Communicable Disease

Communicable Disease Program

Purpose: To prevent and control the spread of infectious disease.

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

Zika Virus

What we know

Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). These mosquitoes bite during the day and night.
Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.
There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.
Local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission has been reported in the continental United States.

information from CDC.gov/zika

For more information on the Zika virus, including ways to protect yourself from the virus, click here.

Communicable Disease