Livingston County reports mumps cases

May 29, 2019 -- A third case of mumps has been reported in Livingston County less than two weeks after the health department there confirmed two cases.

Two of the three are students in the Livonia School District.

Symptoms of mumps can include swelling or tenderness of salivary glands, fatigue and fever. In rare cases, the virus can cause deafness or inflammation to the brain or tissues covering the brain and spinal cord. The virus can be contracted through air or surface contact.

County's flu death toll reaches 21

May 6, 2019 -- Another person has died from the flu this season in Monroe County, raising the total to 21 for the season.

Data from the Monroe County Health Department shows that the flu season is winding down. The most recent report shows only 66 new cases April 20-27, down from highs in February and March that topped 600 new cases per week.

Monroe County surpasses 5,000 flu cases

April 15, 2019 -- The number of confirmed flu cases in Monroe County this season has surpassed 5,400, with 17 deaths tied to the illness, the county's Health Department reported.

The department also said more than 880 individuals have been hospitalized because of the illness this season.

At this time last year, nearly 6,900 lab-confirmed cases had been recorded locally, with 16 deaths.

Health Department shuts down Gates facility

April 9, 2019 -- The Monroe County Health Department closed down a Gates tavern and hotel due to "a significant mouse infestation" one day after a brawl at the location.

Health Department spokesman Ryan Horey said the Wheels Up Tavern at 911 Brooks Ave. was closed following an inspection that discovered "both live and dead mice present and mouse droppings visible on food prep equipment and dishware."

In addition, Gates Police Chief Jim VanBrederode said the department is working with the state liquor authority to suspend the liquor license.

The developments come one day after shots were fired and two people were arrested at the tavern in the shuttered Ramada Plaza Rochester Airport Hotel. Shots were fired as officers from several police departments were monitoring around 500 people leaving a promoted party there. Police were taking two women into custody for disorderly conduct when the gunshots occurred.

The Ramada Plaza Rochester Airport Hotel, owned by F.M. Butt Hotels Corp., is in foreclosure.

Change in leadership in store for MCH in June

April 8, 2019 -- Deputy Executive Director Colleen Rose will take over leadership at Monroe County Hospital when Gene Larrabee retires at the end of June.

Rose's promotion is pending approval by the Monroe County Legislature.

Both Rose and Larrabee were appointed to their current roles at the 566-bed skilled nursing facility in 2013.

Rose previously worked as director of strategic initiatives and assistant administrator for the Fairport Baptist Home. She has a master's degree in healthcare administration from Roberts Wesleyan College, and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator.

Avon ambulance service shuts down

April 7, 2019 -- The Avon Rotary-Lions Ambulance service shut down Saturday night, just days before it was projected to run out of money.

The Livingston County Emergency Medical Services will now run the ambulance service, completing a transition that began last month.

Avon Rotary-Lions Ambulance was funded by billing and donations but did not handle a sufficient volume of calls to continue paying its bills. Board of Directors President Kevin Patrick said finances had been troublesome for several years and that insolvency was imminent.

Patrick said Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement were not high enough to keep the service from running deficits of approximately $5,000 a month recently.

Local flu death toll reaches 16

April 2, 2019 -- Five people died from influenza in Monroe County in the last week, bringing the total to 16 deaths from cases of the flu this season.

As of March 23, there were 4,541 confirmed cases and 718 hospitalizations as a result of the flu, mostly affecting the elderly or the very young.

At this time in 2018, there were nearly 6,200 confirmed cases and nearly 1,100 hospitalizations.

Measles outbreak continues in Spencerport

Jan. 31, 2019 -- A fourth case of measles has been reported in Spencerport, the Monroe County Department of Public Health said.

Two students from Canal View Elementary in the school district had been diagnosed less than a week earlier. The newest diagnosis is of a child who is a neighbor of those Canal View students.

The child, who is not vaccinated, has been quarantined at home to prevent other unvaccinated people or those too young to be vaccinated. A person can spread measles from four days before the onset of a rash through four days after the rash begins.

Symptoms generally appear in two stages. In the first stage, which lasts two to four days, the person may have a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. Eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light while the fever gradually rises each day.

The second stage begins on the third to seventh day and consists of a red blotchy rash lasting five to six days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads.

If untreated, measles can lead to brain infections, brain damage and/or death.

Measles case traced to travel outside U.S.

Jan. 3, 2019 -- The Monroe County Department of Public Health confirmed that a local child who has recently traveled outside the country has contracted the measles virus. The unidentified toddler had not been vaccinated.

The health department has backtracked the family's steps and reached out to anyone the child might have infected, spokesman Ryan Horey said.

While local measles cases are uncommon, Rockland County is experiencing an outbreak of more than 100 confirmed cases, according to the county's website. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 292 cases of measles in the first 10 months of 2018. In 2017, there were 120 reported cases, up from 86 in 2016.