Exercise, risk reduction urged during public health week

BLOOMINGTON — Encouraging healthy eating and active living and combating West Nile virus, smoking, opioid abuse and cancer are ways in which Tazewell, Woodford and Peoria counties will recognize National Public Health Week.

The week will be Monday through April 9, and the health departments for the three counties are using the week to focus each day on a different community health priority.

The joint Community Health Improvement Plan for the three counties identified physical activity as a need so the three health departments encourage people to be physically active and eat healthfully on Monday.

Warmer temperatures and standing water from this week’s rain will create conditions for breeding mosquitoes that carry disease-causing West Nile virus. The health departments urge people, beginning Tuesday, to use insect repellent, to repair torn window screens and to reduce mosquito breeding grounds by emptying standing water outside.

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