Press Releases
Year
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2015
Contact
Melaney Arnold 217-558-0500
(217) 531-5369 /
Mumps Booster Shot Recommended for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Students
Illinois Department of Public Health, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and University address mumps outbreak
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), and McKinley Health Center are recommending students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign receive a booster shot of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine as soon as possible, even if they have already received one or two previous MMR vaccinations.
“We continue to see new mumps infections in students at the University and are working to stop the spread,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah. “While most cases on campus have already received two doses of MMR, a third dose may help control the outbreak. Although the vaccine against mumps is extremely effective, it is not perfect. This is why it is important for those who can be vaccinated, to take this extra step and potentially help protect those around them.”
IDPH, CUPHD and McKinley Health Center recommend that students planning to take classes on the Urbana-Champaign campus in the fall to receive the booster vaccine as soon as possible from their local healthcare provider, local health department, health clinic, or pharmacy. Immunity takes two weeks to develop after receiving a vaccination.
In addition to the booster shot, it is important to practice good health habits to reduce the spread of disease, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water, not sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or cigarettes, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and minimizing close contact with people when sick.
A two-day special MMR vaccine clinic for students, staff and faculty will be held at the ARC Building on Thursday, August 6th and Friday, August 7th from 9 am to 3 pm. During that time, University of Illinois students who present a valid ID card will be eligible to obtain the vaccine at no cost, and CUPHD will provide free vaccinations to staff and faculty.
Information about future vaccination opportunities through McKinley Health Center will be posted at the McKinley website http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu. You can also “Like” Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and Champaign County Prepares on FACEBOOK to keep up with the latest information related to public health. Information about mumps can be found on the IDPH website at www.dph.illinois.gov.
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Download 2015-08-04-Mumps-Outbreak-PR
National HIV Testing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2015
Contact
Candi Crause Director of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management
(217) 531-5372 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
National HIV Testing Day
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to “Take the Test, Take Control”
Champaign, IL – National HIV Testing Day is this Saturday, June 27, 2015 and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages everyone to get tested.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 1.2 million people in the United States that are living with HIV with 50,000 new HIV infections each year in the United States. Almost one in seven people are unaware of their infection. Over half of young people between the ages of 13-24 living with HIV are unaware of their infection. On average, 1,800 people are diagnosed with HIV in Illinois each year.
CUPHD provides testing services Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at 201 W. Kenyon Road and at 30 E. Green Street on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6:30 PM in Champaign. CUPHD offers testing to anyone who is 12 years of age or older and recommends testing for:
- Men who have unprotected sex with other men
- Anyone who injects drugs and shares needles
- Anyone who has unprotected sex with an injection drug user
- Anyone who has a sexually transmitted disease
- Anyone who exchanges sex for money or drugs
CUPHD is also offering a new prevention option, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP is for people who are HIV negative, but who are at risk HIV infection. According to the CDC, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people by up to 92 percent.
For more information, contact the Infectious Disease division at 217-531-5365.
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Numbers of Mumps Cases Increase
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2015
Contact
Awais Vaid, Epidemiologist
(217) 531-5360
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Numbers of Mumps Cases Increase
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Identifies Mumps Cases
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have identified 23 cases of mumps in a local outbreak. Mumps is a contagious, vaccine-preventable, acute viral illness that is spread through droplets of saliva or through mucus of an infected person.
According to IDPH, symptoms of mumps usually appear 14 days to 18 days after infection. They usually include fever, headache, tiredness, muscle aches, loss of appetite and swelling and tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands, usually the parotid gland (located just below the front of the ear at the angle of the jaw). In mild cases, the swelling may only last for three to four days, but can last up to a week or more. Approximately one-third of infected people do not exhibit symptoms. There is no specific treatment for mumps, but there are treatments that can help relieve some symptoms. Persons with symptoms of mumps should contact their primary care physician. Persons that become very ill should seek medical attention.
Mumps vaccine is the best way to prevent mumps. This vaccine is included in the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccines. Children should receive the first dose of mumps-containing vaccine at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years. All adults born during or after 1957 should have documentation of one dose. Adults at higher risk, such as university students, health care personnel, international travelers and persons with potential mumps outbreak exposure should have documentation of two doses of mumps vaccine or other proof of immunity to mumps.
Simple measures can be carried out to prevent the spread of mumps. Persons who are ill should remain home for five days after onset of salivary gland swelling to help contain the spread of the virus. In addition, make sure to wash your hands, don’t share eating or drinking utensils, clean surfaces that are frequently touched and cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve. Do not cough or sneeze into your hand.
For more information, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961.
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