CDPH Weekly Media Brief, 08/06/2026

CDPH Spraying for Mosquitoes This Week

Based on an increased number of mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus, CDPH is spraying to kill adult mosquitoes in eight communities this Wednesday, August 5, 2026 (East Garfield Park, Near West Side, North Lawndale, Lower West Side) and Thursday, August 6 (Chatham, Roseland, Burnside, West Pullman).

The material being used to control the adult mosquitoes, Permanone™, is approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has been widely applied to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas. The low concentrations of the spray are unlikely to cause health effects in people or pets and Permanone™ is routinely sprayed in residential areas across the nation. To avoid or lessen exposure to adulticide, residents can stay indoors and close their windows, keep pets and their food and water indoors, and bring children's or pet's toys inside during spraying. CDPH staff will be leaving door hangers in the affected areas to notify residents that the spraying will occur.

CDPH reminds residents that the most effective way to prevent West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites.

• Use insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Eliminate standing water. This means regularly emptying water from flowerpots, gutters, pool covers, etc.
• Keep grass and weeds short to eliminate hiding places for adult mosquitoes.
• When outside between dusk and dawn, wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts, socks, and shoes.

Additional information on the virus, including symptoms, how to protect against the virus, and recent mosquito testing trends can be found on the CDPH WNV Surveillance Dashboard and the CDPH website.

Get Your Child Tested for Lead Before School

Back-to-school season is a great time to make sure your child has the required lead screening documentation with their school or daycare center. Under state law, before any child 6 months to 6 years old can be admitted to preschool, nursery school, kindergarten or a daycare center, the child's parent or guardian must provide proof from a doctor or health care provider that the child has had a blood lead level screening.

All children in Chicago should have their blood-lead levels tested at 12, 24, and 36 months old. If a child's blood test indicates an elevated lead level, a CDPH nurse case manager will contact the family for a home visit. The nurse will do a social developmental assessment, provide nutritional counseling, and make referrals for any additional services the family may need.

Even relatively low levels of lead exposure can impair a child's cognitive development. Elevated blood lead levels can affect developing brains and lead to problems with behavior, mood, and trouble concentrating. But childhood lead poisoning is preventable.

With routine childhood lead testing, nurse follow-up support, home inspections and remediation of lead-based paint hazards, CDPH has achieved a dramatic decrease in the percentage of children who have elevated blood lead levels (over 5ug/dL) from 70 percent in 1996 down to under 2 percent in 2025.

For more information on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, visit Chicago.gov/lead.

WIC Services for National Breastfeeding Month

August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time to recognize the important role breastfeeding plays in supporting the health and well-being of infants, mothers, and families.

Breastfeeding offers many benefits for babies and mothers, including:

• Provides perfect nutrition for babies
• Helps protect babies from some germs, infections, and common childhood illnesses
• Supports healthy brain development
• Is easy for babies to digest
• Helps promote bonding between parents and babies
• Is especially beneficial for premature and low-birth-weight infants
• Provides health benefits for mothers, including reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancers

CDPH is hosting a recurring Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) mobilization site at 10 S. Kedzie on the second Tuesday of each month through December 2026. This initiative is designed to bring services directly into the community and reduce barriers to enrollment and participation.

At this site, a full range of WIC services will be available, including on-site eligibility screening, certification, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and the ability to issue benefits the same day. Families can leave fully enrolled and ready to access healthy foods and support right away. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for WIC, you can review the program's income guidelines to see if you may be eligible. For more information about WIC clinics, please visit chicago.gov/WIC.

Free Food and Veggies at Greater Lawn

The Greater Lawn West 55th Street WIC clinic is partnering with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to provide free fresh fruits and vegetables to WIC and behavioral health clients. Once a month, the Depository drops off produce at the WIC clinic, where volunteers and staff work together to bag and distribute it to clients.

Distribution takes place on the second Wednesday of each month from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. The next distribution will be on August 12 .

For more information about WIC clinics, please visit chicago.gov/WIC.

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