Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Press Releases

Aug 1, 2022 Changes to COVID-19 Operations at CUPHD
Contact Tracing to End August 15

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Starting August 15, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will no longer reach out to persons who test positive for COVID-19.

"While COVID will continue to persist in our county, we are entering a period where state and federal mandates are being rescinded, funding is being reduced, and resources are being reallocated," said Administrator Julie Pryde. "This is not a reason to be complacent; rather, we believe that Champaign County residents have the knowledge and tools readily available to them to adopt effective precautions to prevent COVID-19 infections and to make timely care decisions if they have a positive COVID-19... more...

Jul 28, 2022 World Breastfeeding Week is August 1st-7th
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is excited to announce a new campaign launching August 1, 2022, to collect breastfeeding supplies for parents enrolled in the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program. This program provides support to expectant and postpartum parents to learn about breastfeeding and overcome obstacles they may face in their journey to accomplish their individual breastfeeding goals.
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Jul 12, 2022 Officials Confirm First Probable Case of Monkeypox Virus in Champaign County
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (C-UPHD) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), announced today a single presumptive monkeypox case in an adult male Champaign County resident with recent travel history to Chicago.

Initial testing was completed Friday, July 8, 2022, at an IDPH laboratory, and confirmatory testing for monkeypox is pending at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Based on initial epidemiologic characteristics and the positive orthopoxvirus result at IDPH, health officials consider this a probable monkeypox infection.

C-UPHD and IDPH are working closely with the CDC to identify individuals with whom the patient may have been in contact while they were infectious. This contact tracing approach is appropriate given the nature and transmission of the virus. The person did not require hospitalization and is isolating at home in good condition. To protect patient confidentiality, no further details... more...

Jul 5, 2022 CUPHD Website Updates Changing
COVID Information to be Updated Twice... more...

Jun 22, 2022 COVID-19 Vaccinations Now Available to Those Ages 6 Months to 4 Years Old
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be hosting child COVID vaccination clinics beginning this week for those ages 6 months to 4 years old. Clinics will be held Thursday and Friday with both Pfizer and Moderna vaccine available.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending everyone 6 months of age and older be vaccinated for COVID-19. According to the CDC, children will receive a smaller dose of the COVID-19 vaccine than teens and adults that is the right amount for their age... more...

May 20, 2022 COVID-19 Boosters Now Available to Those Ages 5 to 11
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), in partnership with Carle Health, OSF HealthCare, Christie Clinic, Promise Healthcare, and the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign continue to provide COVID-19 initial vaccination doses, boosters, and Pfizer pediatric vaccinations and boosters.

On Thursday, May 19, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave final approval supporting ACIP's (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) decision to provide Pfizer booster shots for children ages 5 to 11. Eligibility to receive the booster requires it to be at least five months after the child's second dose of the initial series. For additional first and second booster shot information, visit... more...

May 20, 2022 Champaign County COVID-19 Community Level Now High
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) announces that COVID-19 community level transmission in Champaign County is now high. Changes in the level of transmission are based on three indicators which includes new case rate per 100,000 population, percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population.

CUPHD strongly encourages everyone to follow the below recommendations:

Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get boosted when eligible.
Get tested if you have symptoms.
If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional... more...

May 19, 2022 Period Product Community Donation Drive
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is excited to announce a new campaign launching May 23, 2022, to collect a variety of period products to distribute to menstruating individuals in Champaign County. According to the Alliance for Period Supplies in the United States, one in four menstruating individuals struggle to purchase products for their period and one in four school-aged students missed class due to a lack of period supplies. Period products are a necessary part of menstruating individuals' healthcare. "Our goal for this campaign is to raise awareness of the very real effects of period poverty and to do our part as a community to help ease this burden. If our community can work together to ensure that a wide variety of products are always available to individuals, then together we can help to eliminate unnecessary stress for our community members who menstruate," said Alyx... more...

Apr 15, 2022 Cat Tests Positive for Tularemia
Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is encouraging area residents to be aware that a cat in Urbana was recently diagnosed with tularemia. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis found in animals.

F. tularensis bacteria can be transmitted to humans via the skin when handling infected animal tissue. Infection can also occur when hunting or skinning infected rabbits, and by inhaling dust or aerosols contaminated with F. tularensis bacteria. This can occur during farming or landscaping activities, especially when machinery (e.g. tractors or mowers) runs over infected animals or carcasses. People can also become infected by being bitten by ticks carrying tularemia. Human infection can range from asymptomatic illness to life-threatening. Typically, patients with tularemia present with abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache and fatigue following an incubation period of two to 10 days. Additional signs and symptoms may be... more...

Mar 31, 2022 COVID-19 Second Booster Now Available to Eligible Recipients
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), in partnership with Carle Health, OSF HealthCare, Christie Clinic, Promise Healthcare, and the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign continue to provide COVID-19 initial vaccination doses, boosters, and Pfizer pediatric vaccinations.

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "expanded eligibility for an additional booster dose for certain individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster four months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public... more...