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2 blood drives in Anna in October

2 blood drives in Anna in October

ANNA, IL (KFVS) - The American Red Cross is asking donors to give blood in Anna, Illinois in October.

You can give blood on October 11 at First Baptist Church in Anna at 409 Morgan Street from 12-6 p.m.

Also there will be a drive held at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School on South Main from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information or to make an appointment. 

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

Peanut butter recalled after salmonella outbreak

Peanut butter recalled after salmonella outbreak

SPRINGFIELD, IL (KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning Illinois residents to not eat Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter or peanut butter and other products that has nuts and seeds from Sunland, Inc.

Both companies have issued voluntary recalls after preliminary results from a multi-state outbreak investigation of salmonella show these products may be the source of the outbreak.

IDPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the investigation of the outbreak which has affected 30 people in 19 states, including one case in central Illinois.

Those who are reporting to be sick range in age from 1 to 77 years and first became ill from June 11 to September 11 of this year. About 63 percent of people who have become sick are under the age of 10. Four people have been hospitalized.

There have been no deaths reported so far.

IDPH reminds parents to schedule back-to-school dental exams for children

IDPH reminds parents to schedule back-to-school dental exams for children

(KFVS) - With a new school season approaching, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reminding parents and caregivers that August is a good time to schedule dental exams for children.

IDPH will have free dental screenings during the weekdays at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield from Aug. 9-19.

Illinois law requires schoolchildren entering kindergarten, second and sixth grades to have a dental examination prior to the start of the school year, although yearly dental exams are encouraged for all schoolchildren.

“During my recent statewide tour, access to oral health was a primary concern in many communities.” said IDPH Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. “Healthy teeth are an important part of overall health and we want every child in Illinois to have a healthy start to the new school year.”

Illinois students now required to get whooping cough vaccine

Illinois students now required to get whooping cough vaccine

ILLINOIS (KFVS) - A rise in whooping cough caused new vaccine requirements for Illinois sixth and ninth graders.

Illinois sixth and ninth grade students will now be required to have the Tdap vaccine before entering school for the 2012-2013 year.

The Tdap vaccine immunizes against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. Students will be required to show proof of receiving the vaccine, have an appointment scheduled to get it, or an approved medical or religious exemption on file. Students who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to attend school.

Whooping cough has been on the rise this year in Illinois and across the country. Medical experts have found that the disease is particularly on the rise among pre-teen and teens. Combatting this is the reason for the new requirements.

Blood donations at 15-year low

Blood donations at 15-year low

(KFVS) - Communication Manager, Dan Fox, for the Missouri Illinois blood district says blood collections are at a 15-year low.

According to Fox, collections are down, not donations, because sometimes people donate but they can't actually use the blood because of HIV, Syphilis, etc. He says the last time collections were this low was 1997.

Fox says nationwide, the fiscal year numbers include:

  • 2012 - 5,871,195 collections
  • 2011 - 6,182,386 collections
  • 1997 - 5.6 million collections

He says the 2012 fiscal year ended June 30.

According to Fox, in the Missouri/Illinois area, they need to collect 800 blood pints a day to keep up with the hospital need. He says right now, they're reaching that, but are close to the point of having to cancel surgeries. Fox says the hospital will cancel surgeries if the blood collections get too low.

Boil water order in Dongola

Boil water order in Dongola

DONGOLA, IL (KFVS) - A boil water order has been issued for all Village of Dongola water customers.

The order is due to a break in a line.

The order is in effect until further notice.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

IDPH launches 'Public Health Community Map' website

IDPH launches 'Public Health Community Map' website

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hashbrouck announced a new initiative Tuesday called "Public Health Community Map."

The initiative will feature information about the quality of healthcare in communities throughout Illinois. Aligning with the State Health Improvement Plan, Hashbrouck says the map feature provides information about access to healthcare in communities statewide, and highlights socioeconomic, geographic and racial/ethnic disparities. Data for Illinois is presented geographically by region, country and for Cook County by sub-regions and zip codes.