Peoria City/County Health Department

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is giving Peoria County $5.6 million to remove dangerous lead paint from homes.

The 2018 Peoria County Sexually Transmitted Infection Report found chlamydia and gonorrhea rates are 1.5 to 3 times above the Illinois average. Syphilis rates have spiked by 80 percent. 

The area’s major health providers are working to assess and address the community’s biggest health needs.

Illinois health officials are encouraging residents to test their home’s radon level.

The Peoria City/County Health Department is urging residents to take extra precautions after a rabid bat was found in Chillicothe last month.

A record number of sexually transmitted disease cases are being reported in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says nearly 2.3 million chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases were diagnosed in 2017.

Peoria area hospitals have lifted their request for people with flu symptoms to voluntarily limit hospital visits because of a decrease in flu cases. The request was in place to help limit flu exposure for the hospitals' patients and staff.  

 According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 14-million new Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections annually. Half are in 15 to 24 year olds. The Peoria City/County Health Department is reminding parents to make sure that their child’s vaccinations are up to date. The HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls 11 and older. It is a three shot series, best administered before exposure to the virus. The series of shots given over six months, costs in the neighborhood of $700. Some major insurers and Medicaid cover at least a portion of the expense.

The Peoria City/County Health Department has selected a new public health administrator. 

The County Board of Health announced Gene Huber will take the post effective immediately. 

Huber has been serving in the interim post since July, department spokesperson Diana Scott said.

The position was vacated when the former public health administrator Greg Chance took a job at Advanced Medical Transport.

Previously, Huber served as the department’s finance director for 12 years.

The Peoria City/County Health Department reports that this summer has been active for West Nile Virus.  

 Peoria County is reporting it’s first evidence of West Nile Virus for the year with a dead bird testing positive for the disease. Wil Hayes is the Director of Environmental Health for the Peoria City/County Health Department. He says four out of five people with West Nile will not show symptoms.  But he says in rare cases, severe illness or even death can occur. Some precautions against West Nile Virus include reducing standing water where mosquitoes breed, making sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens, and using a bug repellent with DEET, lemon eucalyptus oil or IR 3535.  

The Peoria City/County Health Department is encouraging those without health insurance to sign up. February 15th is the final day to get coverage for 2015.

A new three-year health initiative is launching in Peoria. The goal is to reduce obesity rates in targeted areas with after-school nutrition classes. Health Board member Sharon Williams says the initiative also offers tips on budgeting for healthy food:

At least one government entity is listening to environmental groups’ calls for leaders to demand more information from Dynegy. The Peoria City/County Health Department is sending a letter to the company asking about its future plans for the E.D Edwards plant that’s located outside Peoria.

Peoria County reported finding its first West Nile Virus positive bird of 2014.  

  The Peoria City/County Health Department reports its first human case of West Nile Virus this year. Health Department Administrator Greg Chance says people need to take precautions against mosquito bites until the first hard frost. Mosquitos can pick up West Nile Virus from infected birds.Symptoms include fever, nausea, muscle and headaches. But some people don’t get any symptoms and in rare cases a severe illness can result from West Nile Virus.

The Peoria City/County Health Department is beginning the process of educating the community on Illinois’ Health Insurance Marketplace. The state program created under the Affordable Care Act will allow residents to shop for health coverage online beginning October 1st.

The Peoria City/County Health Department says it’s identified a rabid bat in the county. This comes as the department and Peoria County Animal Protection Services is about to observe World Rabies Day on September 28th. 

The Peoria County Board of Health is looking for a new member.

The Board of Health creates policies to reinforce the goals of the Health Department.

Board members typically serve three years.

The Board of Health will review applicants and send recommendations to the Peoria County Board Chairman.

Applications are available at http://www.pcchd.org

Quality Quest for Health is overhauling its mission. The not- for-profit group is partnering with The Heart of Illinois United Way and the Peoria City/County Health Department to focus on community health matters. That’s a shift away from a medical institution outcomes based focus. The move comes as the recent County Health Rankings Report showed Peoria 66th out of Illinois’ 102 counties. Peoria Health Department Administrator Greg Chance says the report is an ideal platform to start a broader health discussion: Peoria’s neighbor Woodford County was ranked third best in Illinois.