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

Services Provided

Immunizations
Public Health Nurses hold regular clinics at our main office in Oregon, Illinois and our branch office in Rochelle, Illinois. All of the required childhood vaccines are provided, as well as, adult vaccines for Hepatitis B, Influenza and Pneumonia. These clinics are available to all Ogle County citizens.

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 Ogle County sees a physician or is in the hospital, and is diagnosed with one of those diseases, it must be reported to the Ogle 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

Education
OCHD Staff provide information in a variety of ways to individuals and groups.

• Brochures for citizens who have questions or want to learn more about a disease.
• Presentations as requested to worksites and organizations.
• Info sheets to camps, churches, park districts and recreational faciltites when there are potential outbreaks.
• Press Releases/Radio spots when needed to inform the general public
• Recent examples:
  • SARS inservice to local hospital staff
  • Info sheets about Shigella to camps, day care centers, and church bible schools
  • Letters to all physicians in Ogle County about Whooping Cough
  • Posters & info sheets to park districts and camps about West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease

Miscellaneous Activities
Lice checks/provide info to school nurses on treatments/provide shampoo at cost to families who need treatment

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