Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

First Mammal in the County to Test Positive for the Disease This Year

Public Health learned this week that a horse in Champaign County has tested positive for the West Nile virus. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the horse was first reported to state authorities on September 20, and test results were released this week. A bulletin from the health department describes the horse as "symptomatic". No other details are available.

Horses, like humans, become infected via bites from mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus. There have been no known cases of transmission of the disease from mammal to mammal, bird to bird, or bird to... more...

Adult and Child Immunizations, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Screenings Are Available to All Champaign County Residents

The Champaign County Public Health Department is offering the following Health Check Clinics in October. At the clinics, nurses provide adult and child immunizations, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screenings to all Champaign County residents.

The Health Check Clinics will... more...

Event Will Simulate Emergency Medicine Dispensing Site; Other County Health Departments Will Participate

On Thursday, September 22, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, the Champaign County Public Health Department and Parkland College will stage an exercise designed to simulate an emergency medicine dispensing site. The event is part of a state-wide effort to plan and prepare for terrorist attacks or other public health disasters.

Nearly 100 staff members of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District will participate in the two-hour drill, along with staff from several other central Illinois health departments, the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Observers from Carle Foundation Hospital, local employees of the U.S. Postal Service and the University of Illinois will also... more...

The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging is pleased to nominate the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (C-UPHD) for the 2005 Governor's Unique Achievement Award. The following individuals can accept the Award on behalf of the Health District: Dave King, Administrator and Charlene Stevens, RN, Division of Community Health Nursing and Clinical Services, Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department, 71 0 North Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61 820; telephone:... more...

Public Health Urges Champaign Residents to Vaccinate Pets and Watch for Potentially Rabid Wildlife

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District learned today that a rabid fox was recovered Tuesday at the Round Barn Shopping Center, in Champaign. A police officer and a woman at the shopping center managed to subdue the fox until Animal Control could collect the animal. State laboratory tests today confirmed that the fox was infected with rabies.

Public Health officials are urging all Champaign area pet owners to observe the following basic... more...

A memo from IDPH.

On September 15, 2005, the Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory in Springfield reported that a fox from Champaign County tested positive for rabies. The fox was collected by Champaign County Animal Control. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has reported that the fox was found wandering in broad daylight in a Champaign shopping center. The fox was staggering and aggressive as people approached and died shortly after... more...

Two or More Smokers Can Produce Levels of Particulate Matter in the Air That Are Significantly Higher Than Federal Safety Standards

Restaurant and bar workers and patrons of local establishments that permit cigarette smoking may be exposed to dangerously high levels of particulate matter from ambient tobacco smoke, according to data released today by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

Public Health staff measured the concentration of particles the air smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) in thirteen local taverns, bar and grills, and bars. Particles of this size are released in the air in significant amounts from burning cigarettes and are easily inhaled deeply into the... more...

"Harm Reduction in the Heartland" to Offer Guidance on Interventions to Reduce the Public Health Cost of Crystal Meth Use

Urbana, IL - Public Health will host a conference on methamphetamine use, with a special emphasis on interventions that can reduce the health risks associated with this drug.

"Harm Reduction in the Heartland," an all-day conference to be held at the Urbana Civic Center on September 16, will outline the physical and psychological effects of crystal methamphetamine use; its prevalence in the gay community; methods to reduce the risk of HIV infection in meth users; and the substance abuse treatment needs of methamphetamine... more...

IDPH memo about their updated... more...

New Fees Comparable to Those of Other County Health Departments; No One Will Be Turned Away for Inability to Pay!

On October 1, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Public Health Department will increase or add fees for some medical and prevention services.

The divisions of Family Health, HIV/STD/TB Prevention & Management and Community Health Nursing will increase or introduce new fees for services such as adult vaccines, school and sports physicals, well child and sick child visits and the administration of flu and pneumonia shots and other... more...