Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) promotes National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17, 2012. According to the National Ground Water Association, groundwater is essential to the health and well-being of humanity and the environment. Groundwater is the water that soaks into the soil from rain or other precipitation and moves downward to fill cracks and other openings in beds of rocks and sand. This week's purpose is to educate the public about the importance of groundwater and water well stewardship.

More than 90 percent of all public drinking water systems rely on groundwater to supply the population with drinking water and millions of Americans rely on groundwater from aquifers to supply their private wells, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

CUPHD encourages residents of Champaign County with private wells to test their water annually for contaminants. Private water wells should be tested every year... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Continues to Provide Tools to Help Champaign County Residents Reach Goals in 2012

CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) typically offers one Freedom From Smoking class per year. There was such an overwhelming response this year, additional classes had to be planned. "We had so much interest at the beginning of the year that we went ahead and opened a second class. That class filled up and now, our waiting list is so long, we can open up another class; however, spots are still available," said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator at CUPHD. The next class will start on March 27, 2012. For the first time in many years, a mid-year class is being offered.

"Being able to share with and support people who were going through the same thing I was really made the class work for me," said Carletta Donaldson, a recent Freedom From Smoking... 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, February 4, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 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-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to Test Their Homes with Free Radon Test Kit

CHAMPAIGN, IL - January is National Radon Action Month and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages citizens to learn more about the threat of radon and to test their homes for the presence of radon. CUPHD has a limited number of FREE radon test kits available for residents of Champaign County. Test kits may be picked up at the Environmental Health Division of CUPHD located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign; kits are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to Noon and 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Test kits are available while supplies last.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to indoor radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Provides Tools to Help Reach Goals in the New Year

CHAMPAIGN, IL - For anyone who is interested in quitting smoking for the New Year, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) can provide additional assistance this year. CUPHD is extending opportunities to make quitting even more successful.

The annual Freedom From Smoking program is scheduled to begin January 17, 2012. The eight-week program helps participants because they work together with other quitters to develop and execute their own individualized "Quit Plan". This year's program allows for double the amount of nicotine patches that participants have previously received. The program used to include a four-week supply of nicotine patches for participants, only half of what most people need to help them successfully quit. After that, participants were expected to purchase the remaining needed patches on their own; but now, the program provides the full eight... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Expands Tdap Vaccine Offerings

Champaign, IL - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has recently adopted changes for immunization requirements. IDPH has amended its policy to comply with recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to provide additional protection to infants against pertussis. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.

Any child entering the sixth grade will need to show proof of receiving one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccine regardless of the interval since the last DTaP, DT or Td dose. Students entering grades seven through 12 who have not already received the Tdap vaccination are required to receive one dose regardless of the interval since the last DTaP, DT or Td dose. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has determined that the... more...

From the Illinois Department of Public Health

The Do's and Don'ts when it comes to holiday gatherings

SPRINGFIELD - Fancy dips, tempting hors d'oeuvres and delightful desserts are some of the culinary treats we see at holiday dinners, office parties or other celebrations. However, those get-togethers could result in food poisoning if you are not careful. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year roughly one in six Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. In Illinois, it is estimated that as many as 250,000 cases of foodborne illness may occur each year. However, because these illnesses can be mild and because the vast majority of them occur in the home, many go unreported.

Be sure to read the press release for more... more...

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Everyone to Get Tested

Champaign, IL - Annually, December 1st is observed as World AIDS Day in an effort to raise awareness of the global impact of HIV/AIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that more than one million people are living with HIV in the United States and 33.4 million worldwide. More than 18,000 people with AIDS die each year in the U.S.

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages people to get tested and know their status. The CDC estimates that of the one million people living in the United States with HIV, one in five is unaware of their infection. According to Candi Crause, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management, "HIV is 100% preventable. The key to overcoming this epidemic is to not only educate people on the facts of HIV/AIDS but to open the lines of communication. HIV spreads through silence and... more...

This press release is from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

SPRINGFIELD - Avoid spending this holiday season feeling ill because of unwanted guests such as Salmonella, Listeria or E. coli (Escherichia coli O157:H7) bacteria. There are some simple things you can do to avoid foodborne illness.

"Two of the most important things to remember for a safe Thanksgiving feast are to make sure to fully thaw and cook the turkey, and properly wash with soap and warm water your hands, utensils and anything else that comes into contact with raw meats or juices," said Dr. Craig Conover, Illinois Department of Public Health acting... more...

The Local Health Protection Grant (LHPG) review (77 ILL> Admin. Code 615) has been completed for your health department's three environmental programs - Food Protection, Potable Water Supplies, and Private Sewage Disposal for calendar year 2009. The findings for the LHPG Compliance Review conducted this spring are shown below. A copy of the LHPG compliance review for each section is attached to this letter and specific recommendations from the review staff may also be... more...