Press Releases
Year
Cat Tests Positive for Tularemia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2022
Contact
Robert Davies Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
(217) 531-2932/
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Cat Tests Positive for Tularemia
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to be Aware of Local Tularemia Case
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 observed depending on the site of entry. If you develop symptoms of tularemia see your health care provider.
Many animals have also been known to become ill with tularemia including rabbits, muskrats, prairie dogs and other rodents. Domestic cats are very susceptible to tularemia and have been known to transmit the bacteria to humans. Cats may develop a variety of symptoms including high fever, mouth ulcers, depression, enlarged lymph nodes and anorexia.
To reduce the chance that you or your family members 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
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 CUPHD
To remove a dead rabbit from your yard, use two plastic trash bags and wear gloves. Keep the rabbit away from your face and carefully pick up the dead rabbit with gloved hands, or shovel if available, and place the body, without swinging it, into the trash bag, then double bag and place in the trash. If you use a shovel, place it in a five-gallon bucket with water using one cup of bleach per gallon of water. Let the shovel sit for a half hour to disinfect. Keep the bucket out of reach from children and pets.
For more information on tularemia, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/.
###
COVID-19 Second Booster Now Available to Eligible Recipients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2022
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
COVID-19 Second Booster Now Available to Eligible Recipients
COVID vaccinations available throughout community
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 UrbanaChampaign 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 health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans.”
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District – 201 W. Kenyon Road, Champaign
- Register for 2nd booster at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CA8A82CA5F94-2ndcovid
- April 4 – 22, 2022 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Promise Healthcare – 819 Bloomington Road, Champaign
- To schedule an appointment, please call (217) 356-1558.
Carle Health
- Appointments will be available at primary care offices and made available soon, check Carle.org for more information.
OSF HealthCare
- Appointments will be available at all of the primary care offices and can be scheduled through osfhealthcare.org/vaccine.
Christie Clinic
- Christie Clinic will have booster vaccine available in limited primary care Christie Clinic offices for Christie Clinic patients 50 years and older. If patients have an upcoming appointment, they are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with their primary care provider. For patients without an upcoming appointment, they can visit one of the community-based clinics or visit vaccine.gov to find a vaccine site nearest to them.
Pharmacies
- Visit www.vaccinefinder.org for available appointments at local pharmacies.
Please note, additional vaccination options may be available through other retail locations.
Additional information on COVID-19 vaccinations can be found at: https://www.c-uphd.org/covidvaccinations.html.
###
Maternal child health open house and breast milk depot grand reopening at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
|
 |
1691 Elmhurst Road Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 P: 847-262-5134 • F: 847-262-5983 Email: Website: www.milkbankwgl.org |
Contact
Jinnie Hoggarth, Relationship Manager
847-262-5134
Valerie Koress, Program Coordinator
217-531-4324
Release Date
Monday, March 28, 2022
Maternal child health open house and breast milk depot grand reopening at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Champaign, IL: The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is holding an open house on maternal and child health. As part of the event, CUPHD is celebrating the grand re-opening of its breast milk depot and dispensary. The event will be held Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to participate in giveaways and light refreshments while learning about services offered by the Division of Maternal and Child Health. Guests will meet staff and have important questions answered.
As a breast milk depot and dispensary with Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (Milk Bank WGL), CUPHD promotes breastfeeding and supports family nutrition.
“To have a local depot that collects milk for their local milk bank is such an important relationship,” says Amber Barnes, Registered Nurse and Clinical Manager at Milk Bank WGL. “Human milk contains a large number of antibodies, many of which are specific to the mother’s geographic region. Babies get maximum protection as a result. Local antibodies for local babies!”
Healthy, lactating women who have been screened and approved as donors through Milk Bank WGL bring their milk to the depot. All donations are shipped to the milk bank’s processing facility in Elk Grove Village, IL where it is pasteurized to eliminate viruses and bacteria. The pasteurized milk is tested by a third-party lab and distributed to hospitals and outpatients in Illinois and Wisconsin.
CUPHD also serves as a donor milk dispensary where families can purchase pasteurized donor breast milk. In the absence of mother’s own milk, pasteurized donor human milk provides numerous benefits, including infection-fighting factors, growth hormones, improved nutrition, and improved digestion. Donor milk can be used when the mother has a low milk supply, is ill or on certain medications, or in cases of adoption or surrogacy.
In addition to donor milk services, CUPHD offers breastfeeding support in order to promote the best breastfeeding outcomes possible for each mother-infant dyad. Additional programs include Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Family Case Management, GREAT Start, HealthWorks, and childhood immunizations.
Individuals who are interested in becoming a donor through Milk Bank WGL can visit the milk bank’s website at www.milkbankwgl.org.
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
201 W. Kenyon
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 352-7961
For more information:
https://www.c-uphd.org/
https://www.milkbankwgl.org
www.hmbana.org
###