The Chicago Department Of Public Health Provides Updates To Residents
The Chicago Department Of Public Health Provides Updates To Residents
By Tia Carol Jones
The Chicago Department of Public Health works with communities and partners to create an equitable, safe, resilient and healthy Chicago. Dr. Olusimbo Ige is the Commissioner of Chicago Department of Public Health. She provided updates that she thinks are beneficial to residents.
Citizen Newspaper: Why is Chicago experiencing so many people with respiratory illnesses?
Dr. Ige: Levels of respiratory viruses are elevated nationwide, most likely due to a broader decline in vaccination rates in recent years. CDPH maintains a respiratory illness dashboard updated weekly with the latest hospital and surveillance data, as well as vaccine coverage information.
Citizen Newspaper: How can people keep themselves healthy from the flu?
Dr. Ige: Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from illnesses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV. It’s also beneficial to wash your hands regularly and mask in crowded places like public transit. If you start to experience symptoms of illness, stay home, get some rest, and mask and distance if you have to be around other people.
Citizen Newspaper: Where can people go to get the flu vaccine?
Dr. Ige: CDPH provides flu vaccines to anyone who needs them, regardless of insurance status, at our immunization clinics and at various pop-up vaccine events around Chicago. Flu vaccines are also carried by most healthcare providers and pharmacies, check with your local provider for options.
Citizen Newspaper: What should people know about norovirus and how can people keep from getting it?
Dr. Ige: Norovirus is a contagious foodborne virus and is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the United States. The best ways to prevent norovirus are to wash your hands well with soap and water, cook shellfish thoroughly, wash fruits and vegetables, and clean and disinfect surfaces after use.
Citizen Newspaper: Should people in Chicago be concerned about Bird Flu?
Dr. Ige: There have not been any human cases of H5 bird flu in Chicago or the state of Illinois to date, but bird flu continues to circulate in wild bird populations and sometimes affects other animals as well. We strongly recommend avoiding contact with any dead or sick animals, and keeping your pets away from the same, as dogs or cats may be at risk for infection if exposed.
Citizen Newspaper: As Spring approaches, what can people do to stay healthy?
Dr. Ige: As the weather improves, develop an exercise routine to keep yourself engaged and active.
Become involved with your community area, whether that means joining a local group activity such as a run club or reading group, helping your neighbors with yard work, or attending neighborhood meetings to learn about happenings near you.
Use the change of seasons as a chance to adopt new wellness habits: work on quitting or cutting back on smoking, volunteer, cut back on alcoholic drinks, do a spring cleaning at home, work on eating healthy with freshly grown produce.
Citizen Newspaper: Where can people go to find out more about the Chicago Department of Public Health?
Dr. Ige: Visit our website for a more detailed account of all programs and services offered by the Department. For day-to-day topics, follow us on social media accounts. If you consume information via audio and video platforms, subscribe to the Healthy Chicago Podcast for discussions between city medical professionals and weekly guests about topics affecting public health in the city of Chicago and the world. To subscribe to the Healthy Chicago Podcast, visit www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/healthy_communities/supp_info/healthy-chicago-podcast.html.
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