McHenry
County Department of Health (MCDH) would like the public’s assistance in
shaping future education and prevention efforts about West Nile virus (WNV) and
tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, in McHenry County. Funded by a grant
from the State Health Department, MCDH has designed an anonymous, confidential
online survey that will be available on its website at www.mcdh.info from Sunday, December 1 to
Saturday, December 14.
Available
in both English and Spanish, the survey is looking to measure what residents
know about the two illnesses, where they may have heard or read about West Nile
or ticks – such as media, school, workplace, the Internet – and whether
residents know how to protect themselves. Standard demographic
information will also be gathered.
MCDH first
reported cases of West Vile virus in 2001 and it continues to monitor activity
of bird, mosquito and human cases through its surveillance system. Two human
cases of WNV were reported this year, while 2012 had five human cases.
Tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever have
become more prevalent in recent years with 36 cases reported in 2013, 39 cases
in 2012 and 20 cases in 2011.
Survey
results will assist MCDH staff in the design of program materials and outreach
campaigns. For more information about West Nile virus and tick-borne illness,
visit www.mcdh.info or call 815-334-4510.
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