,” Cuomo said. “We must now act again to stop the spread. Our healthcare heroes led the battle against the virus, and now we need them to lead the battle between the variant and the vaccine.”

Cuomo also announced that the Department of Health has authorized a third Covid-19 vaccine dose for New Yorkers with compromised immune systems, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation last week. Eligible New Yorkers can receive their third dose 28 days after the completion of their two-dose vaccine series, effective immediately.

The CDC is currently recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose, including people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood;
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medications to suppress the immune system;
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system;
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome);
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection;
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, cancer chemotherapy that causes sever immunosuppression, or other medications that may suppress your immune response.

New Yorkers should contact their healthcare provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them at this time.

Event is chance to raise awareness and remember the lives lost due to overdose

Press Release, GCASA

BATAVIA – Backed by that clear but hard-hitting mission statement, members of the GOW Opioid Task Force will be coming together on August 25 to host their version of the International Overdose Awareness Day observation.

The event is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. at Austin Park in Batavia.

“We’re thankful to be able to welcome everyone to join us in recognizing the significance of the opioid epidemic upon the residents of our community,” said Christen Ferraro, project coordinator for the GOW Opioid Task Force, which is funded by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. “Those in attendance will be able to hear first-hand from those who have experienced loss due to overdoses.”

Representatives of local human services agencies will be on hand to share information, and free Narcan training and kits will be offered, Ferraro said. Free food and refreshments will be served.

Attendees also will be offered the opportunity to leave a heart on the task force’s memory board for a deceased loved one.

International Overdose Awareness Day was created in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, and now is held on an annual basis. Locally, it took place virtually last year due to Covid-19. In 2020, there were 602 Overdose Awareness Day events held in 37 countries.

To register for this year’s event, click here. Those interested in having a vendor table are asked to contact Ferraro at cferraro@gcasa.org.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Do you know a dad that has been in a public place with their baby and unable to find a changing table inside the men’s restroom?

Changing table inequalities have been in existence for years. In 2018, they came to the forefront when a father from Florida posted a picture on social media showing that he had to squat and change his son’s diapers on his lap because there wasn’t a changing table available in the men’s restroom.

A nationwide survey found that 9 out of 10 dads have gone into a public restroom unable to find a changing table. As a result, Pampers created the “Love the Change” campaign to provide changing tables to businesses and not-for-profits across the United States to install in men’s restrooms. Pampers has already donated 3,557 changing tables, but they are pledging to donate 1,000 more by the end of 2021.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are collaborating with Pampers to identify local businesses and not-for-profits throughout Genesee and Orleans counties that would be interested in receiving a changing table for their men’s restroom. This is 100 percent free of charge and the only requirement is that businesses install their own changing table.

If you are a not-for-profit or business owner that is interested in receiving a changing table for your men’s room, please contact the Genesee County Health Department by calling 585-344-2580 ext. 5578 or emailing Kayla.Shuknecht@co.genesee.ny.us.

Orleans has gone from 3 cases on Aug. 2 to 46 on Aug. 12

The number of active Covid-19 cases continues to rise locally after there were nearly no cases about a month ago.

Orleans County had 46 active cases on Thursday and Genesee was at 26 for a total of 72 in the two counties. On July 8, there was only 1 active case in both counties (in Orleans), according to data from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

In an update on Thursday, the Health Departments said there are 27 new positive cases of Covid in Orleans since Monday, and those individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

One resident from Orleans is hospitalized due to Covid. Orleans also is reporting 7 more of the previous positive individuals completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation and are no longer active cases.

In Genesee, there are 18 new cases since Monday. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There are 2 from Genesee currently hospitalized due to Covid. Genesee also is reporting 11 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation and are no longer active cases.

The federal CDC currently has Orleans County considered to have “substantial level of community transmission” while Genesee is at the lower moderate level.

Monroe County has been elevated to “high” rates of transmission, a level above Orleans.

Orleans County is considered to have “substantial level of community transmission,” according to CDC Covid Data Tracker (click here).

The number of active cases in the county has increased in the past week from 3 on Aug. 2 to 26 today. Genesee County is considered to be at “moderate level of transmission” and the active cases are up from 7 a week ago to 21 today.

The change in designation for Orleans isn’t a surprise, said Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties. That’s because Niagara, Erie and Monroe counties are all considered to be at the substantial level of transmission.”

The uptick of new Covid cases in both counties includes some cases where the individuals are fully vaccinated.

“This is not unexpected as we are seeing this across the state and nation,” Pettit said. “This is what viruses do. Even for those who are fully vaccinated there is a chance the individual may become infected with Covid-19, especially due to the high transmission rate of the Delta Variant. Although being fully vaccinated may not completely protect someone from getting Covid-19, the vast majority of those who have been fully vaccinated and have become infected had little or no symptoms or serious complications.”

Pettit and the local health department urge people eligible for the vaccine to get it if they haven’t already. The vaccination is free and clinics are held weekly at each of the health departments (click here  to see clinics and locations).

Pharmacies and health care providers also provide the Covid-19 vaccine. Check www.vaccines.gov for a location nearby.

Per the CDC recommendations for communities with substantial or high spread of Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments encourages everyone to continue, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to continue practicing the following public health prevention precautions:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• If water is not readily available, use hand sanitizer.
• Wash and sanitize frequently shared/touched items.
• Stay 6 feet away from others and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Wear a face mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
• Monitor your health daily and stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms.
• Get tested if you are experiencing symptoms and self-isolate until you get your results back. If you test positive for Covid, you are to isolate for 10 days.

“The best way to protect yourself from Covid-19 or health complications from Covid-19 is to get vaccinated,” Pettit said. “Now is the best time to take advantage of getting vaccinated for Covid-19 before the new school term starts and the weather changes and we start moving back indoors.”

The number of people getting first dose in vaccine in past week includes 230 in Orleans for 18,427 total receiving vaccines out of 40,612 residents (45.4 percent), and 265 in Genesee for 29,132 total out of 57,511 residents (50.7 percent).

In Orleans the 230 was up from the number in the previous two weeks.

• Week ending Aug. 9: 230 in Orleans, 265 in Genesee
• Week ending Aug. 2: 166 in Orleans, 330 in Genesee
• Week ending July 26: 92 in Orleans, 142 in Genesee

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

Provided photos: Stacie Bridge, chief operating officer at Oak Orchard Health, gives a thumbs up after getting her Covid-19 vaccine.

Nationwide, health centers provide preventive and primary care services to almost 30 million people and have continued to do so while facing a global pandemic.

In 2019, Oak Orchard Health served over 23,339 patients and that number continues to grow when we added three new locations in 2020 – Batavia, Pembroke and Alexander.

Community health centers are not just healers, we are innovators who look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, lack of nutrition, and unemployment.

Over the past year, we’ve cared for our community during the pandemic whether they were our patients or not. Oak Orchard was one of the first to do drive-through Covid-19 testing in our health center parking lots for people with symptoms and without.

“We have done over 6,800 Covid tests and 5,600 vaccinations,” said Dr. Mary Obear, Chief Clinical Officer. “And consultations with patients throughout the pandemic to advise them on how to care for themselves and their loved ones.”

Oak Orchard used telehealth technology to communicate with patients who needed to “see” their providers. And as soon as vaccines were available, Oak Orchard created vaccine events where people could get vaccinated. All while ensuring that farmworkers had the healthcare they needed since they are essential workers.

Dr. Mary Obear

“We are proud to employ 275 people and have contributed significantly to the economies of Monroe, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming and Genesee counties,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO, Oak Orchard Health.

Oak Orchard Health

Originally founded in 1966, 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 23,000 patients at eleven locations, Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.

The number of Covid-19 cases has jumped in Genesee and Orleans counties, especially in the past few days.

About a month ago on July 8 there was only one active case in the two counties, with one in Orleans and none in Genesee.

On Friday, there were 34 active cases in the two counties – 14 in Genesee and 20 in Orleans. On Tuesday there were 10 cases in the two counties, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

Here are some daily updates of the active cases in the two counties the past month:

• July 8: 0 in Genesee, 1 in Orleans (1 in 2 counties)
• July 12: 4 in Genesee, 8 in Orleans (12 in 2 counties)
• July 15: 5 in Genesee, 9 in Orleans (14 in 2 counties)
• July 19: 4 in Genesee, 8 in Orleans (12 in 2 counties)
• July 22: 5 in Genesee, 4 in Orleans (9 in 2 counties)
• July 26: 3 in Genesee, 6 in Orleans (9 in 2 counties)
• July 29: 4 in Genesee, 6 in Orleans (10 in 2 counties)
• Aug. 2: 7 in Genesee, 3 in Orleans (10 in 2 counties)
• Aug. 5: 11 in Genesee, 10 in Orleans (21 in 2 counties)
• Aug. 6: 14 in Genesee, 20 in Orleans (34 in 2 counties)

“The Delta variant is the dominant strain of Covid-19 circulating in the United States right now and presumably it is here locally,” said Kristine Voss, public information office for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Currently, genetic sequencing to differentiate between variants is not widely available.”

There is currently one Orleans County resident hospitalized from Orleans, and none from Genesee.

The daily Covid cases state-wide are up 10-fold in the past month. On July 6 there were 307 new cases reported in the state, and on Friday there were 3,700.

Local and state health officials urge unvaccinated people to get the vaccine. There will be several vaccination clinics next week in Genesee and Orleans, timed to help get children 12 and older vaccinated for start the school year. For more information on those clinics, click here to be directed to the Health Department website.

Press Release, Genesee County Health Department

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department is seeking information about the location of a dog and its owners following a dog bite incident on Saturday, July 17, around noon at Home Depot in Batavia (4181 Veterans Memorial Drive).

The dog is described as a small black dog on a leash. The dog’s owners were described as a male and female, approximately 40 years of age or younger. The employee was near register #2 and asked the owners if they could pet their dog. The owners said yes and the dog then bit the employee on their right hand. The owners were aware that the dog had bit the employee and asked if they were OK. The employee indicated that they were OK so the owners and dog proceeded to leave the store.

It is important to locate the dog to determine whether or not it is current on its rabies shot. If the health status is not identified, post-exposure rabies shots will be offered to the victim.

If you have information about the location of the dog and its owner, please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555.

It is important to remember that dogs may act protective in unknown places and situations, so “love your own…leave the rest alone.” All wild and unknown animals (even dogs and cats) should be avoided whenever possible since the possibility of exposure to rabies can occur anywhere and anytime.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a free drive-through anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia). This event is open to Orleans County residents.

“Animal rabies continues to be a serious public health problem in Genesee County,” said Paul Pettit, public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties. “We remind all residents to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that their vaccinations are kept up to date.”

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 4 pets per car maximum.

Face coverings are recommended and please follow all social distancing requirements.

To save you time, 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 clinic in Genesee County will be held on Sept. 16. For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: 585-344-2580 x.5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

“Please take advantage of this opportunity,” Pettit said. “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, stray dogs or cats.”