Press Releases
Year
Mosquito Abatement Bikers aka MAB
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2010
Contact
Jeff Blackford, Program Coordinator Environmental Health
(217) 531-2919
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Mosquito Abatement Bikers aka MAB
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Assists with Mosquito Prevention and Abatement
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has teamed with the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and the Village of Savoy to help reduce mosquitoes in a very unique way, with Mosquito Abatement Bikers (MAB).
Mosquito Abatement Bikers ride a bicycle throughout Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy dispensing larvicide treatment in catch basins on city property. All MAB employees received bicycle safety training, pesticide training, and obtained an operator license through the Illinois Department of Agriculture before they started any applications. All larvicide and application equipment is carried in a backpack while the bikers travel along their assigned treatment routes. While in the community, Mosquito Abatement Bikers can also answer citizen’s inquiries about the program and what they can do to reduce mosquitoes on their own property and what they can do to protect themselves.
As part of the Culex Mosquito Prevention Program, CUPHD is taking preventative action through the treatment of catch basins as well as conducting surveys to locate mosquito breeding sites and applying mosquito larvicide, as needed, to abate breeding sites. The program also provides surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) and Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) through mosquito testing and epidemiological investigations.
This intergovernmental agreement replaces the encephalitis prevention program that was discontinued by the University of Illinois’ Illinois Natural History Survey. The program is seasonal and runs from May through October.
For additional information on mosquitoes or the abatement program, please contact CUPHD at (217) 373-7900 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org
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Sunday, June 27, Marks National HIV Testing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2010
Contact
Candi Crause, Director
(217) 531-5372 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Sunday, June 27, Marks National HIV Testing Day
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to “Take the Test, Take Control”
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) recognizes Sunday, June 27, as National HIV Testing Day. This is the 17th National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) and this year’s theme is Take the Test, Take Control to encourage everyone to know their status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than one million people in the United States that are living with HIV. Of those one million people, the CDC estimates one out of five does not know they are infected.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), as of May 31, 2010, there were almost 60,000 HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in Illinois. Of those diagnosed cases:
- 81% were male
- 48% - African American; 35% - Caucasian; 13% - Hispanic
- 67% were between the ages of 25 - 44 years
Illinois has the seventh highest number of AIDS cases in the nation, with more than 41,000 reported cases since 1981. Of those diagnosed with AIDS, approximately 20,000 have died. It is important to get tested and take control because steps can be taken not only in seeking medical care, but to protect the health and wellbeing of yourself and your partner.
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 or works with others
- Anyone who has unprotected sex with an injection drug user or a man who has sex with other men
- Anyone who has a sexually transmitted disease
- Anyone who exchanges sex for money or drugs
Upcoming CUPHD events include HIV testing at the University of Illinois’ LGBT Resource Center on Tuesday, June 29, from 4 – 7 PM. CUPHD offers testing through community events, mobile outreach, and by appointment during clinic hours; Tuesdays, 1-5 PM; Thursdays, 9-11 AM and 1-3 PM.
For more information on HIV testing or to schedule an appointment, please call the CUPHD Division of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at 217-239-7827 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Statement of Support for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2010
Contact
Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health
(217) 531-2908
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Statement of Support for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Recognized for Support of the National Guard and Reserve
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) was recently issued a Statement of Support from the National Guard and Reserve from the U.S. Department of Defense. The Statement of Support illustrates an employer’s commitment and support to employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve.
John Dwyer is employed at CUPHD as the Emergency Preparedness Planner in the Environmental Health division. He is also a Major in the U. S. Air Force Reserves serving as the Officer in Charge of Personnel Programs with the 434th Mission Support Flight, a unit of the 434th Air Refueling Wing. John nominated his supervisor, Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health, to participate in the employer orientation flight program. Jim Roberts recently visited the 434th Air Refueling Wing and took part in a refueling mission aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker. The 434th Air Refueling Wing is based out of Grissom Air Reserve Base, near Kokomo, Indiana. On behalf of CUPHD and the Board of Health, Carol Elliott, Chair, signed the Statement of Support that will be displayed in the main lobby at CUPHD.
The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) was established in 1972 and operates within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.
For additional information about CUPHD, call (217) 352-7961 or visit www.c-uphd.org.
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