Peoria County EH

Peoria County EH We are responsible for Environmental Health Programs for the Peoria City/County Health Department Governmental Agency of Peoria County Government

In honor of Lyme disease awareness month here are the proper steps to remove ticks.Because ticks can carry Lyme disease ...
05/29/2026

In honor of Lyme disease awareness month here are the proper steps to remove ticks.
Because ticks can carry Lyme disease (as well as other tick-borne illnesses) it is imperative to remove them as soon as they are found. Removing ticks within the first 24 hours can drastically reduce the chances of contracting Lyme disease. If you are unsure of how long a tick may have been attached or if you feel any symptoms of Lyme disease, please contact your physician and/or veterinarian as Lyme disease can affect your pets as well.

How to remove a tick

1. Using tweezer grasp the tick close to the skin’s surface but avoid squeezing the tick’s body. If tweezers are unavailable, you may use your fingers.
2. With steady even pressure, pull the tick away from the skin but do no twist, jerk, or burn.
3. To dispose of a live tick to not crush the tick. Wrap it tightly in tape; put it in alcohol; put it in a sealed container, or flush it down the toilet to dispose of tick.
4. Clean bite area and hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer.
Carefully check your body for other ticks and remove them promptly

Caution

Do not use substances to try to detach ticks from your skin. Such as alcohol, nail polish, heat, petroleum jelly.

For more information on public health issues pertaining to mosquitoes and ticks, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department's website at https://www.pcchd.org/157/Pests-Nuisances or contact us at 309-679-6161

During Lyme disease awareness month, we want to urge Peoria residents to check for ticks to prevent the spread! In the F...
05/22/2026

During Lyme disease awareness month, we want to urge Peoria residents to check for ticks to prevent the spread! In the Fall of 2025, our department collected ticks that were confirmed to carry the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.

Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection that is spread to people from the bite of a blacklegged tick, commonly known as the deer tick. Ticks can pick up this bacteria from deer or rodents, and they don’t get sick. However, when they bite a person, they pass on the bacteria and cause Lyme Disease.

Both adult and young ticks can carry Lyme Disease, and they can be hard to spot, but the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease is less likely to spread if the tick is removed within 24 hours. Always check yourself and family for ticks after being outside.

For more information on public health issues pertaining to mosquitoes and ticks, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department's website at https://www.pcchd.org/157/Pests-Nuisances or contact us at 309-679-6161

It’s Lyme Disease awareness month and increased Tick activity and positive results for Lyme Disease have been found with...
05/18/2026

It’s Lyme Disease awareness month and increased Tick activity and positive results for Lyme Disease have been found within the County. The Peoria County residents are urged to take precautions outdoors as warmer temperatures and increased outdoor activities contribute to higher tick populations within wooded areas, parks, trails, and residential areas.

Ticks can carry Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and other tick-borne diseases. We encourage you to take the recommended precautions:

☑️Wear long sleeves, long pants, and light-colored clothing outdoors
☑️Use EPA-approved insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin
☑️Stay on cleared trails and avoid tall grass and brush
☑️Perform thorough tick checks after outdoor activities
☑️Shower soon after spending time outdoors
☑️Check pets regularly for ticks


For more information on public health issues pertaining to mosquitoes and ticks, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department's website at https://www.pcchd.org/157/Pests-Nuisances or contact us at 309-679-6161

04/23/2026

We’ve been following the conversation around spicy bowls—seeing the creativity and hearing all the great questions—and we’re here to help you take it to the next level. Turn your food idea into a safe, legal business… we’ll show you how.

✔ No enforcement

✔ No penalties

✔ Just guidance, answers, and support

Already selling spicy bowls?

We’re here to help you transition to a safe, legal setup—no judgment.

👉 Whether you’re already making spicy bowls or just thinking about it—this event is for you.

Peoria City/County Health Department is hosting a Spicy Bowl Pop-Out. We are giving out free spicy bowl samples made in our licensed community kitchen. Everyone is welcome!

📌 Where: Peoria/City County Health Department, 2116 N Sheridan Rd. Peoria, IL 61604

📅 When: Friday, May 1st

🕑 Time: Anytime between 2 pm- 4 pm

We’ll have information and staff available to help you explore how to start your own Spicy Bowl business and safely serve food to the public. We’ll also share tips for keeping food in your home safer. Bring your questions, ideas, or just stop by—we’d love to meet you and enjoy a fun afternoon together.

For more information call 309-679-6161 or email [email protected]. RSVP anonymously at https://bit.ly/41BlYia.

🔥 Spicy Bowl Wars- Play it Safe. 🔥We’ve been seeing the rise of “Spicy Bowl Wars” in the community—where individuals are...
04/09/2026

🔥 Spicy Bowl Wars- Play it Safe. 🔥

We’ve been seeing the rise of “Spicy Bowl Wars” in the community—where individuals are creating and selling their own versions of the viral Tik Tok Spicy Bowl trend and informally competing for the best one.

Spicy bowls are typically served in plastic to-go containers and may include noodles, rice, meats, pickled vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and sauces—often served with bags of chips.

We love seeing the creativity—and we especially love supporting aspiring food entrepreneurs.

However, we are not currently aware of any licensed food establishments selling spicy bowls, which means these bowls are being made in uninspected, unlicensed kitchens. The bowls that we have seen are also being sold at room temperature which greatly increases the chances that you will get sick from eating them.

Foods prepared without proper licensing may not be:
🌶Stored at safe temperatures
🌶Prepared with proper sanitation
🌶Protected from contamination

Before you buy, ask yourself:
🌶Is this food being properly hot or cold held?
🌶Is the seller making the food in a licensed establishment?

Want to turn your spicy bowl cooking passion into a safe, legal business? We’re here to help! Reach out to learn how to get started.

Your health matters. Choose safely and support licensed food vendors who follow food safety guidelines. Concerns can be reported to [email protected].

Tick Season in Illinois is here! Ticks in our area can carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain, Powassan Virus, and many more...
03/30/2026

Tick Season in Illinois is here! Ticks in our area can carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain, Powassan Virus, and many more! In many cases, ticks must be attached to a person or pet for several hours before they transmit an infection. Preventing ticks from getting on your body is the best prevention to illness, but removing ticks as soon as possible is your last line of defense!
Always check yourself, your kids, and your pets after being outdoors. Don’t let a tick make you sick—remove it quick!
For any questions, feel free to contact the Environmental Health office of the Peoria City/County health Department at 309-679-6161 or at [email protected] .

Ticks don’t exclusively bite humans; they like to hitchhike on our furry companions too! Ticks will hide in sneaky spots...
03/29/2026

Ticks don’t exclusively bite humans; they like to hitchhike on our furry companions too! Ticks will hide in sneaky spots on pets, like behind ears under collars, in between their toes, and even around their tail. After being outside for walks, playtime, and hikes, always check your pet! Once ticks are on pets, they can easily attach to humans who hang out close by their furry friends.
Doing a quick tick check on pets can help prevent tick-borne illnesses for the whole family.
For any questions, feel free to contact the Environmental Health office of the Peoria City/County health Department at 309-679-6161 or at [email protected] .

If a tick has been found on your body, make sure you remove it as soon as possible.Using tweezers, grasp the tick as clo...
03/28/2026

If a tick has been found on your body, make sure you remove it as soon as possible.
Using tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Using steady pressure, pull up on the tick. Do not squeeze, jerk, or twist the tick. Dispose of the tick by putting it into a sealed container, wrapping it in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Afterwards, make sure to thoroughly clean the bite area and wash your hands with soap and water.
Never use petroleum jelly, heat or flames, nail polish, or other substances to remove the tick. This can cause the tick to throw up bacteria and viruses directly into your bloodstream. Always make sure to remove the entire tick, leaving pieces of the tick behind can result in infection.
Monitor for symptoms of rash or fever and contact a doctor if those symptoms develop.
Visit this site for more information on what to do if you find a tick on yourself! Tick Bite: What to Do
For any questions, feel free to contact the Environmental Health office of the Peoria City/County health Department at 309-679-6161 or at [email protected] .

If you are spending any length of time outside, it is best to take precautions to prevent tick bites. Below are some Do’...
03/27/2026

If you are spending any length of time outside, it is best to take precautions to prevent tick bites. Below are some Do’s and Don’ts of Tick Bite Prevention!

Do wear light colors, clothes that fully cover your body, and tuck pant legs into socks.
Do use insect repellant with DEET or picaridin.
Do walk in the center of trails.
Do avoid brushing up against tall grass and brush.
Do check yourself, children and pets for ticks
Do shower after spending time outdoors

Don’t wear shorts and short T-shirts.
Don’t use natural repellants as they won’t repel ticks.
Don’t assume you are safe from ticks without checking yourself.
Don’t walk off the trail paths.
Don’t skip the shower after being outside.

If you do find a tick, remove it as soon as possible and watch for symptoms of rash or fever. Tomorrow we’ll share how to properly remove a tick if one attaches.
For any questions, feel free to contact the Environmental Health office of the Peoria City/County health Department at 309-679-6161 or at [email protected] .

Different species of ticks like different areas—ranging from wooded areas, tall grass, leaf piles, shrubs and many more....
03/27/2026

Different species of ticks like different areas—ranging from wooded areas, tall grass, leaf piles, shrubs and many more. Ticks often prefer shaded, grassy areas with lots of leaf litter. Brushing up against vegetation can allow ticks to attach easily to the legs of people and pets due to their prickly legs. Once a tick has made its way onto a person or pet’s body, it climbs upward looking for a safe place to borrow. Don’t let a tick make you sick, fight the bite!
Tomorrow we’ll share ways you can prevent ticks from ever getting onto your body!
For any questions, feel free to contact the Environmental Health office of the Peoria City/County health Department at 309-679-6161 or at [email protected] .

Address

2116 North Sheridan Road
Peoria, IL
61604

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13096796161

Website

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