Bridgeview Public Library

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2026/04/20/misinformation-disinformation-health-vaccines-disease-outbreaks-kiran-joshi-public-health

At a time when misinformation and disinformation can spread as quickly as a virus, being able to evaluate claims and recognize misleading statements is critical.

05/29/2026

Get the Medicaid Facts



In the coming months, an estimated 400,000 Illinoisans will be at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage due to federal policy changes.

Cook County Health’s Medicaid Impact Workgroup has launched Get Medicaid Facts, a microsite and communications toolkit designed to help enrollees, community organizations, health care providers, insurers and public agencies prepare for major upcoming changes to Medicaid eligibility.

The Get Medicaid Facts toolkit, consisting of a fact sheet and social media messages in several languages, is available to all organizations that want to spread the word about upcoming changes and what steps enrollees can take to keep their coverage.

05/29/2026

Grocery Benefits For Families During Summer

Have school-aged children? You may be eligible for grocery benefits during the summer.

Summer EBT provides families with a monthly grocery benefit to feed their children for three summer months (June, July, August), when children are not receiving free or reduced-price meals at school.

Eligible families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for the summer for each eligible child. Benefits are distributed on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card and can be used at any grocery store that accepts LINK cards. Families have 122 days from issuance to use the benefits.

To apply for Summer EBT, visit:

https://wegotyouillinois.org/summer-ebt/

05/29/2026

Health Tip: Take Precautions Against Ticks and Mosquitoes

Now is a good time for Cook County residents to start taking precautions against ticks and mosquitoes.

Four mosquito pools tested positive for West Nile virus in Hillside, La Grange, Markham, and Alsip in early May. These positive mosquito pools so early in the season could indicate another year of high numbers of West Nile virus cases. In addition, emergency room visits related to tick bites are up and are the highest they’ve been for this time of year since 2017.

Symptoms of West Nile virus and Lyme disease:

West Nile virus is spread from the bite of an infected mosquito and can cause symptoms ranging from fever, headache and rash to stiff neck, confusion and permanent neurological damage. People usually get Lyme disease from the bite of a tick carrying the Borrelia bacterium. Early symptoms could include fever, rash, chills, headache, fatigue, and muscle or joint aches. If untreated, symptoms could escalate to facial paralysis, irregular heartbeat and arthritis.

Preventing West Nile virus and Lyme disease:

Here are some actions you can take to help your community members protect themselves from West Nile virus and Lyme disease:

Visit Cook County Department of Public Health’s website for prevention tips: fightthebitecookcounty.com
Consult the West Nile virus data dashboard for data on West Nile virus in mosquitoes and humans.
Keep up with the latest information on West Nile virus risks for residents by checking CCDPH’s social media.
Use CCDPH’s shareable communications assets in your newsletters and socials to spread the word about preventing mosquito and tick bites.
https://cookcountypublichealth.org/environmental-health/fight-the-bite-cook-county/

05/29/2026

https://cookcountypublichealth.org/maternal-and-child-health/healthy-beginnings-referral-form/

We welcome your feedback. If you have a question about the Cook County Department of Public Health website or any programs or services provided in suburban Cook County, please contact us.