Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District will no longer inspect body art establishments.

See PDF file for the... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Consumers to Check Their Freezers for Recalled Pomegranate Seeds

CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) received notice from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding a recall of pomegranate seeds. IDPH recommends checking the brand of frozen pomegranate seeds or a mixture containing pomegranate seeds purchased since February prior to eating them.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined the most likely source of a multistate Hepatitis A virus outbreak is a common shipment of pomegranate seeds from Turkey used in the Townsend Farms and Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Blends. These seeds were also used by Scenic Fruit Company to make its Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels. The companies have voluntarily recalled these... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to Keep Cats Indoors to Help Minimize Tularemia

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is encouraging area residents to keep cats indoors to reduce the likelihood of contracting tularemia. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health Districts has identified two additional cats positive for tularemia in Champaign-Urbana. Previously, five cats were diagnosed with tularemia at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine; one cat from Champaign and one from Urbana; and three cats from two households in Savoy. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits and hares).

Cats may prey on rabbits and rodents and become infected or they may become infected through tick exposure. Cats may develop a variety of symptoms including high fever, mouth ulcers, depression, enlarged lymph nodes and behavioral changes including not... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District begins
2013Culex Mosquito Abatement

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is starting Culex mosquito abatement this week for the 2013 mosquito season. CUPHD uses seasonal workers on bikes, known as Mosquito Abatement Bikers (MABs), to evaluate and treat public catch basins in Champaign, Urbana and Savoy. The catch basins are treated with a product that disrupts the life cycle of the mosquito and reduces adult mosquito emergence. Catch basins are prime breeding sites for the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus (WNV).

Homeowners can also have an impact on mosquito populations by draining standing water on their property. Items such as gutters, abandoned pools, garbage cans, flower pots, toys, tires, trash, bird baths and wading pools can all be potential breeding sites for... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges People Not To Purchase Small Turtles

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District urges people not to purchase turtles with shells of less than 4 inches. With exotic pets becoming more popular, it is important to know how to stay safe and healthy. Reptiles and amphibians often carry Salmonella on their skin and shells. The bacteria do not make them sick, but can make people very sick. Small turtles are a significant source of Salmonellosis - Salmonella infections. There have been eight multi-state outbreaks of Salmonella linked to small turtles since 2011.

Salmonella infections are specifically linked to small turtles because of those who are at risk for infections. For most healthy adults, Salmonellosis causes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps that can last from four to seven days and resolves without treatment. Serious cases of Salmonellosis require hospitalization and can be life-threatening... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to be Knowledgeable of Tick Precautions and Tick-borne Diseases

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) wants to remind people about safe practices to avoid ticks. As the weather warms up, people and pets come out to enjoy outdoor activities. This time of year is also when ticks become active and start to look for food. Areas with tall grass, leaf litter and wooded places are typically where ticks are found.

Several tick species are present in Champaign County. The most common tick is the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). This tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and tularemia to people and their pets. Another tick is the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), also known as the deer tick. This is the main tick species that transmits Lyme... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and C-U Safe Routes to School to Help Kick-Off Pilot Program in Urbana

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), in partnership with C-U Safe Routes to School, is set to help the Urbana Middle School kick-off a new voluntary program that promotes health and sustainability by encouraging kids to walk and bike to school through Boltage.

Boltage is a program that combines technology with incentives to encourage children to walk or bike to school and is geared towards changing habits. Children who participate in the program will receive a ZapTag and will pass under a solar-powered RFID (radio frequency identification) reader when they walk or bike to school. When children pass under the reader, a unique number is transmitted from the tag and is uploaded via the internet. The school can then run activity reports and reward the participants with items such as wristbands, stickers or even public... more...

The Illini District Dental Society, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and SmileHealthy Participate in "Give Kids a Smile"

Champaign, IL - The Illini District Dental Society, in conjunction with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and SmileHealthy, will be participating in Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) Day on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. The event is part of the Children's Dental Access Program through the American Dental Association (ADA) that provides free oral health care services to children of low-income... more...

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Make this Valentine's Day special - give the gift of yourself. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be sponsoring the annual Freedom From Smoking program beginning February 19, 2013. According to the American Lung Association, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death.

The Freedom From Smoking program is an eight-week program that helps participants by working together with other quitters to develop and execute their own individualized "Quit Plan". The program is available to anyone 18 years of age and older who lives in Champaign County. The cost is $20.00 but anyone who completes six of the eight sessions will receive a $10.00 refund. The fee includes program materials and an eight-week supply of nicotine patches for those who qualify.

"Quitting smoking can be very difficult, and we want to support individuals in making these difficult behavioral changes so they can be successful," said Nikki Hillier, Program... more...

Governor Quinn has proclaimed February as Women's Healthy Heart Month.

See the PDF for the full proclamation.... more...