Communicable Disease Program
Purpose: To prevent and control the spread of infectious disease.
Immunizations
Public Health Nurses hold a regular clinic on Wednesday for immunizations. All of the required childhood vaccines are provided, as well as adult vaccines for Tetanus, Influenza, and Pneumonia. These clinics are available to all Woodford County citizens.
Click here for Child Immunization Schedule
Investigation & Surveillance
There are over 60 infectious diseases in the State of Illinois which must be reported to the Local Health Department. If a resident of Woodford County sees a physician or is in the hospital, and is diagnosed with one of those diseases, it must be reported to the Woodford County Health Department. Nursing staff will then follow-up with those individuals. This investigation process involves the following activities:
- taking a history and determining contacts of potential exposure, both for catching the disease and spreading the disease
- notifying any contacts of their potential exposure
- instruct infected individuals and their contacts of symptoms to watch for, and when they should notify physician
- administer antidotes if available
- encourage proper medical care, provide information for treatment as needed
- make referrals for care as needed
- send written reports to the State
Education
WCHD Staff provide information in a variety of ways to individuals and groups.
- Brochures for citizens who have questions or want to learn more about a disease.
- Presentations as requested to worksites and organizations.
- Info sheets to camps, churches, park districts and recreational faciltites when there are potential outbreaks.
- Press Releases/Radio spots when needed to inform the general public
- Recent examples:
- SARS inservice to local hospital staff
- Info sheets about Shigella to camps, day care centers, and church bible schools
- Letters to all physicians in Woodford County about Whooping Cough
- Posters & info sheets to park districts and camps about West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease
Miscellaneous Activities
Lice checks: provide information to schools on treatment options and procedures.