Press Releases
Year
Increased West Nile Viral Activity in Champaign County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2011
Contact
Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health
(217) 373-7900
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Increased West Nile Viral Activity in Champaign County
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District/Champaign County Public Health Department Urges Residents to Continue to Take Precautions
Champaign, IL – Mosquito samples in Champaign, Urbana, Savoy and St. Joseph have all recently tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). “Although we are seeing cooler temperatures, mosquitoes are still active until the first hard freeze, so it is important for people to continue to protect themselves against mosquitoes,” said Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD)/Champaign County Public Health Department (CCPHD).
The best way to prevent WNV infection or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:
- Try to avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, at dawn, dusk and in the early evening.
- When weather permits, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
- Apply insect repellent that contains active ingredients which have been registered with the EPA. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
- Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
- Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding. Empty water from bird baths, flowerpots, wading pools, pet dishes and swimming pool covers at least once or twice a week. Remove old tires and other items that could collect water. Contact CUPHD at (217) 373-7900 to report areas of stagnant water.
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Only about two people in 10 who are infected with WNV will experience any illness. Illness from WNV is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness such as encephalitis, meningitis and death are possible. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
As of September 26, 2011, there have been 15 counties in Illinois reporting either a positive West Nile virus bird or mosquito pool and 10 human cases reported with one death. Champaign County has reported a positive West Nile virus bird and mosquito pools, but no human cases.
Additional information about WNV can be found on the CUPHD website at http://www.c-uphd.org/west-nile-virus.html.
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2011 Grant Recipient for Dental Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2011
Contact
Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4538
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
2011 Grant Recipient for Dental Efforts
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District was Awarded a Grant for Children’s Dental Health
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is one of 17 recipients of the 2011 ADA Foundation: Samuel Harris Fund for Children’s Dental Health. This year’s Harris Grant focus was on prenatal and postnatal education programs for parents and caregivers on Early Childhood Caries (ECC), an infectious disease defined by the American Dental Association as the presence of one or more decayed (non-cavitated or cavitated lesions), missing (due to caries) or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a child between birth and 71 months of age. A total of $84,552 was awarded through the grant; CUPHD will receive $5,000.
“With the support of CUPHD’s Division of Maternal and Child Health and WIC Program, this grant will enhance efforts to increase parents’ knowledge of how Early Childhood Caries can be prevented,” said Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator for the Children’s Dental Clinic. “The main objective of this grant is to provide interactive learning opportunities for the prevention of childhood caries and encourage parents to seek a Dental Home for their child by age one.”
The CUPHD Children’s Dental Clinic located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign provides a Dental Home for children who live in Champaign or Urbana and have dental coverage through All Kids or Medicaid beginning at age one. Children enrolled in the Urbana school district may also visit CUPHD’s Dental Clinic located in the Urbana School Health Center (USHC) at Urbana High School, 1002 South Race Street.
Children enrolled in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, 2nd or 6th grade in the ChampaignUrbana school districts can receive dental care at school by CUPHD dentists and dental hygienists; consent forms for this service are available online at www.c-uphd.org.
For more information about dental care and programs, contact CUPHD at (217) 531-4279 or USHC at (217) 239-4220. Visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Several Area Cats Test Positive for Tularemia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2011
Contact
Awais Vaid, Epidemiologist
(217) 531-5360
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Several Area Cats Test Positive for Tularemia
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to be Aware of Symptoms and Health Precautions for Tularemia
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is encouraging area residents to know the symptoms of tularemia and to monitor their family and pets for the disease. Three cats from two households in Savoy were diagnosed with tularemia at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine in July and September. This may indicate an increased concern for this disease in the area. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits and hares). Humans and many animals can become infected with this bacteria. In the wild, animals can carry the organism and may die from infection.
Cats may prey on rabbits and rodents and become infected or they may become infected through tick exposure. Cats may develop a variety of symptoms including high fever, mouth ulcers, depression, enlarged lymph nodes and behavioral changes including not wanting to eat. Persons whose cats have contact with the outdoors should take their pet into the veterinarian if they should develop these symptoms.
People may also develop sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, joint pain, muscle aches, cough and weakness if they become infected with tularemia. People can become infected by handling pets or wild animals with tularemia, being bitten by ticks or by inhaling the organism. If you develop symptoms of tularemia see your health care provider.
To reduce the chances that your cat will become infected:
- Do not allow your cat to hunt outdoors
- Consult with your veterinarian to make sure your cat is protected from tick bites
- Report any unexplained large die-offs of rodents or rabbits to your local animal control
To reduce the chance that you or your family member will become infected:
- Wear tick protection when outdoors
- Do not mow over sick or dead animals
- Do not handle wild animals
- Cook wild game meat thoroughly before eating and use gloves when handling the animal and preparing the meat for cooking
- Take any pet with symptoms of tularemia to the veterinarian
If you have questions about tularemia in humans, please contact Awais Vaid, Epidemiologist, with CUPHD at (217) 531-5360 or your health care provider. If you are a cat owner or have questions about tularemia in animals, please contact your veterinarian. Visit http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/facts.asp or http://www.avma.org/public_health/biosecurity/tularemia_facts.asp for additional information.
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