2/21/06...................More about Norwalk virus..............................Riggle notes"Anyone who works in the food service industry needs to take special care to properly wash their hands before handling, preparing, or serving food."
The Norwalk virus and related viruses are an important cause of gastrointestinal illness. Signs and symptoms of Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are similar and usually occur between 24 and 48 hours after exposure. They include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, and low-grade fever, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Symptoms typically last 24 to 48 hours and subside on their own. IDPH says there are no known long-term effects after recovery from the infection. Humans are the only source for the virus, which passes from person to person, or may be passed from hand-to-surface-to-mouth.
The Vermilion County Health Department advises everyone to use due diligence when they wash their hands by always following the proper steps: wet your hands with soap and warm water; rub hands for 20 seconds, cleaning under fingernails and between your fingers; rinse under warm, running water; dry hands on your own clean towel; turn off water with paper towel and dispose of the towel.
Riggle says anyone experiencing the signs and symptoms of Norwalk virus should contact the Vermilion County Health Department at 431-2662. For more information about the Norwalk virus, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health, for information on the Norovirus click here, or go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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10-7-05.......Scheduled flu clinics for high risk Vermilion County residents are underway, as of October 17th. "Given the challenges local health departments faced last year," health Administrator Steve Laker says, "We thought it best to delay releasing the specifics about clinics until now."
All but two of the flu clinics will be held at the Vermilion County Health Department. If sufficient vaccine arrives, one flu clinic is planned for the north and one for the south areas of the county. But Laker says the health department does not expect to return to offering clinics at multiple sites around the county anytime soon. "Unfortunately," he says, "Changes in availability of vaccine, when and how we receive it, and staffing costs have seriously impacted our ability to offer flu clinics at multiple sites as we have done for the last thirty years."
Costs will also be going up. A flu immunization will cost $29.00 this year. Laker says the Medicare re-imbursement rate determines the charge set by the health department. "We already know the cost of flu vaccine has increased over 30%," he says. Medicare cards must be presented at the time of immunization.
Shipments from British vaccine manufacturer Chiron Corporation were halted last year, creating a shortage, and causing the health department and others to eliminate many of their flu shot clinics. A shortage is not expected this year, but vaccine is being delivered in batches, rather than in single shipments. Laker says the health department has ordered 4,000 doses of flu vaccine for the coming flu season.
Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the health department will offer flu shots to those in the high risk categories through October 24th. "The CDC is advising us that if we have sufficient vaccine supply by the 24th," Laker says, "W can open flu clinics to anyone seeking immunization." High risk includes: people ages 65 and older, with or without chronic health conditions; people under age 65 with chronic health conditions (diabetes, heart or kidney disease, asthma, cancer, HIV/AIDS or anything impacting the immune system). Pregnant women are also at risk, and they should see their healthcare provider about flu shots. Parents of children under age 2 are encouraged to call the health department's Immunizations at 431-2662 for information about flu shots for children. Also at risk are those in long term care, direct care health providers, and anyone who is a household contact of very young children, or those who provide childcare for infants (under age 2).
Anyone with mobility issues who has difficulty getting into the health department building is advised to call the health department at 431-2662 to pre-arrange for a nurse to go out to the vehicle and give the flu shot.
The following flu schedule is subject to change, if vaccine shipments are delayed. The health department advises everyone to call them at 431-2662.

9/20/05.........Vermilion County Health Department will delaykick off of its annual influenza clinics until the middle of October, at the earliest."After the challenges we faced last year with shortages," says Administrator Steve Laker, "We want to ensure we have an adequate supply of vaccine". Laker says the health department has received an initial shipment of flu vaccine, and is awaiting additional deliveries of the 4,000 doses ordered. The health department is also awaiting notification about the Medicare re-imbursement rate, so that the fee schedule can be set. "We want to ensure we set a fair price for private pay individuals that is in line with the Medicare re-imbursement," Laker says. Specific details about the clinics will be released in October.

Those considered most at risk from the effects of influenza will be given first priority for flu immunization: those age 65 and older with chronic health conditions; residents of long term care facilities; those ages 2-64 with chronic conditions; those ages 65 and older without chronic health conditions; children ages 6-23 months; health care personnel who provide direct patient care. Chronic health conditions include heart, lung, and kidney diseases, asthma, diabetes, and anemia and other blood disorders.

"If you received a flu shot from us last year because you are in one of the risk categories," Laker says, "You more than likely will be able to obtain one this year".

Last year's flu immunizations at health departments across the state and nation were challenged by the announcement that British health officials had halted Chiron Corporation flu vaccine shipments to the United States. Chiron is one of the leading manufacturers of flu vaccine. With the anticipated shortage of vaccine, Vermilion County and other health departments in Illinois eliminated or drastically reduced public flu clinics, focusing on ensuring those most at risk from flu complications were immunized. By early spring of 2005, the health department had given nearly 4,000 flu shots to Vermilion County residents.

The schedule of flu clinics and information about the risk categories is available by calling 431-2662. As it becomes available, information will also be posted here on the health department's website.

August 2005.........The Illinois departments of Public Health and Agriculture remind everyone of the importance of washing your hands - expecialy if you come into contact with pet rodents.The CDC earlier this year identified a pet hampster as being the potential source of an infection that caused the deaths of 3 transplant patients. The CDC says the hampster may have been infected with Old World arenavirus. While the risk of infection from pet rodents is considered low, people are urged to use common sense. And to remember that hand washing can be the best defense against the spread of disease, if done properly:

>>>Wet hands with running water
>>>Place soap in palms and rub hands together to make a lather
>>>Scrub hands vigorously for 20 seconds
>>>Rinse soap off hands with running water
>>>Dry hands with a disposable towel and, if possible, use a disposable towel to turn off the water
For more information, visit the IDPH website.

News Release 8-17-05...The Vermilion County Health Department is now accepting dead robins for testing for West Nile Virus (WNV). "Until now, we accepted only crows and blue jays," says health department Environmental Health Director Kolby Riggle. "The state has notified us that because a number of common American Robins have tested positive, they are now included on the list as one of the birds we can collect and have tested," Riggle says. Additionally, the state has identified a high level of West Nile Virus activity in North Eastern Illinois.

Health departments across the state have been acting as the first line of defense against WNV, collecting birds for testing by the state and trapping mosquitoes to determine if West Nile Virus is present in a community. "We currently have eight gravid traps located across Vermilion County," Riggle says. To date, he says, no Culex mosquitoes or birds have tested positive for the virus in Vermilion County. Public health says crows, blue jays, and (now) robins, are the first sentinels indicating WNV activity.

Riggle says birds submitted for testing should be "eligible" birds (crows, blue jays, robins) that have no obvious cause of death such as being crushed on a roadway or birds killed by gunshot. Birds submitted should (appear to be) be dead less than 48 hours - they should not be decomposed, or appear to have been damaged by other animals.

West Nile Virus first appeared in Illinois at the end of the summer of 2001. Illinois Department of Public Health reports there have been 16 human cases of W N V this year in the state. In 2004, there were 60 human cases of WNV, and four deaths; in 2003, 54 people were infected by the virus, with 1 death reported; in 2002, Illinois led the nation in the number of WNV cases at 884, with 67 deaths.
West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Only about two persons out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. The disease is usually mild, with fever, headache and body aches; but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
Riggle says anyone finding a dead crow, blue jay of robin can call the health department at 431-2662 to have it removed. Birds will be collected until October 15th. For more information about keeping your home safer, click here . For more detailed information about WNV across the state, go to the Illinois Department of Public Health .

As of 8/29/05, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 46 confirmed cases of WNV in Illinois so far this year.....25 of them occurred in Cook County.......early fall is often the prime time for WNV mosquitoes ....... Please read the following and take precautions to keep you and your family safe.........

West Nile - West Nile Virus infections peak in September. But anytime you are outside, be aware of the potential for bites to occur. Later, as fall moves in, you may want to consider refraining from outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active - dusk to dawn. You may want to use insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide); follow the directions on the package - and be especially careful to read directions when applying repellants to chidlren;wear protective clothing, such as long sleeve shirts, pants, socks and shoes. Make sure you protect your home and yard, by eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from places like buckets, cans, tires and flowerpots.

To DEET or not to DEET...health information for you and your family... from Linn Harrimas, PhD, Entomologist/Vector Control Program Manager, Illinois Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division......

• How should products contianing DEET be used on children? No definitive studies currently exist about the level of DEET concentrations considered safe for children; no serious illness has been linked to the use of DEETin children, when used according to proudct recommendations
• What ages can use DEET? The American Academy of Pediatrics and other experts say it is acceptable to apply repellent with low concentrations of DEET to infants over 2 months of age; other guidelines cite use of repellents on chidlren over 2 years of age; when in question, seek advice from your local healthcare provider
• Should parents use repellents without DEET? Repellent products without DEET are not likely to offer the same degree of protection from mosquito bites as products with it; non-DEET repellents have not necessarily been as thoroughly studied as DEET, and may not be safer for use on children
• How should parents choose the type and concentration of repellent? Take into account the amount of time your child will be outdoors, their potential exposure to mosquitoes, and the risk of mosquito-transmitted disease in the area; again, consult your family healthcare provider for more information, and you may also contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) toll-free at 1-800-858-7378, or at their website ; and always remember to follow the product label recommendations for use
• How should repellent be applied to children? Apply the repellent to your hands first, and then rub them on the child; avoid eyes and mouths; use the product sparingly around the child's ears; do not apply to the child's hands; do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves, and keep repellents out of the reach of children; do not apply to skin under clothing; if repellent is applied to the clothing to protect against biting through the cloth, be sure to wash clothes before wearing again
• And keep in mind there are other ways to reduce potential exposure - wear long pants and long sleeved shirts when outdoors; DEET and permethrin can be applied to clothing - but don't use permethrin on your skin; use mosquito netting on infant carriers; and make sure you protect your home environment by checking screens and eliminating any outdoor stagnant water....for more areas to check around your home, link to our West Nile page, or link to the Illinois Department of Public Health site and connect to their West Nile Virus pages.

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6-22-05.......Vermilion County has now had five (5) confirmed cases of pertussis in 2005. Vermilion County Health Department Immunization Coordinator Sherrie Shoemaker says two of the recent cases involve infants. "Both children are two months of age or less," she says. "Because of their young ages," Shoemaker adds, "The infants had not been vaccinated for pertussis." She is encouraging parents of infants to be especially vigilant in watching for signs and symptoms of what is commonly known as "whooping cough". "If parents see their children experiencing a persistent cough that seems to worsen, they should contact their child's healthcare provider."
There were seven (7) confirmed cases of pertussis in Vermilion County during 2004. The ages of those diagnosed last year with pertussis ranged from two (2) months to 25 years. The 2005 cases were identified at the end of the year, primarily in November/December. Illinois Department of Public Health says despite immunization efforts, pertussis in the United States has increased 400 percent since 1980. In Illinois, during the past decade the number of cases rose from 111 in 1994 to 320 in 2003.
Pertussis can be easily spread from person-to-person through coughing and sneezing. An infected person is contagious from just before the onset of symptoms until up to three weeks after symptoms start. Although it is generally not a severe disease for adults, it can be a serious illness and cause death, particularly among children younger than 1 year of age. Symptoms usually appear five to 10 days after exposure, but can take as long as 21 days to develop. The first symptoms to appear are similar to a common cold - runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and a mild, occasional cough. The cough gradually becomes severe and, after one to two weeks, the patient has spasmodic bursts of numerous, rapid coughs. Pertussis is usually treated with an antibiotic.
Anyone exhibiting cold symptoms that worsen in one to two weeks should contact their medical provider for testing and treatment. For more information, call Shoemaker at 431-2662, or visit the Illinois Department of Public Health site.

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Need help quitting tobacco? VCHD offers free adult cessation classes, which include free patches..... email us for info, or call 431-2662 ext 241.......

If you're unable to get into a class or have scheduling conflicts, you can get help today by calling the

Illinois Quitline at

1-866-784-8937

you can set up regular telephone counseling sessions with a trained counselor.....and free patches (4 weeks) form us.........What are you waiting for? How long do you really want to let tobacco control your life? Call 431-2662 ext 241 for more info or email us.

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1/16/04 ....VCHD now has Bioterrorism Syndrome information available to you on our website.....link from our Home Page, or by clicking here. If you have questions, or need hard copies of the information, please contact us by calling 431-2662, or by emailing Public Health Administrator Steve Laker.

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)For information on free, monthly child passenger safety inspections in Vermilion County, call 431-2662, or to make an appointment, call 431-2233. You can also link to Seat Check for a list of Central Illinois inspection sites. For additional information, link to Boost Illinois.

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updated 7/5/05

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