Press Releases
Year
Wednesday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2007
Contact
Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease
(217) 531-5372 /
Wednesday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to “Take the Test and Take Control of Your Health!”
Champaign, IL – June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, an annual observance meant to draw attention to a disease which effects over an estimated 1 million individuals living in the United States. Of these, between 252,000 and 315,000 do not know they are infected, and may unknowingly be spreading the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Over 30,000 new estimated HIV cases are reported each year.
- 68% of the total estimated AIDS deaths have occurred in persons between the ages of 25 and 44.
- Among the diagnosed AIDS cases from the beginning of the epidemic through 2004; 80% were men, 19% were women, and 1% were children less than 13 years of age.
- 40% of diagnosed AIDS cases were among African-Americans, 40% were Caucasian, 19% Hispanic, 1% Asian and less than 1% other.
- Women most commonly reported heterosexual contact or injection drug use as their primary modes of exposure to HIV.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is part of a national effort to encourage HIV Testing to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. HIV testing is offered every week at selected CUPHD locations, and CUPHD works in conjunction with local healthcare agencies to provide follow-up testing and care for clients with active HIV. CUPHD will host National HIV Testing Day events locally that will focus on those persons at increased risk for HIV infection that include testing, risk reduction education and supplies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), of the more than 1 million Americans are now estimated to be living with HIV, one-quarter do not realize they are infected. As a result, they do not receive medical care that could help them live longer, fuller lives. And without knowing it, they may also be transmitting HIV to others. It is estimated that the majority of sexually transmitted HIV infections are transmitted by people who are unaware of their infection.
The CDC recommends routine HIV screening for all persons aged 13 to 64 if you are sexually active, have multiple partners, have unprotected sex, or have other sexually transmitted diseases. Men who have sex with other men or persons who share needles to inject drugs are highly encouraged to seek HIV testing.
CUPHD has a series of innovative programs that take HIV testing and counseling services directly to the people at risk, in their own communities. From testing events at local clubs and nightspots to outreach with mobile vans and testing at community events, efforts are underway to better educate citizens on HIV.
National HIV Testing Day offers an excellent opportunity to be tested for HIV. But an HIV test can be taken on any day. Resolve to take the test and take control of your health. “Know the Facts and Educate, Motivate and Mobilize against HIV/AIDS!”
For more information on HIV testing including confidential locations and schedules of CUPHD testing sites, please call the CUPHD Division of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at 217-239-7827 or visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Centennial High School Students “Commercialize” The Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Life to Peers & Public
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2007
Contact
Jennifer Jackson, Health Educator
(217) 531-2912
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Centennial High School Students “Commercialize” The Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Life to Peers & Public
Champaign, IL – Centennial High School students had their first taste of Hollywood–Illinois-Style when they volunteered to assist the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and REALITY Illinois in making two commercials to be broadcasted on Insight Media cable and the local CW. On April 17, 2007 the commercials entitled “Sucker” and “Voicemail” were recorded at Centennial High School using scripts provided by REALITY Illinois. These commercials are currently airing throughout the month of June on Insight Media Cable on such youth popular stations as “Comedy Central”, “FX” and “MTV”.
“Being in a commercial was really hard work,” said one Centennial High School student, “We had to shoot one part 8 times because we kept laughing and messing up, but you can’t tell on the final commercial. Since the commercial has been on TV, kids I don’t know me stop me and say “Hey, I saw you on TV last night – that’s cool.” I just hope they remember smoking isn’t cool.”
“Kids are a powerful part of the solution to reducing youth tobacco use,” said Jennifer Jackson, Health Educator for CUPHD, “Centennial High School students are sending the message that smoking is not acceptable and the consequences are both dire and preventable.”
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people each year. Everyday, more than 4,000 kids try their first cigarettes; another 1,000 kids become addicted smokers, one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result.
For more information about CUPHD's programs and services, visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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The Collecting and Testing of Dead Birds is an Important Component of Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s West Nile Virus Surveillance Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2009
Contact
Matthew Swearingen, Environmental Health
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
The Collecting and Testing of Dead Birds is an Important Component of Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s West Nile Virus Surveillance Program
Champaign, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) routinely tests dead birds for West Nile Virus. The results of these tests help determine the extent of West Nile Virus in Champaign County. Since West Nile Virus generally appears and grows in local bird and mosquito populations before it is transmitted to humans, monitoring bird and mosquito populations helps predict when and where humans will be at risk for infection and affords the time to take additional precautions and control measures.
CUPHD invites the help of Champaign County residents to collect dead birds for testing. Please call CUPHD at 217-373-7900 if you discover a dead bird. Please do not handle or bring the bird to a CUPHD location. An experienced member of the CUPHD staff will pick up the bird if it meets the following criteria:
- The bird must be dead and the carcass is in good condition. Birds should be dead no more than 24 hours prior to collection, and should show no signs of advanced decomposition such as maggots, strong odor, and dried or deflated eyes.
- The bird must not show signs of dying of causes other than disease. Birds with obvious injuries such as wounds or missing parts should not be submitted for testing. Likewise, crushed carcasses and birds found along roadways will not be accepted.
- The bird must be an acceptable species. Acceptable bird species include crows, blue jays, grackles, starlings, robins, cardinals, sparrows, finches, hawks and owls. Species other than those listed above will not be accepted for testing. If you need help identifying the bird species, please refer to the CUPHD website at www.cuphd.org.
If the dead bird meets all these criteria, please call CUPHD Environmental Health at 217373-7900 to file a report. CUPHD is authorized by the State of Illinois to collect a limited number of birds each season (May 1 – October 15). Once the limit has been met in any given locality, no further birds will be collected.
Any bird not collected by CUPHD for testing should be disposed of properly. Please do not have direct skin contact with the dead bird. Use rubber or latex gloves, a plastic bag over your hands, or utilize a shovel, tongs or other instrument to place the dead bird in a plastic bag. Make sure the beak or claws do not puncture the bag and seal the bag. Place the sealed bag into a second bag and seal that as well. Put the double-bagged bird with trash that will be picked up, or bury it away from water sources. Wash your hands with warm water and soap immediately after disposing of the bird.
For more information about CUPHD's programs and services, visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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