Latest Health News From The Illinois Newsroom Team
Hospital needs volunteers who can visit with patients in their final hours
The No One Dies Alone program is a national movement in hospitals to have people that provide vigils for patients nearing the end of life.
Champaign County has been affected by bird flu, even without any farm outbreaks
The disease has infected several wild animals in the county, some of which have been brought to the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic. Public health officials advise against handling wild birds showing signs of illness.
‘Mission Accomplished’ for Rantoul air force base, yet $76 million of environmental clean-up remains
Most of the Chanute Air Force base transferred to the village of Rantoul in 2023. At the time, the Air Force declared “Mission Accomplished” in a press release — but it acknowledged there’s still at least $76 million more toxic clean-up to do. Today, it is unclear what the plan is for the many abandoned and deteriorating buildings.
Gene Hackman died of heart disease, his wife died of hantavirus about 1 week prior, authorities say
Authorities have revealed that Danville-raised actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease and showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s disease a full week after his wife died of hantavirus in their home. Chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes.
Medicaid’s future is uncertain. C-U’s free & reduced-cost health clinics are bracing for what’s next
Federal funding for Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program that covers more than 70 million lower-income Americans, could be on the chopping block. Clinics that provide free or reduced-cost care to residents of east-central Illinois are preparing for the possibility that a need for their services will spike if Medicaid faces cuts.
Former Gov. Jim Edgar battling pancreatic cancer: ‘We do not underestimate this challenge’
Gov. Jim Edgar, who also served as Illinois secretary of state and leads the Edgar Fellows program at the University of Illinois, wrote in an email to the program’s fellows that he and his wife, Brenda, are “facing a new, significant challenge.”
Illinois health officials taking bird flu precautions despite assessing no ‘active risk’ to humans
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk of an outbreak of the bird flu in humans is low, although Illinois’ health department is preparing for the possibility.
Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as Trump’s health chief after a close Senate vote
Nearly all Republicans fell in line behind Trump despite hesitancy over Kennedy’s views on vaccines, voting 52-48 to confirm him.
Health care providers in Illinois could lose millions in funding under Trump order
Providers at community health centers throughout Illinois on Tuesday lost immediate access to millions of dollars in federal grant funding and feared other public dollars were at stake.
The powerful vaccine committee RFK Jr. could soon control
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long criticized an obscure and powerful federal vaccine committee. If senators confirm him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, he would control it.
New concerns over cancer and alcohol suggest even moderate drinking increases risk
New research shows strong ties between alcohol and cancer, which has reignited a debate among experts about the health impacts of drinking, even in moderate amounts.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois to close Englewood clinic, 3 others
Planned Parenthood of Illinois has faced an overwhelming spike in patients in the years since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
