ALBANY COUNTY — People with heart or lung disease, old people, and children are being advised today, Feb. 18, to choose less strenuous activities — like walking instead of running — and to shorten the amount of time they are active outdoors.

Close to 70 percent of the state’s biosolids end up in a landfill, according to the DEC;  just 16 percent is considered “beneficial use,” meaning recycled, while the remainder is set aflame. 

“Unfortunately, it seems to be going into mammals, which is pretty concerning,” said Kevin Hynes of bird flu, but the current strain “does not seem to go into humans from causal contact,” he said.

Joanne Cunningham, who chairs the legislature and represents part of Bethlehem, introduced the bill after the town of Bethlehem was not immediately informed about contaminants in New Scotland wells on property close to Bethlehem’s Vly Creek Reservoir.

A year ago, the CDC updated its guidelines — the first revision in COVID-19 guidelines since 2021 — to target respiratory viruses more broadly and be easier for the public to follow. The “core strategy” outlined by the CDC is to “stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause.”

Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week the temporary closure of all live bird markets in several downstate counties after seven different markets found positive cases of bird flu, which has been evolving in ways that are worrying to human and animal health experts alike. 

With the stroke of a pen, McCoy became the latest in a line of public officials from across the country to acknowledge that, while biosolids have been used to fertilize farms for years, recent research has raised concerns about health and environmental issues

Only one death has been associated with bird flu in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although there have been 67 confirmed human cases of the disease.

The $1.5 million announced on Friday follows $2.3 million the county awarded to 14 community organizations to stem the tide of opioid addiction. The money from opioid settlements with drug companies that promoted opioids is expected to continue through 2039, said Stephen Giordano, the county’s mental health commissioner.

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced on Friday that he and the Albany County Legislature had approved “an intermunicipal agreement to create the Albany County Healthcare Consortium.” But this is just the first step needed for six municipalities and three school districts that are considering being part of the consortium if, indeed, the costs turn out to be lower. McCoy is pictured here at Voorheesville’s Ruck March on Nov. 10.