County Board discusses Zika virus
<span>Last year, Ebola fears swept the nation and this year, it's Zika.</span>
<span>The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to birth defects in the children of infected pregnant women and is known to cause fever, joint pain, rash and conjunctivitis (red eyes).</span>
<span>Randolph County Health Department Administrator Thomas Smith informed the County Board during its regular meeting last Friday that the virus - once thought to be exclusive to the Aedes aegypti mosquito - has now been found in the Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito.</span>
<span>The Asian tiger mosquito has a wide distribution range in the United States, covering roughly two-thirds of the nation - including all of Illinois. Both mosquitos can be identified by the white stripes on their bodies and legs.</span>
<span>"How will we know we have Zika here?" asked Board Chairman Dr. Marc Kiehna.</span>
<span>"Doctors will suspect it and send a blood sample to the state lab in Chicago," Smith said. "Recently, the government got approval to test it."</span>
<span>Smith noted that the county still has some Ebola response funds that it received last year that will now be put toward Zika preparedness.</span>
<span>"We don't have any locally-borne transmission cases in Illinois," he said.</span>
<span>Smith also spoke on mosquito complaints his agency has received.</span>
<span>"Most have been generated by the complainant," he said, adding that citizens should remove mosquito habitats, such as discarded man-made containers or old tires that retain water. "Stopped-up gutters, standing water, they're not like geese who fly 5 miles to feed; fifty feet maybe.</span>
<span>"Clean up your own property."</span>
<span>Smith noted that there will be a regional planning meeting on opioid prescription drug abuse and heroin addiction on June 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SIU Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center in Carbondale.</span>
<span>Lunch will be provided. RSVPs are needed by May 27. For more information, contact Ruth Heitkamp at mheitkamp@siumed.edu or 618-453-0604.</span>
Roundup
<span>• The commissioners made a number of appointments to various boards. They are as follows:</span>
ICIT Board - David Holder
<span>One-year term expiring February 2017</span>
Marissa Fire Protection District - Tommy Thompson
<span>Three-year term expiring May 6, 2019</span>
Randolph County Planning Commission - Bruce Guebert
<span>Five-year term expiring March 1, 2021</span>
Randolph County Progress Committee - Bob Myerscough
<span>Five-year term expiring June 1, 2021</span>
Sparta Community Airport Authority - Wayne Eldridge
<span>Five-year term expiring May 31, 2021</span>
Tilden Fire District Board - Earl Dorf
<span>Three-year term expiring May 31, 2021</span>
Trustees of Clendenin Historical Site - Todd Moeller
<span>Six-year term expiring March 1, 2022</span>
Trustees of Clendenin Historical Site - Sheila Alms
<span>Six-year term expiring March 1, 2022</span>
Trustees of Clendenin Historical Site - Debra Uchtman
<span>Six-year term expiring March 1, 2022</span>
<span>Kiehna noted that Chester Razer, chairman of the Sparta Community Airport Board, has resigned. Razer is moving out of the county.</span><span><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span>"We want to thank him for his years of service," Kiehna said. "We will be looking to replace him."</span>
<span>• General assistance for the period was $1,570.</span>
<span>• The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 66 residents</span>
<span>• The next meeting of the County Board is Friday, May 20, at 9 a.m.</span>