County Board discusses Zika virus
<span>With the World Health Organization meeting Monday in emergency session to discuss the Zika virus - which has been reported by various news outlets to have spread to at least 25 countries - the Randolph County Board of Commissioners discussed the disease on Friday.</span>
<span>First discovered in 1947 in Uganda's Zika forest (where the virus gets its name), Zika is a tropical virus spread by mosquitos.</span>
<span>According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eye), but it has also been suspected in birth defects in Brazil.</span>
<span>"Right now, it's related to the Egyptian mosquito," said Randolph County Health Department Administrator Tom Smith. "We may be seeing it in Louisiana, Florida, wet tropical areas."</span>
<span>According to USA Today, 31 Americans have been diagnosed with the disease thus far after visiting affected areas.</span>
<span>Three cases have been reported in Illinois, with the most recent being a man who traveled to South America. The illness is usually mild, with symptoms lasting from several days to a week.</span>
<span>"There is virtually no risk to Illinois residents since you cannot contract Zika virus from another person, but only through the bite of an infected mosquito," said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. in a Jan. 19 statement announcing two pregnant women may have contracted the disease. "But since this is a time of year when people travel to warmer climates and countries where Zika virus is found, we are urging residents, especially pregnant women, to take preventive measures when traveling in affected countries and check </span><span>health travel advisories</span><span>."</span>
<span>In other news, county engineer Mike Riebeling announced that all previous roads closed due to flooding are now open.</span>
<span>He also reported, as part of his highway department claims, that two heat exchangers dating back to the 1990s were replaced in the maintenance shop.</span>
<span>During public comment, Randolph County Economic Development Coordinator Chris Martin updated those in attendance on the levee commissioners' meeting that was held the day before in Prairie du Rocher.</span>
<span>"The levee commissioners meeting was successful and exposed some issues," he said.</span>
<span>Martin noted that it was good that the commissioners shared that information, especially in regard to how helpful the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was during the flood.</span>
<span>Martin said in the future, it would be helpful for the Kaskaskia Island District commissioners to have a dialogue with both the Missouri and Illinois levee commissioners regarding communication improvements.</span>
<span>In its only two agenda items under new business, the commissioners adjusted the date and time of their next meeting - Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. - and concurred with the Zoning Board of Appeals on a map amendment for Bernard Deutschmann.</span>
<span>In regard to the latter, the amendment was to rezone 37 acres of land at 1245 East Mound St. in Sparta from agricultural to rural residential for the purpose of selling the old house and grounds to build a new house.</span>
Roundup
<span>General assistance for the period was $1,440.36</span>
<span>The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 66 residents.</span>
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