Chemung County Health Department

08/19/2026

Neighboring counties have reported confirmed measles cases. General risk to the public is still considered low, so now is the perfect time to get the facts about measles!

🦠Measles is extremely contagious
🦠Measles is dangerous, especially for young children and babies
💪Measles is preventable!

Everyone should be alert for symptoms and call their health care provider or local health department if they have a fever and rash, especially if they have travelled abroad.

For more information about measles and updates on current outbreaks, visit this website:
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/measles/

08/14/2026

‼️NEWS RELEASE‼️
The Chemung County Health Department is seeking anyone who may have been bitten by a gray and white cat (see Page 2) near Herrick St, Franklin St, and Jefferson St, on Elmira’s southside around August 12, 2026.

The cat has not been seen since August 13, 2026, but is presumed rabid because it was unusually aggressive.

Humans can get rabies from a bite, scratch, or contact with spit from a rabid animal. Rabies is a disease that is almost always fatal, unless it is treated before symptoms appear.

Treatment for rabies exposure in humans involves a series of four vaccinations administered over the course of two weeks as well as one dose of Rabies Immune Globulin. Symptoms of an animal actively shedding rabies include changes in behavior, including aggressiveness or unusual friendliness, staggering, convulsions, spitting, choking, frothing at the mouth, and hindquarter paralysis.

If you or your pet were bitten or scratched by a gray and white cat near Herrick St, Franklin St, and Jefferson St, on Elmira’s southside around August 12, 2026, please contact the Chemung County Health Department immediately at 607-737-2019 during business hours (or 607-737-2044 after hours) for evaluation. If exposure to the rabid cat did occur, treatment should begin quickly.

This case should serve as a reminder to avoid wild and unknown domestic animals and to ensure your pets have up-to-date rabies vaccinations at all times, once they reach four months of age.

08/14/2026

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY: Tioga County Public Health Investigates Confirmed Case of Measles.

Tioga County Public Health is investigating one confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated resident of Tioga County, New York. To protect resident/patient privacy, additional details will not be released. Potential public exposure site(s) have been identified, and Tioga County Public Health has reached out to those who may have come into contact with the positive case.

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY: Tioga County Public Health Investigates Confirmed Case of Measles

Tioga County Public Health is investigating one confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated resident of Tioga County, New York. To protect resident/patient privacy, additional details will not be released. Potential public exposure site(s) have been identified, and Tioga County Public Health has reached out to those who may have come into contact with the positive case.

Potential Exposures & Contact Tracing

Because measles is a highly contagious airborne virus, public health officials conduct thorough contact tracing of the confirmed case.

Tioga County Public Health, in partnership with local health care providers, has successfully identified and is directly contacting all individuals known to have been exposed. Notifications are being made to other community and health care partners to place them on high alert.

What You Should Do:

1. Check Your Immunity / Vaccination Status

You are generally protected from measles if you meet one of the following criteria:
➡️ You have documented records of receiving two doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
➡️ You were born before 1957.
➡️ A healthcare provider has previously confirmed through a blood test that you are immune.

Two doses of MMR vaccine offers about 97% protection against contracting measles if exposed.

2. Monitor for Symptoms for 21 Days

If you were exposed or think you may have been exposed, monitor yourself and your family members for symptoms.

Early symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include:
➡️ High fever (often rising above 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
➡️ Cough
➡️ Runny nose
➡️ Red, watery eyes (pink eye)

Additional symptoms:
➡️ A red, blotchy rash typically appears 3 to 5 days after initial symptoms begin, usually starting on the face along the hairline and spreading downward to the rest of the body.

3. Unvaccinated Individuals

Unvaccinated individuals, young infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are at the highest risk for severe complications. If you have symptoms or someone has notified you of an exposure, limit your activity outside of your home and with others.

4. Call Ahead Before Seeking Medical Care

DO NOT walk into a clinic, urgent care, or emergency room without calling first.

If you develop symptoms or suspect you were exposed, call your primary care provider or the Emergency Department before arriving. Inform them that you may have been exposed to measles. This allows healthcare facilities to take precautions—such as placing you in an isolated room immediately—to prevent spreading the virus to other vulnerable patients in the waiting room or other areas.

About Measles

Measles is a viral illness spread through coughing and sneezing. The virus can remain alive and infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room. An individual who has measles is contagious 4-days prior to a rash beginning and 4-days after the rash appears. Symptoms of measles typically begin between 7 and 14 days after exposure to the virus. Approximately 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the virus will contract it.

Risk to the Public

The overall risk of measles to the general public remains low, particularly for individuals who are fully vaccinated against the disease. However, measles is extremely contagious, and anyone unvaccinated, pregnant, under 12 months of age, or immunocompromised is at a higher risk and should talk with their health care provider.

For questions regarding this public notice or measles vaccination, contact Tioga County Public Health at 607-687-8600 or visit https://tiogacountyny.gov/departments/public-health/

For more information regarding measles, please visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/measles/ or https://www.cdc.gov/measles/

# # #

08/06/2026

The Chemung County Health Department is Proud to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week; this year’s theme is “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.” Breastfeeding is more than nutrients and calories, its LOVE in its purest form.

Breast milk protects, grows, and STRENGTHENS our babies. Whether you’re combination feeding or exclusively breastfeeding, any amount of breastmilk given is proven to have positive health outcomes.

At the Chemung County Health Department, we are committed to supporting your breastfeeding journey by providing FREE lactation support and latch assessments with one of our amazing CLCs for anyone living within Chemung County. Make an appointment today by calling 607-737-2488.

Every drop of breast milk is an investment in a healthier future for you, your baby, your families, our communities, and our planet. A healthy future begins with breastmilk.

07/17/2026

Cases of cyclosporiasis are on the rise. In order to kill the parasite, cook food to 158°F (70°C) or higher.

In addition to cooking, don’t forget these staple food safety practices:
🧼Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
💦Thoroughly wash all fresh produce, including herbs, fruits, and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, and cooking.
🍉Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
🔪Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
❄️Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours).

For more information about cyclosporiasis, visit this page: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/cyclosporiasis/fact_sheet.htm

07/15/2026

DOH and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation have issued an air quality health advisory for fine particulate matter for today, July 15, for the Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York and Western New York counties due to the impact of smoke from wildfires in Northern Minnesota and Canada.

07/13/2026

School may be out for the summer, but now is the best time to get ahead for next year!

Check now to ensure that your child is ready for the school year.

Children attending day care and pre-K through 12th grade in NYS must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule to attend school.

Find answers to your questions: on.ny.gov/4tvznE1

07/09/2026

DYK?! Lead exposure can cause developmental delays, permanent loss of IQ, and behavior problems? These effects are lifelong and can severely impact a child’s life.

Lead-based paint is the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning in New York State. Prevention is essential.

The Lead Rental Registry is intended to prevent childhood lead poisoning by correcting lead-based paint hazards in older rental housing.

For more information about the Lead Rental Registry (LRR), go to: www.chemungcountyny.gov/LRR or call (607)873-1308

07/06/2026

It's hot outside! Keep your head in the game and take these steps to cool down between goals:
💧Stay hydrated- drink water
🌳Find shade or air conditioning
💤Take breaks often

More tips here: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/weather/hot/