Press Releases
Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Launches the Health Atlas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17,2025
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-2925 /
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Launches the Health Atlas
Interactive platform gives the public and our community partners easy access to health data in one convenient place
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is proud to announce the launch of its new online public health interactive data platform, the Champaign County Health Atlas. This innovative tool makes it easier, faster, and more intuitive for stakeholders to find and analyze health data to support public health initiatives.
With over 100 health indicators available, users can explore data visualizations in maps, charts, graphs, and tables tailored to Champaign County’s unique needs. By streamlining data access, this tool helps identify community health trends, inform funding priorities, and improve collaboration across sectors.
“The Health Atlas will be an invaluable resource for residents, policymakers, researchers, and community organizations, providing easy access to essential health data,” said Administrator Julie Pryde.
To learn more and explore the Health Atlas, visit https://cuphd.metop.io/
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Deaths Reported in Several Area Squirrels, Tularemia Identified
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2025
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-2925 /
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:
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Do not allow cats or dogs to hunt or roam outdoors unsupervised.
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Consult your veterinarian to ensure pets are protected from tick bites.
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Report any unexplained large die-offs of rodents or rabbits to your local animal control agency.
To reduce the chance of human infection:
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Wear tick protection, such as insect repellent and long clothing, when outdoors.
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Avoid mowing over sick or dead animals.
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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.
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Champaign County EMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2025
Contact
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
(217) 531-2925 /
John Dwyer, Coordinator / CCEMA
(217) 384-3826 /
Champaign County EMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather
Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois is March 3-7
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) urges residents to prepare for severe weather. Following 142 tornadoes in 2024, Illinois now ranks third in the United States for tornadoes per square mile, behind Mississippi and Alabama. Nearly 20% of all tornadoes in Illinois occur at night, including an EF-3 tornado near Robinson on March 31, 2024.
While we cannot prevent severe thunderstorms, lightning, or tornadoes, we can take steps to minimize their impact on our lives and families. The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends the following precautions:
STAY INFORMED
Do not rely solely on outdoor storm sirens, as they are not designed to be heard indoors by everyone. Instead, stay updated using multiple sources, including:
- Weather alert radios
- Local radio and TV broadcasts
- NWS websites
- Smartphone apps such as FEMA and Red Cross (ensure emergency alerts are enabled)
- Wireless emergency alerts on smartphones
HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN
Create an emergency plan for your home, workplace, school, and travel. Identify safe shelter locations for severe weather, including tornadoes. Choose two meeting places in case you are separated from family or coworkers. If traveling, know the names of the counties and cities you visit.
PREPARE YOUR HOME AND YOURSELF
- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher, administer CPR, and shut off electricity, gas, and water in your home.
- Inspect your home for hazards, such as weakened trees, cracked windows, and worn roofing.
- Reinforce roofs, upper floors, and garages when constructing or renovating to minimize wind damage.
HAVE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT
Severe weather can cause power outages lasting several days. Your kit should include:
| Bottled water | Medications and a first aid kit |
| Non-perishable food | Personal hygiene items |
| Flashlights and extra batteries | Pet supplies |
| Extra clothing and blankets | A weather alert radio or portable AM/FM radio |
| A spare set of keys and cash |
SIREN PROTOCOLS FOR THE CHAMPAIGN-URBANA METRO AREA
Champaign County EMA has updated its siren activation protocol for the Cities of Champaign and Urbana, the University of Illinois, and the Village of Savoy. Sirens will activate for severe thunderstorms if the warning includes the term “destructive.” This designation was used for the June 29, 2023, storms. A destructive damage threat is defined as having hail at least 2.75 inches in diameter (baseball-sized) and winds of 80 mph or higher.
Warnings with this tag will automatically trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on smartphones in the affected area.
Other county municipalities that have updated their siren protocols include Fisher, Tolono, Sidney, and Pesotum.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide covering tornadoes, severe storms, lightning, and flooding. This guide is available on the Ready Illinois website: www.Ready.Illinois.gov.
For additional severe weather safety information, visit:
NWS Lincoln: https://www.weather.gov/ilx/
Ready Illinois Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReadyIllinois
Ready Illinois on X: x.com/ReadyIllinois
Champaign County EMA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Champaign
EMA Champaign County EMA on X: x.com/ChampCoEMA
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