Cynthia Morrow

Lyme disease is no longer just a risk for those “outdoorsy” people. Now if you’re gardening, playing in the backyard or outside at all, you can be at risk for Lyme disease. This week on “Take Care,” we talk to Dr. Cynthia Morrow, Onondaga County Health Commissioner, about the increased risk of Lyme disease in the area.

Click "Read More" to hear our interview with Dr. Cynthia Morrow.

Lyme disease is on the rise in many parts of the country -- including right here in central and northern New York. But what is this disease and how does it spread?

Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen, hosts of WRVO's health and wellness show, "Take Care," spoke with Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Cynthia Morrow about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.

Lorraine Rapp: How concerned should we be?

When it comes to health, what does the region do well, and what does it do poorly? What are the next frontiers in making the community healthier? In this edition of the Campbell Conversations, Onondaga County Health Commissioner Cynthia Morrow reflects on recent statistics about the county's health, discusses different approaches that communities and government can take toward improving health, and speculates about possible futures.

The flu is making an early appearance across upstate New York this fall, from the North Country through the Mohawk Valley. With the holiday season approaching, experts say it becomes more important than ever to take precautions.

It's not clear where it came from, but an outbreak of shigellosis, more commonly known as shigella, continues to afflict dozens of people in Onondaga County. 

Three people have died in the last three years in Central New York from the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, which can be spread from mosquitoes to  humans.

The deaths have sent scares across the region, and the health departments in Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, and Oneida Counties are taking it seriously.

“It is a rare disease, but it is a very fatal disease and I think that that is very frightening for everybody,” remarked Onondaga County Health Commissioner Cynthia Morrow.

Flu season is peaking this week in Onondaga county, a month behind schedule. This year's flu bug is a particularly mild one. According to federal figures, this year reports the fewest cases since the 80s.

"I think that we're peaking now, which is a late peak, but our numbers were still going up as of last week... but very, very low numbers, not anything I'm concerned about," Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Cynthia Morrow said. "But it is not over yet."

Morrow tracks flu numbers every year. She says that the mild winter could have something to do with lower numbers.