The health department utilizes disease surveillance and investigation to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the community. The Nursing division collaborates with health care providers, schools, and the community to minimize illness, hospitalization, and death from communicable diseases through public outreach, education, and vaccinations.

Communicable diseases are illnesses that can be transmitted from person to person or animal to person. People spread communicable diseases to others in a variety of ways:

• Contact with contaminated body fluids. For example, a common way respiratory illnesses like whooping cough (Pertussis) are transmitted is through contact with contaminated body fluids.
• Eating contaminated foods or beverages. Foodborne illnesses like salmonella are often spread by eating contaminated foods.

With any communicable disease, it is important to understand how the illness is transmitted and use appropriate preventative measures, such as handwashing and covering your cough.

If you suspect a foodborne illness, please contact a healthcare provider.

Flu season generally begins in October and ends the following year at the end of May. Putnam County Department of Health offers seasonal influenza vaccine clinics for residents of Putnam County. Click here for information about upcoming public flu clinics.

The health department also offers free influenza vaccine to all Putnam County school-age children in our school-based flu clinics. Partnering with the Board of Education, school administration, school nurses, and Parent/Teacher Organizations (PTO), the Nursing division provides an annual school-based influenza vaccination program. Please check with your school district for scheduling and forms at the beginning of the school year.

Hepatitis C screening and diagnosis at the health department is currently on hold. Please check back for updates.

The Department of Health provides childhood, adult, and travel immunizations through regularly scheduled vaccine clinics.

• Noviembre Clinicas de Vacunas

Trusted resources for parents and caregivers of newborns can be found here. These resources were curated by the Nursing division’s Maternal Child Health program staff.

New Parent Support Groups through the health department:

• Mahopac Library, located at 668 Route 6 in Mahopac, in the Lakeview Room, Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. beginning June 21 

New Parent Support Groups by Community Partners:

• Hudson Valley Hospital Center (open to Putnam County residents.) This Breastfeeding Support Group is led by Certified Lactation Consultants. Registration is required by calling 914-734-3257.
• Online through the Desmond-Fish Library. More information can be found on their website.
• Baby Café by Healthy Families at 155 Main Street in Brewster. Held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 11 a.m.
  English Flyer | Spanish Flyer

The Child Find Program is also available to families with infants who would benefit from additional screening and monitoring. Child Find is a statewide program which offers regular screening tests to children at risk for delay in growth and development. The program also provides referrals to other programs and diagnostic services in the community for children birth to 3 years who may have special needs. For more information about the program, please view the Child Find Flyer.

The department of health works closely with healthcare providers to ensure lead poisoning prevention, testing, risk assessment, and referrals to lead treatment centers. Public Health Law requires that children receive blood lead testing at their 1- and 2-year check-ups. If appropriate, children up to age 18 and pregnant women should also be screened for lead exposure and testing.

If elevated blood lead levels are detected, PCDOH staff initiates case management, which includes a developmental screening and a nutritional status assessment. Risk reduction, nutrition, and developmental education information is provided to families, and referrals to other agencies when appropriate. The Clinical Services division works closely with Environmental Health Services staff during case management to lower the risk of lead poisoning.

Elevated blood lead levels in children can affect growth, behavior, and their ability to learn.

Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses like anaplasmosis and babesiosis continue to be a prevalent health issue in Putnam County. Tick removal kits are distributed widely to local camp operators, the public during presentations, and to individuals who visit the health department. To see PCDOH program offerings and tickborne disease resources click the button below.

Following the emergence of West Nile Virus and Zika Virus, our staff continues to respond to public concerns and are trained in environmentally friendly mosquito control measures. Educational efforts surrounding mosquito prevention continue to be routinely incorporated into public presentations, as well as at health fairs.

Prevention efforts include eliminating standing water where mosquitos breed, using larvicide correctly, using window screens, and applying mosquito repellents.

Information about rabies prevention and what to do if you were bitten by an animal can be found on the rabies website.

Clinical Services staff work with local health care providers and exposed individuals to ensure accurate and timely completion of Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis if appropriate.

Rabies vaccination is available for people in certain circumstances. Please call the health department at 845-808-1390 if vaccination was recommended before travel or for a veterinary program.

For local information about COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV activity, please click here.

For national information about respiratory virus activity, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/activity-levels.html

COVID-19 tests are now available through the Federal Government. Information and the order form can be found by clicking the following link: https://covidtests.gov/

Through a partnership with Open Door Brewster, Putnam County residents can receive free testing and treatment for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis. To make an appointment for testing and treatment, please call Open Door Brewster at 845-279-6999 and tell them you were referred through the Putnam County Department of Health.

Free anonymous or confidential HIV screening is available for New York State residents by appointment on Tuesday and Thursdays between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the health department, located at 1 Geneva Road, Brewster, NY. Please call 845-808-1390 for an appointment. Any individual whose testing confirms an HIV diagnosis is linked to medical care and other related services. More information about HIV can be found by visiting here or here.

Consistent and correct use of condoms can significantly reduce the chance of STD transmission. Free condoms are available in the Department of Health lobby.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The TB bacteria can infect any part of the body, but usually infects the lungs. TB is spread through the air from one person to another when a person with TB disease of the lungs coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in the bacteria and become infected. Tuberculosis is treatable and curable.

Tuberculosis evaluation and treatment services are offered free of charge to Putnam County residents. Individuals in Putnam County with active TB receive treatment and are closely monitored by health department staff. Individuals with Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) are offered treatment, which significantly reduces their risk of developing active TB and ultimately reduces the chances of others becoming infected.

For information about evaluation or treatment for TB, or to schedule a TB skin test, please call 845-808-1390.

County and zip code level surveillance data is provided weekly to inform health care provider decision making on respiratory illness. This report now includes COVID-19, Flu, and RSV.

• Respiratory Virus Activity 11/10/24 - 11/16/24
• Respiratory Virus Activity 11/3/24 - 11/9/24

For COVID or Flu reports from previous years, please complete this form and when describing data requested, indicate COVID or Flu report, the year, and weeks you are interested in.

There are over 70 communicable diseases that are reportable to the health department. Physicians play a critical role in the reporting of communicable diseases and can make the difference between an outbreak being prevented or occurring. Several outbreaks, such as West Nile Virus, pertussis, and some enteric outbreaks were initially identified by clinicians reporting to public health authorities in a timely manner.

Reporting of suspected or confirmed communicable diseases is mandated under the New York State Sanitary Code (10NYCRR 2.10). Reports must be submitted within 24 hours of diagnosis. The list of reportable diseases can be found here. Some diseases warrant prompt action and should be reported immediately by calling 845-808-1390.

STDs should be reported using this form with this cover page and returned to the Putnam County Department of Health via fax at 845-447-9490.

Lyme Disease/Erythema Migrans should be reported using this form and faxed to 845-447-9490.

Anaplasmosis, E. chaffeensis and Babesiosis should be reported using this form and faxed to 845-447-9490.

To find recent, regional tick bite surveillance, visit the CDC's Tick Bite Data Tracker.   

To receive important advisories and updates from NYSDOH regarding healthcare issues, create a Health Commerce System account at commerce.health.state.ny.us/public/hcs_login.html.

• Physician Advisory: Anaplasmosis July 3, 2023
• Physician Advisory: Flu April 6, 2022