Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Press Releases

Sep 9, 2010 Medical Reserve Corp Serves Champaign County
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Recognizes Service and Dedication by MRC Members

Champaign, IL - The Champaign County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a local volunteer-based medical unit developed by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) as a way to utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year.

MRC has donated almost 200 hours of service to the Champaign Community over the past year by participating in health fairs, community exercises, and emergency response training. MRC also assisted CUPHD with flu clinics throughout the community during the H1N1 response.

The next Champaign County MRC meeting will be held on September 16th at 6:00 PM in the main conference room at CUPHD, 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. Current members and anyone who is interested in the Medical Reserve Corps Program is encouraged to attend. According to... more...

Sep 8, 2010 Fall for Smiles Kicks Off with Free Apples
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Helps Promote Oral Healthcare for Children

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and its Dental Clinic are showing support for the mission and efforts of Oral Health America by participating in Fall for Smiles, a public messaging campaign conducted in collaboration with Oral Healthcare Can't Wait(R), an initiative of the Dental Trade Alliance.

The Fall for Smiles campaign focuses on four specific messages:

Brushing and flossing teeth as part of a healthy daily routine
Maintaining regular visits to the dentist
Choosing healthy foods for a nutritious diet and healthy mouth
Avoiding all tobacco... more...

Sep 2, 2010 Mosquitoes Continue to Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Champaign County
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Residents to Use Insect Repellent When Outdoors in the Evening

Champaign, IL - In recent weeks, mosquito samples and dead bird samples have continued to detect the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Champaign County. A total of 14 WNV positive mosquito samples have been detected in Champaign and Urbana, while WNV positive dead bird samples have been detected from Tolono, west Champaign County, and the City of Champaign.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed the first human West Nile virus case reported in Illinois for 2010. According to IDPH, it was reported that a DuPage County woman in her 50s began with the onset of illness in early August. In 2009, Illinois reported five human cases of West Nile virus with the first case reported on August... more...

Aug 19, 2010 Egg Recall Due to Salmonella Expanded
From the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Impacted brands: Albertson, Boosmsma, Dutch Farms, Farm Fresh, Glenview, Hillandale, James Farms, Kemps, Lucerne, Lund, Mountain Dairy, Pacific Coast, Ralphs, Shoreland, Sunshine, Trafficanda

SPRINGFIELD - Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa today is expanding its voluntarily recall of eggs produced by its farms because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Eggs affected by this recall are packaged under the following brand names: Albertson, Boosmsma, Dutch Farms, Farm Fresh, Glenview, Hillandale, James Farms, Kemps, Lucerne, Lund, Mountain Dairy, Pacific Coast, Ralphs, Shoreland, Sunshine and Trafficanda. The eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (six-egg, dozen-egg and 18-egg cartons) with dates ranging from May 16 to August 17 (Julian dates 136 to 229) and plant numbers 1026, 1413, 1720, 1946 and 1942. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant... more...

Aug 12, 2010 First Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Champaign County
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Residents to Continue to Take Precautions

Champaign, IL - A mosquito sample collected last week in the City of Champaign has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). Additionally, a dead crow collected the last week of July in the City of Champaign also tested positive for West Nile virus (2nd positive bird in Champaign County). "Hot summer temperatures help to create stagnant water with organic matter that is prime breeding sites for Culex mosquitoes, the primary vector of WNV. As the number of WNV infected Culex mosquitoes increase, the risk of WNV disease-to-humans increases," said Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD).

Late summer is the time of the year that you are most likely to come in contact with a WNV infected mosquito. CUPHD urges residents to take personal actions to avoid mosquito bites when... more...

Aug 4, 2010 SPROUT! Comes to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Hosts a Supplemental Food Program.

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is hosting a supplemental program to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) called SPROUT! The program allows children ages 1-18 to do arts and crafts, play games and sports, and learn about healthy habits. SPROUT! runs until September 30, 2010 and is held in the lobby of CUPHD from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

SPROUT!, a summer food program planting the seeds for safe, active, and empowered kids, works together with SFSP to keep children safe, healthy, and fit during the summer. SPROUT! is sponsored by the Illinois Action for Children and the Illinois Department of Human... more...

Jul 27, 2010 Pound for Purchase Program at Farmer's Market Benefits Clients
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Makes Eating Healthy A Little Easier

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) issues approximately $40,000 worth of Farmer's Market vouchers each year. The vouchers are available to those who participate in the supplemental food program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In August of 2008, CUPHD piloted a Farmer's Market program to better meet the needs of clients by providing a one-stop-shop with access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This year, the market is open on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM.... more...

Jul 23, 2010 Bird Tests Positive for West Nile
Champaign County Receives Its First Confirmed Case of West Nile Virus in 2010

Champaign, IL - A crow collected by the Champaign County Health Department tested positive for the West Nile virus. The bird was collected outside the city limits on the west side of Champaign on July 13, 2010. "Birds testing positive for West Nile virus serve as a reminder that mosquitoes are active and people should protect themselves against mosquitoes," said Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health.... more...

Jul 16, 2010 High Temperatures Mean Extra Precaution
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges the Public to Watch for Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) urges everyone to watch for the symptoms of heat-related illness, and to take precautions to keep their families and communities safe.

Heat-related illness can take many forms ranging from a mild case of heat exhaustion to a more serious and life-threatening case of heat stroke. Heat-related illnesses occur when the body becomes unable to control it's temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly and the body looses its ability to perspire and cool down. Rising to temperatures of 106 degrees F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes can result in death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.... more...

Jul 8, 2010 Mosquito Abatement Bikers aka MAB
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Assists with Mosquito Prevention and Abatement

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has teamed with the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and the Village of Savoy to help reduce mosquitoes in a very unique way, with Mosquito Abatement Bikers (MAB).

Mosquito Abatement Bikers ride a bicycle throughout Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy dispensing larvicide treatment in catch basins on city property. All MAB employees received bicycle safety training, pesticide training, and obtained an operator license through the Illinois Department of Agriculture before they started any applications. All larvicide and application equipment is carried in a backpack while the bikers travel along their assigned treatment routes. While in the community, Mosquito Abatement Bikers can also answer citizen's inquiries about the program and what they can do to reduce mosquitoes on their own property and what they can do to... more...