Infectious Disease - Kankakee County Health Department

Infectious Disease

Coronavirus Updates

Report Diseases & Conditions

Mandated reporters, such as health care providers, schools and childcare facilities, hospitals and laboratories, by law must report suspected or confirmed cases of certain infectious diseases electronically through Illinois’ National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (I-NEDSS). If they do not have access to I-NEDSS, they can report by mail, telephone or fax to the Kankakee County Health Department

The following must be reported immediately by phone:

Any suspected bioterrorist threat
Any unusual case or cluster of cases that may indicate a public health hazard
Anthrax
Botulism, foodborne
Brucellosis, if bioterrorism suspected
Diphtheria
Influenza A, variant
Plague
Poliomyelitis
Q fever, if bioterrorism suspected
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Smallpox
Tularemia, if bioterrorism suspected

pdf Full list of illinois reportable diseases

Report a disease by one of the following methods:

Phone
During business hours: (815) 802-9400
Afterhours & Weekends: (815) 937-8479
Fax
(815) 802-9321
Mail
Kankakee County Health Department
Attention: Infectious Disease
2390 W Station St
Kankakee, IL 60901

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease transmitted through the air. While it can affect any part of the body (such as the brain, the kidneys or the spine), TB usually affects the lungs. When first infected with the TB germ, people usually do not feel sick or have any symptoms, which is latent TB infection. However, they may develop active TB disease in the future, so treating the infection is important. Tuberculosis once was the leading cause of death in the United States; today in Illinois, less than 30 deaths a year are attributed to tuberculosis and the number of cases in the state has fallen more than 40 percent in the past 10 years. There are between one and four cases of active TB in Kankakee County each year.

More information:

What is Tuberculosis?

CDC Tuberculosis Resource

Mayo Clinic Tuberculosis Resource

World Health Organization Tuberculosis Resource

Rabies is a deadly disease that can affect all mammals, and is found in all states, except Hawaii. People usually are exposed to the rabies virus when an infected animal bites them. Exposure may occur if the animal's saliva enters an open cut or mucous membrane (nose, mouth, eyes). The most common carrier of rabies in Illinois are bats. The presence of a bat in a home, or any contact with a bat, represents a possible hazard for rabies. Contact the Kankakee County Health Department immediately if there has been human or pet mammal exposure to a bat. Rabies vaccine may be needed.

What you can do to reduce your risk:

Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals or stray dogs or cats.
Be sure dogs and cats are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.
Do not allow pets to roam free.
Do not attract wild animals to your home or yard. Store bird seed or other animal feed in containers with tight-fitting lids. Feed pets indoors. Make sure garbage cans are tightly capped. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap chimneys with screens.
Encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they are bitten or scratched by an animal. Teach children not to approach or to touch any animal they do not know.
Report all animal bites to the Kankakee County Animal Control