Helpful Links

How to Report a
Communicable Disease

Per Public Health Law, health care providers and labs must report certain communicable diseases to the local health department.

To report a communicable disease you can click here for a report form to submit, or contact the Seneca County Health Department at (315) 539-1920 between 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday – Friday.

For after-hours emergencies, please call 911 and ask for Public Health Staff on call.

Click here to contact us!

Communicable diseases are illnesses spread from person to person through skin contact, inhalation (breathing), ingestion (eating), sex, and from mothers to babies during pregnancy or the birth process. Animals and insects (mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, etc.) can also carry diseases that make humans sick.

Click here to learn about communicable disease in Seneca County.

Preventing Communicable Disease

There are many ways to prevent the spread of disease:

1. Handle and prepare food safely
Wash hands, utensils and surfaces often. Keep raw meats and seafood separate from other foods. Wash fruits and vegetables. Cook foods to the proper temperature. Refrigerate food promptly. Click here to learn more about food safety.

2. Wash hands often
Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Click here to learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.

Click here to view helpful handwashing videos.

3. Clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces
Also includes cleaning your home after someone has been sick. Click here for cleaning tips during or following a household illness.

4. Cough and sneeze into your sleeve
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your elbow or upper sleeve, not your hands.

5. Don’t share personal items
Avoid sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, drinks and towels. Never share needles, use needles only once and dispose properly.

6. Get vaccinated
Vaccines can prevent many infectious diseases. Click here to learn more about recommended vaccines for children and adults.

7. Practice pet safety and use caution around wildlife
Pets sometimes carry germs that can make people sick. Keeping pets healthy keeps people healthy too! Wild animals can carry diseases without appearing to be sick and can spread illness to you and your pets, so be cautious around wild animals.

8. Stay home when sick

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