CDPH Weekly Media Brief, 07/02/2026

Tips for a Safe Fourth of July

Saturday is the Fourth of July, celebrated across the country as the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding. CDPH, along with all City departments, recognizes Independence Day as a federal holiday, and all CDPH offices and clinics will be closed on Friday, July 3.

Among the many festivities will be a couple holiday hallmarks: grilling out and fireworks & other flammables like sparklers. CDPH encourages all Chicagoans to leave the explosives to the professionals, but in case you come into close contact with anything potentially dangerous, we urge you to use best practices and follow the proper safety precautions:

• Keep all flammables far away from any heat sources like grills or charcoal chimneys.
• Keep fireworks away from houses and never light them indoors.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
• Always keep a safe distance away from lighted fireworks and never hold them in your hands.
• Never try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks, and soak spent or unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding them.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby any time you handle fire or fireworks of any kind.

Burns and injuries from fireworks can be very serious. Keep yourselves and others safe while you celebrate Independence Day!

Oral Health Webinar on Facebook Live

Good oral health is about more than just your smile; it can help reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications.

To highlight the importance of oral health, Ann Tuscher, Dental Program Director at CDPH, will join dental health professionals from CountyCare for a Facebook Live discussion. They'll cover what happens during a dental exam, what patients should know before visiting the dentist, and how CDPH helps Chicago Public Schools students access dental care and oral health services.

Don't miss this conversation on Tuesday, July 7, at 12 p.m. To join the Facebook Live, visit this link.

July 4, 1981: Chicago First Learns of HIV/AIDS

45 years ago this Saturday, a story on page 4 of the Chicago Tribune introduced Chicagoans to a mysterious illness that would become one of the deadliest public health crises in modern history.

Headlined "Rare cancer seen in homosexuals," the July 4, 1981 article reported on an unexplained illness affecting men in New York and California. By 1983, Chicago would see dozens of AIDS diagnoses. By the early 1990s, the epidemic reached its peak locally, devastating Chicago communities (especially gay and bisexual men) and claiming hundreds of lives each year.

Today, we remember the lives lost to AIDS, while recognizing the extraordinary progress that's been made. Advances in treatment have transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition, while PrEP has dramatically reduced new infections.

While new HIV diagnoses have declined for decades, the work continues. Black and Latino communities remain disproportionately affected, underscoring the need for equitable access to testing, prevention, and treatment. In 2024, Chicago reinforced that commitment by joining the global Fast-Track Cities initiative, pledging to end the city's HIV epidemic by 2030.

Chicago has more tools than ever to prevent HIV and support people living with it. The HIV Resource Hub (844-HUB-4040) connects people to services citywide, while CDPH's Sexual Health Specialty Clinics provide HIV and STI testing, treatment, prevention services and PrEP.

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