Press Releases
Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Officials Investigate Monkeypox Case at Champaign County Daycare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25,2022
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
(217) 531-2925 /
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Officials Investigate Monkeypox Case at Champaign County Daycare
Patient is doing well and the case poses little risk to general public
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), announced today that they are investigating a case of monkeypox associated with a daycare located in Rantoul, IL.
CUPHD, IDPH and Carle Health are working closely with an adult case at the daycare. There are no other cases at this time but a complete assessment is being conducted of all adults and children at the facility. If a child that’s enrolled and has had a potential exposure, the parent or guardian will be contacted by CUPHD.
There is no indication there is a great risk of extensive local spread of the virus, as monkeypox does not spread as easily as the COVID-19 virus. Person-to-person transmission is possible through close skin-to-skin physical contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact. Symptoms include a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.
Monkeypox is a rare, but potentially serious viral illness, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus family, and typically begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes, and progresses to a rash on the face and body. Most infections last two to four weeks. Monkeypox is typically endemic to parts of central and west Africa, and people can be exposed through bites or scratches from rodents and small mammals, preparing wild game, or having contact with an infected animal or possibly animal products.
People who have a new or unexplained rash, sores, or symptoms, or have a confirmed exposure should see a healthcare provider, remind them that the virus is circulating in the community, and avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until they have been seen. If a person or their partner has monkeypox, they should follow the treatment and prevention recommendations outlined by their healthcare provider and avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until all sores have healed or have a fresh layer of skin formed.
Suspected cases may present with early flu-like symptoms and progress to lesions that may begin on one site on the body and spread to other parts. Illness could be clinically confused with a sexually transmitted infection like syphilis or herpes, or with varicella zoster virus.
For more about this virus, visit:https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/ and https://dph.illinois.gov/resource-center/news/2022/june/city--state-public-health-officials-confirm-first-case-of-monkey.html
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Changes to COVID-19 Operations at CUPHD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2022
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
(217) 531-2925 /
Changes to COVID-19 Operations at CUPHD
Contact Tracing to End August 15
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Starting August 15, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will no longer reach out to persons who test positive for COVID-19.
“While COVID will continue to persist in our county, we are entering a period where state and federal mandates are being rescinded, funding is being reduced, and resources are being reallocated,” said Administrator Julie Pryde. “This is not a reason to be complacent; rather, we believe that Champaign County residents have the knowledge and tools readily available to them to adopt effective precautions to prevent COVID-19 infections and to make timely care decisions if they have a positive COVID-19 test.”
Important information and changes:
- Information on how to safely isolate at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 can be found on our website, which will be updated regularly.
- CUPHD will no longer be able to provide hotel rooms as alternative housing for residents who test positive.
- CUPHD will no longer provide food assistance to residents to “shelter in place.”
- A list of community resources can be found at the City of Champaign’s website and UIUC’s School of Social Work’s C-U Community Resource Guide
- Antigen tests will be available to long term care and other congregate living agencies to test symptomatic patients. CUPHD will not have the resources to provide testing for surveillance purposes.
CUPHD will continue to monitor trends and outbreaks and provide support to our partners in the public health system. Vaccinations are still the best tool in our arsenal to fight the COVID-19
pandemic and are widely available to all residents. We will continue to support vaccination efforts. Please check the CUPHD website for current vaccination options.
For more information, visit our website at https://www.c-uphd.org/champaign-urbana-illinois-coronavirusinformation.html
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World Breastfeeding Week is August 1st-7th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2022
Contact
Jennifer Lotton, Breastfeeding Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4323 /
Valerie Koress, Community Nutrition Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4324 /
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
(217) 531-2925 /
World Breastfeeding Week is August 1st-7th
Breastfeeding Supplies Drive for World Breastfeeding Week
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is excited to announce a new campaign launching August 1, 2022, to collect breastfeeding supplies for parents enrolled in the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program. This program provides support to expectant and postpartum parents to learn about breastfeeding and overcome obstacles they may face in their journey to accomplish their individual breastfeeding goals.
According to the CDC's Breastfeeding Report Card 2020, 84.2% of Illinois babies start out breastfeeding. That number falls dramatically to 42.1% exclusively breastfeeding at three months, and only 23.9% exclusively breastfeeding by six months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for six months and recognizes the health benefits of breastfeeding for longer durations, recently revising their recommendation of breastfeeding to two or more years postpartum, matching the long-standing World Health Organization recommendation. Breastfeeding has short and long-term health benefits for both mom and baby. Breastfed babies get sick less often and have a reduced risk of asthma, eczema, ear infections, lower respiratory infections, diarrhea, vomiting, childhood obesity, childhood leukemia, Type 2 diabetes, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Adolescents and adults who were breastfed as babies are also less likely to be overweight or obese and have Type 2 diabetes. Breastfeeding reduces a mother’s risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes and is also associated with easier weight loss after pregnancy and reduced rates of depression.
An Amazon wish list has been curated for virtual donations that will be sent directly to CUPHD to distribute to clients. Donations from this list can be made year-round. Products can also be donated in-person at CUPHD, August 1st-5th, at the WIC intake window inside the CUPHD main lobby.
Ways to donate:
- Online: Amazon wish list
- In-person: CUPHD; 201 W. Kenyon Rd., Champaign, IL o August 1st-5th at WIC intake window inside CUPHD main lobby o Window open 8:30am-11:00am and 1:00pm-4:30pm, Monday through Friday
Items needed:
- Breast pads, disposable or washable
- Milk storage bags
- Nursing pillows
- Nursing covers
- Lanolin or other nipple creams
- Self-care items, such has lotions, hand sanitizer, hair ties, makeup remover wipes, etc.
All items must be new and sealed in their original packaging.
For more information on World Breastfeeding Week, please visit:
http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org/
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Download 2022-07-28-WBW-Supplies-Drive-PR