Essex County Health Department Home

Use the chart below to help lessen your exposure and protect your health.

Visit AirNow.gov for your local air quality forecast. Or visit Today's Air Quality Index (AQI) Forecast for New York State (ny.gov)  

DEC Air Quality  

EPA Airnow  

CDC wildfire smoke page  

DEC Encourages New Yorkers to "Know it, Avoid it, Report it"

As the 2023 Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) notification season starts. DEC's New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) is now active and allows the public and trained citizens to send reports of HABs to DEC electronically via a simple, user- and mobile phone-friendly form. The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) reminded New Yorkers to learn about and be aware of harmful algal blooms, or "HABs,"

Report Blue Green Algal Bloom Sighting

"As summer begins, we encourage New Yorkers to be on the lookout for HABs, which can impact New York's lakes and waterways and pose a potential public health risk," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "Working closely with DOH and local partners in communities statewide, DEC continues to make significant investments to prevent excess nutrients and other contaminants from contributing to these potentially toxic blooms and is actively working to help New Yorkers understand how to identify and report HABs, as well as keep themselves, their families, and pets out of harm's way."

"Harmful algal blooms contain toxins that pose health risks to people and animals, so we want to encourage New Yorkers to be on the lookout this summer as they spend time in the water," said Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. "The New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) is an easy tool that allows the public to both protect themselves by becoming aware of trouble areas as well as to report blooms in an effort to help protect others."

⬇ A beach closure alert was issued July 5, 2023 for the below beaches.

Beaches opened on 7/7/23

A beach closure alert was issued July 6, 2023 for the below beach.

Beach opened 7/13/23

8/7/23Ballard Park Beach in the town of Westport is closed due to possible contamination from overflow from municipal wastewater system.

8/17/23 Bulwagga Bay Beach in the town of Moriah is closed due to possible contamination. 

What is Mpox?

Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with the mpox virus. Mpox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and mpox is rarely fatal. Mpox is not related to chickenpox. JYNNEOS is a 2-dose vaccine developed to protect against mpox and smallpox infections. People need to get both doses of the vaccine for the best protection against mpox.

Mpox Vaccination Basics

All 2023/2024 COVID-19 updates can be viewed on our vax page

The Office of Cannabis Management’s adult-use cannabis program improves access to safer, tested products for consumers while supporting the foundation of an equitable cannabis industry. The key to learning how cannabis might affect you is understanding different potencies, terpene combinations, and product forms.  Explore the consumer resources available below to learn how cannabis may affect you and tips on safer and responsible cannabis consumption. 

All consumer resources are intended for individuals 21 and over. 

How can a cannabis purchaser tell if they are buying regulated products from a licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary?

To make sure you are purchasing cannabis from a licensed dispensary, here are the steps to take:  

1. After locating a dispensary, look for the Dispensary Verification Tool, which is pictured below.

All licensed dispensaries are issued a Dispensary Verification Tool which is posted in the storefront. Scan the QR code to be directed to OCM's website with a list of all licensed adult-use cannabis dispensaries.

Find a Dispensary 

🔊Hay there #getfitessexcounty! You Autumn know the challenge for September is STEPtember! This challenge is for all the corn maze crushers, apple picking, cider drinking, leaf peeping, sweater weather loving folks of Essex County! The goal is 6,000 steps per day, 6 days a week for a total of 144,000 steps taken in September!!! Why 6,000 steps? The average American walks 3,000-4,000 steps a day, we thought 6,000 steps is a reachable goal. How to include more steps in your day? Include the family. Instead of an afternoon movie, go for a walk or hike together. Go in person. Instead of sending a work email, or a text walk to the person. Take the dog for a walk (if you have one) Try music. A bouncy tune or something with a strong beat can make activity more enjoyable and help motivate you to walk farther or faster. Schedule workday walks. Put reminders in your calendar for short walking breaks to ramp up your energy throughout the day. Have a one-on-one meeting? Plan to walk and talk. Park farther away. Choose parking spots farther away from the entrance. If you take the bus, get off a stop early and walk the rest of the way. For more information on the benefits of getting more steps https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/.../cardiovascular....

 

 

Get Healthy North Country (gethealthynoco.org) Sign up for online workshops to manage chronic pain.

Get Healthy NY - Clinton County Workshop.

DYK about our Car seat Program, Breastfeeding Support, Reproductive Health & More? - Go to the Family Health Page to Learn More! 

Sign Up Here for Better Choices Workshop

DYK about our Chronic Disease Self Managment Opportunities & Resources? - Go to the Chronic Disease Page to Learn More!