Thursday, August 16, 2012
The DuPage County Health Department reports the woman is in her 50s. People older than 50 are at greater risk to contract the virus.
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Thursday, August 16, 2012
A woman from Downers Grove is the first reported human case of West Nile Virus to be diagnosed in DuPage County this year, the DuPage County Health Department reported Tuesday. The health department has recently warned residents of the high risk for infection from the virus after the warm, dry temperatures created a perfect breeding environment for the Culex mosquito, the main transmitter of the virus to humans. The woman diagnosed with the virus is in her 50s, according to the health department. People older than 50 and those with medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and organ transplants, have a greater risk for serious illness from the virus. About one in five people who are infected with West Nile…
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Residents are cautioned to limit time outdoors as temperatures could rise to 105 degrees Thursday.
A heat advisory is in effect for DuPage and Will counties from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and an air pollution action day was declared. The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures in Naperville Thursday could reach between 100 to 105 degrees, with heat indexes of 105 to 110 degrees. Prolonged exposure to the heat can be dangerous and lead to sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion, according to the National Weather Service. A heat advisory means high heat and humidity combine to create a situation where heat illnesses are likely. Children and pets should not be left unattended in vehicles for any length of time because the heat can turn lethal inside vehicles, according to the National Weather Service. Adults and children …
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The DuPage County Health Department reports mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus were found in five communities.
Summer has yet to arrive, but the DuPage County Health Department is reporting mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus were found in DuPage County. Last year, the Health Department’s first announcement of mosquitoes testing positive for the virus was made in July. The warm weather is the reason for the early positive results, the Health Department said in a news release. Mosquitoes tested positive in five communities in southeast DuPage County, according to the Health Department. The communities include: Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Lisle, Westmont and Woodridge. No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported yet in DuPage County, the Health Department said. West Nile virus is transmitted to people from the bite of a mosquito, which gets…
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Students going into the sixth and ninth grades must show proof they have received a pertussis vaccination.
The current school year hasn’t come to an end, but parents should know that before kids return to school next year there is a vaccine that students entering sixth and ninth grade must have. Students entering sixth and ninth grade must provide proof that they have received a pertussis vaccination, according to the DuPage County Health Department. Pertussis is easily transmittable through coughing and sneezing and can cause an illness that persists for weeks to months, according to the Health Department. In Illinois in recent years there have been a number of outbreaks. During grade school protection against pertussis begins to wear off, leaving pre-teens, teenagers and adults at risk for the illness, according to the Health Department. To …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
DuPage County Health Department warns teens about the risk of listening to music too loud and provides tips to prevent hearing loss.
The DuPage County Health Department has provided some tips on how to make sure those convenient little iPod earbuds aren't damaging your teen's hearing. A small amount of hearing loss can lead to "negative effects on speech, language comprehension, communication, classroom learning and social development," according to the DuPage County Health Department. Too much exposure to noise can also damage nerve fibers in the ear and the health department warns that kind of damage can't be medically or surgically corrected. But there are still ways for your teen to enjoy music without risking their health. Some steps to take include turning down the volume, avoiding exposure to excessively loud sounds, moving away from the source of loud sounds …
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The DuPage County Health Department offers some tips for allergy sufferers wishing to avoid itchy eyes and running noses.
The sun is shining, the trees are blooming and around Naperville noses are running and eyes are itching. Allergy season is back and with it the need for many allergy sufferers to visit the drug store and buy medications and eye drops. Spring 2012 may be a prime time for pollen in part due to the warm winter. OurAmazingPlanet.com reported that the warm winter may have preserved more pollen in trees than is normal. Hay fever is one of the most common allergies and more than 35 million Americans suffer from the allergies, the DuPage County Health Department said in a news release. Symptoms for allergy sufferers may include sneezing, stuffiness, a runny nose, and itchiness in the nose, the roof of the mouth, throat, eyes or ears. The …
Thursday, March 8, 2012
City and county officials offer tips for staying safe as we spring ahead into Daylight Saving Time.
Say farewell to darkness and hello to longer days and lighter nights. Sunday morning at 2 a.m. we will spring ahead one hour. As Daylight Saving Time begins, officials at the city and county are reminding residents to take steps to stay safe and live a healthy lifestyle. Naperville Fire officials say that since clocks need to be set ahead one hour, it’s the perfect time to check and replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Non-working smoke alarms put people at risk and make the safety equipment ineffective at helping protect against fire related injuries and deaths, according to a news release from the city of Naperville. “While we may lose an hour of sleep this weekend when we ‘spring ahead’ in time, it is …
Friday, March 2, 2012
Colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be treated successfully when detected early.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Friday, March 2, 2012
Submitted by the DuPage County Health Department, David Hass March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and the DuPage County Health Department recommends that county residents get screened for this disease because it is one of the few cancers that can be successfully treated if detected early. About 51,000 Americans die of colorectal cancer each year. It is a leading cause of death for both men and women, but there is hope. Mortality rates for colorectal cancer have been declining for 20 years—mostly due to screening and early treatment—yet only six in 10 adults are up to date on their screening schedules. Start getting screened at age 50 if you are at average risk for colorectal cancer. If you are at higher risk, you may need to get …
Thursday, January 12, 2012
DuPage County has not experienced the outbreaks of whooping cough that have hit some communities in the Chicago area. A few cases were reported in District 203 recently.
Earlier this week officials at Naperville School District 203 alerted parents to a small number of cases of pertussis, better known as whooping cough. While other communities and some schools in the Chicago area have reported large outbreaks of whooping cough, in DuPage County the cases reported have been spread out throughout the county and large outbreaks have not occurred, according to an official at the DuPage County Health Department. So far, the number of pertussis cases among students at District 203 has been few, but officials said in an e-mail to families there is concern the numbers may be increasing. During 2011, the number of pertussis cases reported throughout DuPage County was 245, said David Hass, public information officer …
41.76613
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Naperville Community Unit School District 203
203 W Hillside Rd, Naperville, IL
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Friday, December 23, 2011
Stay healthy this season by making sure foods are prepared safely.
'Tis the season for holiday gatherings, but sometimes with those festivities can come bouts of food poisoning. DuPage County Health Department officials said improper storing, cooking, and serving of ham, beef, lamb or turkey can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria like salmonella, which can cause foodborne illness. Stay healthy this season by making sure foods are prepared safely. “The two things that we try to stress the most—and it may sound almost too simple—is that you want to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot,” said David W. Hass, communications manager for the DuPage County Health Department. “Bacteria can grow if food is not kept at the proper temperature.” Officials recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure the proper …
Barb
8:05 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Great- another opportunity for the drug companies to make money. When my twins were babies they got so sick I thought they were dying when they received the DPT. Their physician stated that from then on they would only receive the DT without the pertussis. They are in their late 20's now and lack of having the pertussis vaccination never proved to be a problem. Time for the health department to … more ›