Last week we hosted a Zika Capability Assessment Workshop that was attended by more than 100 tribal, county, state, and federal partners as part of the Arizona Zika-preparedness collaborative. Attendees worked together to identify current response activities, document plans for future efforts, and identify areas for improvement. The workshop included presentations on the history of Zika [...]
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy published a report last week on the emerging public health threat related to the e-cigarette/vape use among youth. While this report is the 33rd Surgeon General's report in 53 years to address the impact of tobacco on health, it's important to note that it is the first to focus on e-cigarettes. [...]
The successful smoke-free programs we have been working on in Arizona for people living in multi-unit housing have been expanded nationwide. Over the last several years, three Arizona organizations, the Arizona Smoke-Free Living Coalition, American Lung Association in Arizona, and the Arizona Multihousing Association, under the leadership of our Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease, [...]
Our Health Care Institution Branch Licensing Architectural Team has successfully streamlined processes, maximized resources and reduced the time it takes to review and approve architectural plans and specifications required by rule. This is critically important because architectural plans and specifications must meet the adopted 2010 Facility Guidelines Institute regulations before a new health care institution [...]
For millions of people every season, flu causes symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and miserable days spent in bed. Even more seriously, influenza results in hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths each year. Luckily, there are vaccines that can help to prevent the [...]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified handwashing as the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease. Washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water will help protect you from getting sick with things like influenza, a cold, norovirus, and many other unpleasant infections. This week, we're [...]
More than 330,000 Arizona residents live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the numbers affected by this serious, chronic lung disease affect more than breathing. A diagnosis of COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, comes with many physical and emotional challenges that can affect the whole family and circle of friends. From chronic [...]
Public health agencies around the world recognize World AIDS Day on Thursday, Dec. 1 to show support for people living with disease, and to remember those who have passed. The special day was established in 1988 to create an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. More than 17,000 Arizonans are [...]
The Maricopa County Superior Court’s National Adoption Day was held at the Durango Juvenile Court Center on Nov. 19. National Adoption Day is an annual event held to raise awareness for more than 100,000 foster-care children nationwide who are waiting to find their forever families. Adoptions for hundreds of children are finalized on this special [...]
Our HIV Epidemiology Program just released their 2016 Arizona HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Annual Report, documenting HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence trends at both the state and county level throughout Arizona. In 2015, there were 17,349 Arizonans living with HIV/AIDS, of which 730 were newly infected. The number of HIV-related deaths has been decreasing from 309 deaths in [...]
