The Cook County Board of Commissioners established the Cook County Department of Public Health CCDPH on December 10, 1945. As in 1945, our mission continues to be the prevention of illness, early disease detection and the promotion of personal and community health for suburban Cook County residents. In 1945, the health department served a jurisdiction of 600,000 people on a budget of $162,000. Today, our budget nears $40,000,000, and over two million residents depend on CCDPH for disease control and prevention. From 90 employees in the mid-forties, to over 500 today, CCDPH has expanded its traditional health services from limited nursing to many personal, clinic-based health care services.

1940s

1947
A 24 hour service to save premature babies born in suburban CC was started through a cooperative agreement among the County Sheriff's Police, Cook County Hospital and CCDPH. A specially equipped incubator provided transportation from suburban hospitals to CCH.

1948
CCDPH started the first Rheumatic Fever Clinic in SCC at St. James Hospital in cooperation with Ill. Division of Services for Crippled Children.

1950s

1950
The Tourist Camp Operating Ordinance was passed by the CC Board to license trailers and provide sanitation inspections.

1952
Controlled outbreak of vesicular exanthama in five herds of pigs.

1953
Reorganized vital statistics registration (birth and death) system in CC, reducing the number of registration districts from 67 to 13.

1954
One death of rabies was reported, making it the last death from the disease in suburban CC.

1955
Polio vaccine was introduced and 46, 000 first and second grade children received their first dose of vaccine.

1958
CC declared a modified, certified brucellosis (Cow disease) free area by USDA.

1959
CCDPH licensed 65 nursing homes.

1960s

1961
An article was published in the Medical World News after a leukemia outbreak in Niles resulted in a nationwide study. A new program to detect and treat phenylketonuria (PKU) began. Special program services were set up for 6,000 Spanish speaking migrant workers.

1962
CCDPH provided dental services to 8,438 children through several clinic and mobile van site.s

1966
CCDPH became a certified provider of home nursing services to Medicare recipients.

1968
12,000 vision tests and 10,957 hearing tests provided

1969
The Division of Nursing received accreditation from the National League for Nursing.

1970s

1970
A Rubella Immunization campaign resulted in immunizing 150,000 children.

1975
Outbreak of St. Louis Encephalitis(mosquito spread illness) leads to 273 cases.

1976
Measles outbreak with 130 cases reported. 15,000 children immunized.

1978
Legionnaire's Disease becomes a reportable disease, with CCDPH reporting 4 cases.

1980s

1981
Began an Indochinese refugee health screening. program with SCC Tuberculosis Sanitarium District and Loyola Medical Center.

1982
Coordinated Public Health emergency services around the cyanide contaminated Tylenol incident. Bottles of Tylenol were found in stores around the county containing the poison.

1983
CCDPH became a state certified public health dept. WIC Program began.

1985
Salmonella outbreak from contaminated milk processed at a dairy plant sickens thousands. CCDPH was lead agency coordinating data collection, communicable disease investigations and public information effort. First AIDS cases reported numbering 14. Began Food Sanitation Contract Program. Today 30 communities are part of the program. Screened 29,000 people for hypertension.

1986
First Wellness on Wheels (WOW) service. Developed and distributed a comprehensive sexuality curriculum to 225 schools.

1987
Opened Primary Care Clinic with Loyola Medical Center. Developed the Physician Cooperative Service of SCC to provide uninsured residents access to doctors. (Prototype of Access to Care program)

1990s

1991
Family Case Management Program began.

1993
New forms of birth control introduced in family planning clinics. (Depo Provera and Norplant). Added pneumococcal vaccine to flu program. Opened Mid-south clinic in Harvey.

1995
Morton High School based health center opened in conjunction with MacNeal Hospital.

1997
Tobacco Ordinance passed (severe fines for merchants who sell to minors).

1998
Outbreak of ETEC, a form of "traveler's diarrhea" hits SCC. The suspected source of the outbreak is potato salad prepared at a south suburban caterer. Over 5,000 get sick. CCDPH takes lead in tracking down illness, collecting data and supplying media information.

2001
Emergency Preparedness Unit is born to respond to chemical, biological or nuclear emergencies. (The Unit's name will be changed to Community Preparedness in 2003)

2002
West Nile Virus, an illness passed from birds to mosquitoes to humans, infects hundreds of people throughout the state of Illinois and causes 66 deaths, 38 of them in Cook County. CCDPH has the responsibility of responding to environmental health and communicable disease concerns.