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Features

Illinois receives additional
funding to fight West Nile virus

[AUG. 29, 2002]  CHICAGO — Gov. George Ryan announced Wednesday that Illinois will receive $400,506 from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assist in the control of West Nile virus.

"Illinois welcomes these additional dollars," Ryan said. "Along with state dollars, this funding will help us sustain our continuing efforts to manage West Nile virus in Illinois." Illinois plans to use the additional funds for laboratory enhancements, increased public awareness and local surveillance of conditions that result in the spread of the virus.

The state’s West Nile Virus Task Force was organized by the governor last fall after the virus was detected in two birds in the Chicago metropolitan area. The group, which began regular sessions last fall, meets regularly with Ryan to update him on West Nile virus activity and prevention measures throughout the state.

State Public Health Director Dr. John R. Lumpkin, who leads the West Nile Virus Task Force, said the state is doing all it can to monitor West Nile virus activity. The Chicago laboratory for the Department of Public Health has been working seven days a week to assist hospitals and doctors with the testing of human samples. The funding will support increased staffing, equipment and supplies.

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Human cases of West Nile virus have been identified in Chicago and 10 Illinois counties: Chicago, 12 cases; suburban Cook County, 40; DuPage County, four; Ford County, one; Jackson, one; Madison County, three; Montgomery County, one; Sangamon County, two; Shelby County, one; St. Clair County, one; and Will County, five.

The average age of people who have contracted the virus in Illinois is 52.5 years. There have now been a total of four deaths due to West Nile virus illness.

A total of 439 birds, 236 mosquito batches and 62 horses in 92 Illinois counties have tested positive this year for West Nile since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began May 1.

A complete listing of the positive birds, mosquito batches, horses and humans identified so far in Illinois, by county, is available on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s site at http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/
wnvsurveillance_data02.htm.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

[For links to more information on the West Nile virus, click here.]

Hopedale needs blood donors

[AUG. 26, 2002]  Mark Rossi, chief operating officer and spokesman for Hopedale Medical Complex, announced that effective June 28 the hospital began receiving their blood supply from Central Illinois Community Blood Center, a licensed, nonprofit blood center headquartered in Springfield. "The medical complex looks forward to the new affiliation and partnership," he said.

 According to Dr. Alfred N. Rossi, laboratory director for Hopedale Medical Complex, the change was made to improve product availability, service and cost containment.

Central Illinois Community Blood Center has provided a safe and adequate blood supply to hospitals in Springfield and the surrounding area for over 31 years. Each unit of blood is fully tested as mandated by the FDA of all licensed blood centers.

According to David Parsons, chief executive officer, this is a natural partnership. He is proud of the blood center’s record of supply and states there has never been a surgery postponed or delayed due to a shortage of blood in the CICBC service area. Furthermore, CICBC is one of only a handful of blood centers in the country to have never issued an emergency appeal for donations in order to prevent a shortage.

Central Illinois Community Blood Center is licensed by the FDA, is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks, and is a member of America’s Blood Centers and Blood Centers of America.

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America’s Blood Centers, or ABC, is an association of 75 independent community blood centers that provide about half of the nation’s volunteer donor blood supply. This association provides a national affiliation that allows community blood centers to share any excess blood collections throughout the United States through a resource-sharing network.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center is nonprofit and is governed by a local volunteer board of directors who serve without compensation and with the well-being of area patients in mind. Because CICBC is community-based and free of bureaucracy, it can provide other services to local hospitals, such as free delivery, no restocking fees, 24-hour access, a local full-time medical director certified in transfusion medicine and a reference lab in a more cost-effective manner. In order to continue this tradition of a safe, reliable and cost-effective blood supply, CICBC needs the communities that it serves to support the local blood supply with blood donations.

Central Illinois Community Blood Center provides all of the blood and blood products for 12 local hospitals, including those in Hopedale, Lincoln, Springfield, Jacksonville, Taylorville, Pana, Hillsboro, Carlinville, Carrollton and Pittsfield.

[Press release]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

The flu and you

[SEPT. 3, 2002]  As the fall weather approaches, flu season begins. Influenza is a serious and widespread illness that is the cause of as many as 4,000 deaths each year in Illinois. Influenza is caused by a virus that spreads from infected people to the nose or throat of others and can cause fever, cough, chills, sore throat, headache and muscle aches in people of any age. Influenza should not be confused with intestinal illness.

People considered at high risk should get a flu shot every year. The optimal time for these individuals to receive influenza vaccine is during October and November.

High-risk categories include:

•  People 65 years of age or older.

•  People with chronic medical conditions.

•  People with immune system problems.

•  Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during flu season.

•  Children receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

•  Employees of nursing homes or other chronic care facilities.

•  Health-care workers.

•  Household contacts of people at increased risk for influenza-related complications.

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All others should begin their flu shots in November and later, for as long as vaccine is available.

Beginning in October, Logan County Health Department will have flu and pneumonia immunizations available at the Health Department, 109 Third St., and on the Rural Health Van.

Flu shots and pneumonia shots cost $16 each. Medicare will pay for flu and pneumonia shots; clients must bring their Medicare card with them. Medicaid will pay for only flu shots; clients must bring their Medicaid card with them.

Watch the newspapers for upcoming schedules of flu clinics or call Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317 for more information.

[News release]

Red Cross

September Red Cross classes

[AUG. 22, 2002]  The American Red Cross will offer CPR and first-aid classes Sept. 10, 11 and 12 at their office at 125 S. Kickapoo St. in Lincoln.

Adult CPR will be on the 10th, first aid on the 11th, and infant and child CPR on the 12th. All classes will be from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m.

To register for any of the classes or for further information, call 732-2134. Office hours are from noon until 4 p.m. weekdays.

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus links

LDN articles

• Local authorities watching WNV

Federal websites

• CDC WNV home page

State websites

• State WNV website

• Protect your home against mosquitoes
• State surveillance site
• Logan County surveillance site

Honors & Awards

Announcements

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit for 2002.

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.

Community resource list

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership and the Healthy Families Task Force, 732-2161, Ext. 409.         

(updated 2-15-02)

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