Weekly Wake Up Tri-Counties Henry and Stark County Health Departments’ edition with RaeAnn

RaeAnn Tucker joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss West Nile Virus, Men’s Health Week and Month, the WIC Program, radon test kits, and the Henry County Fair. Henry and Stark County health officials are highlighting several summer health reminders. During National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, residents are urged to reduce standing water, use EPA-approved repellents, and report stagnant water to help prevent West Nile virus. Free rapid HIV testing will be offered on June 26th at First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee and Toulon. June is also National Safety Month, and radon test kits are available for $15, with elevated levels found in many local homes. Families can also apply for WIC assistance in person or online. For details, call 309-852-0197 or visit henrystarkhealth.com.

Health Officials offer tips to avoid Mosquito bites during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

Mosquito season is here, and the Henry and Stark County Health Departments are urging residents to take action during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 21st through 27th. Health officials say mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile Virus, remain a concern, and prevention starts at home. Residents are encouraged to follow the three R’s: reduce standing water, repel mosquitoes with proper clothing and EPA-approved repellents, and report stagnant water that lasts more than a week.

Health officials are urging residents to step up mosquito prevention as illnesses like West Nile virus continue to rise across the U.S. While Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya remain concerns, the mosquito most tied to West Nile—the Culex—can breed quickly in standing water around homes.

Residents are asked to dump or cover anything that holds water for more than a few days, including cans, tires, buckets, bird baths, wading pools, rain barrels, gutters, and livestock tanks. Boats and canoes should be turned over when not in use, and window and door screens should be repaired to help keep mosquitoes outside.

Common breeding spots include bird baths, gutters, old tires, buckets, and wading pools. For details, call the Health Department at 309-852-0197 or visit henrystarkhealth.com.

Free HIV Rapid Test on June 26, 2026, in Kewanee and Toulon

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, and the Henry and Stark County Health Departments are encouraging residents to “level up your self-love” by checking their status. First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee and Toulon will offer free rapid HIV testing on Friday, June 26th, with walk-ins welcome at both locations. Staff also provide screening for other sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis, and syphilis—an important service, as syphilis cases remain a growing concern.

About 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and health officials say roughly 13 percent don’t know they have it. That means testing remains a key step in prevention and treatment. HIV continues to affect some communities more than others, including racial and ethnic minorities and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. In 2021, an estimated 32,100 new HIV infections occurred nationwide.

Confidential HIV and STI testing, counseling, educational materials, and prevention services are available through First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee at 110 North Burr Boulevard, 309-852-5272, and in Toulon at 120 East Court Street, 309-852-3115.

Protect Your Home from Radon During National Safety Month in Henry and Stark Counties

June is National Safety Month, and the Henry and Stark County Health Departments are urging residents to check their homes for radon. Radon is an odorless, colorless radioactive gas that can build up indoors and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall — and the leading cause among non-smokers.

Health officials say radon has been found in 65% of homes in Henry County and 82% in Stark County. Radon home testing kits are available for $15. For details, call the location nearest you: Kewanee at 309-852-0197, Colona at 309-792-4011, or Toulon at 309-852-3115. Updates are also available on the department’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

Health officials are reminding residents that testing is the only way to know whether a home has elevated radon levels. Radon readings above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air can pose a health concern, and mitigation information is available through the Health Department’s Environmental Health Division or online at henrystarkhealth.com.

The Health Department staff notes, “Many people don’t even know that radon gas is such a health threat. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in the soil and water that can build up to dangerous levels in the home. Radon gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and invisible and the only way to know if a home has a radon problem is to test for it. Breathing radon can increase one’s risk of lung cancer. If you are a smoker, your risk is even more heightened.”

They add, “Radon gas found in 65% of homes in Henry County and 82% of homes in Stark County. Radon is a Class A human carcinogen, meaning there is actual evidence that exposure to radon causes lung cancer. It is the cause of 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States annually.”

Apply for WIC assistance in-person and online

The Henry and Stark County Health Department and First Choice Healthcare are reminding families that WIC services are fully back to in-person appointments while still offering an online application option. The program provides eligible pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five with nutrition education and free healthy foods, including milk, formula, eggs, cereal, fruits, vegetables, juice, and whole grains.

Officials say the Illinois WIC EBT card, or eWIC, makes benefits easier to use, with one card per household and benefits reloaded every three months after check-ins. Expanded hours are available.

The Health Department is reminding families about WIC and case management services designed to support healthy pregnancies, babies, children, and families. The WIC Supplemental Food Program provides nutrition education and supplemental foods for residents who meet nutrition and income guidelines. Eligible clients may receive items such as milk, formula, eggs, cereal, fruits, vegetables, juice, whole-grain breads, and tortillas.

For details or to apply, call the Health Department at 309-852-5272 in Kewanee or 792-4011 in Colona. Applications are also available at henrystarkhealth.com. You can submit an application at https://www.henrystarkhealth.com/FormCenter/WIC-10/. More information on WIC is available at fns.usda.gov/wic. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Get Covered Illinois Navigator Help in Colona

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments, along with the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program, are offering free help to anyone who needs health insurance. Navigators will be at Colona Dollar General, 901 1st Street, on Monday, June 22nd, from 1 to 3 PM; at Colona Township Hall on Tuesday, June 23rd, from 9 to 11 AM; and at Colona 7-Eleven on Tuesday, June 30th, from 1 to 3 PM. They can help compare plans, complete applications, check Medicaid eligibility, and explain benefits. Special enrollment may be available after qualifying life events. For details, call 309-852-5272.

Colona Dollar General, 901 1st St., Colona, IL
Monday, June 22nd
1:00-3:00 pm

Colona Township Hall, 801 1st St., Colona, IL
Tuesday, June 23rd
9:00-11:00 am

Colona 7-Eleven, 412 1st St., Colona, IL
Tuesday, June 30th
1:00-3:00 pm