Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

CHICAGO - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the U.S. The patient was on a flight last Thursday, April 24, 2014 from London to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and then took a bus to Indiana.

"We will continue to work with the CDC and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) concerning the MERS-CoV patient who traveled from London to Chicago and then to Indiana," said Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck.

"The CDC, IDPH and CDPH do not consider passengers on the flight or bus to be close contacts1 of the patient and therefore are not at high... more...

A confirmed fatal case of RMSF acquired in Illinois occurred last year. Tetracycline is the drug of choice in adults and children. Empiric treatment should be initiated as soon as RMSF is suspected to prevent serious complications or death. RMSF is transmitted by the dog tick; dog ticks are present in all areas of Illinois.

--Signs and symptoms of RMSF include fever, malaise, headache, myalgias, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, and a rash. However, all of these diagnostic clues are rarely identified on the initial patient encounter, leading to delays in appropriate therapy. Rash occurs in about 90% of RMSF cases; the typical rash first appears as spots on the wrists and ankles and then spreads to the trunk and also sometimes the palms and soles. The rash often appears two to five days after onset of fever. Some patients, especially children, may also have abdominal pain that may be severe. As with other tick- borne illnesses, some patients do not report a history of... more...

Champaign, IL - In 2013, the Illinois WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program served over 280,000 low-income, pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children. Governor, Pat Quinn, recently issued a Proclamation announcing April 2014 as WIC Month in Illinois, encouraging all citizens to support and promote the WIC program.

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) offers the WIC program to clients assisting over 4,000 families each year offering knowledge and skills to help them make healthy choices for their families. WIC is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program that provides healthy food vouchers and is aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women, moms and infants up to age 5. According to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), "Nearly 40 percent of all babies born in Illinois are WIC participants and research shows that WIC has been successful in the reduction of fetal deaths, infant mortality, low birth weight... more...

Champaign, IL - In preparation for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month in May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report on April 8, 2014 showing a decline in births to younger U.S. teens. Although younger teen births have declined nationally, the Champaign County teenage birth rate is rising... more...

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will extend hours starting next week to assist individuals with Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment. The current open enrollment period will end on March 31, 2014. CUPHD will have staff available from 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM March 25th through March 31st with additional hours on Saturday, March 29th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

"Meeting the Affordable Care Act enrollment deadline is particularly important if someone is purchasing insurance through the Marketplace. While people can still sign up for Medicaid after the 31st, plans through the Marketplace can only be purchased if a significant life event occurs. The next open enrollment period begins November 15, 2014," said Jeff Kemp-Rinderle, Lead Agent, Illinois Region 6 Implementation Program.... more...

Free Dental Exams and Cleanings for Children on Saturday, March 8 at the Fluid Events Center in Champaign

Champaign, IL - The Illini District Dental Society will sponsor Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) Day on Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Fluid Events Center located at 601 N. Country Fair Drive in Champaign. The event is part of the Children's Dental Access Program through the American Dental Association (ADA) that provides free oral healthcare services to children of low-income families.

On March 8, local dentists and hygienists are taking the opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering time and services for GKAS and providing free dental exams, cleanings and fluoride varnish treatments to any child between the ages of 1 and 17. The oral health fair will offer a wide range of services and activities for everyone including: dental hygiene education; free toothbrushes; face painting; and visits and pictures with Flossie from the... more...

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) sent a mailing on Monday, February 24th to Champaign County multi-unit housing property owners detailing the benefits of smoke-free rental properties.

The mailing describes the cost savings to landlords of smoke-free rental units. The expense to clean a smoking unit after a smoker moves out can be anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000. The expense to clean a smoke-free rental unit is generally under $1,000. Cigarettes are also the leading cause of residential fires.

Beyond the risks and costs to property owners, smoking in multi-unit housing puts nonsmokers at risk for inhalation of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke drifts into non-smokers' apartments through ventilation systems, light fixtures, electrical outlets, doorways, and windows. Secondhand smoke can remain in the air for hours after a cigarette is extinguished. Of the 4,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke, 250 are known toxins, and 50 are... more...

Rare disease suspected in two people, read the press release for... more...

Health Departments Kick Off Rethink Your Drink 2014 by Reminding Illinoisans to Limit Sugary Beverages

Champaign, IL - As part of the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity's (IAPO) month-long Rethink Your Drink campaign, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be sharing, posting and tweeting helpful information about rethinking beverage choices. CUPHD will also be active participants by challenging staff to consume only milk and water for one day.

"I'm a little worried about my morning coffee but it's just one day so I'm ready to give it a try," said Tara McCauley, CUPHD employee.... more...

Champaign, IL - On Thursday, January 30th at noon, Parkland College and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will kick-off a worksite wellness challenge for Parkland employees. The four-month wellness challenge is called the Amazing Challenge, and the challenge itself begins on February 1st. Thursday's kick-off event will be held at Parkland's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, located at 2400 W. Bradley Avenue, D116, in Champaign.

The Amazing Challenge will be organized through a web portal called We Choose Health 365, created by the Illinois Department of Public Health and Live Healthy America. A number of employers in Champaign County and state-wide will participate in the challenge, which will provide health challenges for employees on nutrition, physical activity and stress reduction. It will be a simple, fun and interactive campaign that encourages focused weekly action - making it easy for participants to make changes and see results. The... more...