FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2025

Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-4939 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CUPHD Accepting Period Supply Donations to Support Local Community

May 28 is World Menstrual Hygiene Day

CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is continuing its ongoing campaign to collect a variety of period products for distribution to menstruating individuals across Champaign County. The next collection drive will launch on May 5, 2025. This initiative has supported those in our community who struggle to access essential period supplies. Last year, CUPHD distributed 10,881 individual period products to help address the needs of those facing period poverty.

According to the Alliance for Period Supplies, two in five people who menstruate in the U.S. have struggled to afford period products due to financial hardship. Additionally, one in four students who menstruate have been unable to afford the supplies they need.

Period products are a vital component of personal healthcare, and the goal with this campaign is to raise awareness about the very real impact of period poverty. By coming together as a community to ensure a wide variety of products are available, we can help alleviate unnecessary stress and improve the well-being of individuals who menstruate.

To make donating easy and accessible, CUPHD has curated an Amazon Wish List for virtual donations. Items purchased from the list will be shipped directly to CUPHD for distribution to clients and community members. In-person donations will also be accepted at CUPHD during the week of May 26–30. A donation drop box will be in the lobby for your convenience.

Ways to donate:

• Online: Amazon Wish List
• In-person: May 26–30 at 201 W. Kenyon Rd., Champaign.
  • Drop box located in the main lobby.
  • Lobby hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

Join us in recognizing Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 by helping ensure period products are accessible to all in our community.

For more information on period poverty, visit https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period- poverty/.

###

Download 2025-05-05-period-product-drive-PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17,2025

Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-4939 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2025

Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-4939 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deaths Reported in Several Area Squirrels, Tularemia Identified

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Residents to Be Aware of Tularemia Symptoms and Health Precautions

CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is encouraging area residents to be aware of tularemia symptoms and to monitor their families and pets for signs of illness. Several cases of illness and death in squirrels found in Urbana have been reported, and one of the squirrels tested positive for tularemia, a rare but serious disease that can affect both humans and animals. The presence of infected wildlife may indicate an increased risk of exposure in the area.

Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which is commonly found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits, and hares. Wild animals can carry the bacterium and often die from infection. Humans and many domestic animals, including dogs and cats, can also become infected.

Pets may become infected through contact with or consumption of infected animals, such as rabbits or rodents. They can also be exposed through tick or flea bites, or by inhaling or ingesting contaminated materials. Pet owners should watch for signs of illness in their animals and consult a veterinarian if they have concerns.

People infected with tularemia may develop skin ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, a sudden fever, chills, headache, diarrhea, joint pain, muscle aches, cough, and weakness. Infection can occur through handling infected pets or wild animals, or from tick bites. It can also happen through inhalation, particularly during farming or landscaping activities when machinery—such as tractors or mowers—runs over infected animals or carcasses. If you develop symptoms of tularemia, contact your health care provider promptly.

To reduce the chance of pets becoming infected:

• Do not allow cats or dogs to hunt or roam outdoors unsupervised.
• Consult your veterinarian to ensure pets are protected from tick bites.
• Report any unexplained large die-offs of rodents or rabbits to your local animal control agency.

To reduce the chance of human infection:

• Wear tick protection, such as insect repellent and long clothing, when outdoors.
• Avoid mowing over sick or dead animals.
• Do not handle wild animals.
• Take any pet showing symptoms of tularemia to a veterinarian promptly.

If you have questions about tularemia in humans, please contact your health care provider. If you have questions about tularemia in animals, please contact your veterinarian. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/about/ for additional information.

###

Download 2025-04-16-tularemia-PR