As the weather heats up, many Arizonans head to the water. Whether you’re boating on Lake Havasu, tubing on the Salt River, casting a fishing line at your local park, or taking a dip with your dog, you should know about a little organism that can have a big impact on your health. Algae and cyanobacteria (sometimes called [...]
So, your little one starts kindergarten soon. How exciting! You still have a few months before the school year starts, so now’s the time to make sure students-to-be have the vaccines needed to stay safe as they head into a new chapter of life. Much attention is rightly paid to COVID-19 these days, but we [...]
Arizona continues to see increases in COVID-19 cases, as is happening elsewhere in the country. Wednesday’s weekly update to the ADHS COVID-19 Data Dashboard adds 11,498 cases, of which 10,359 were reported during the week of May 15. The dashboard added 40 new deaths. This continued gradual increase in cases, which isn’t straining our health [...]
Brutal summer heat can be more than just unpleasant. If you don’t take precautions, it can cause illness and even death. To highlight the importance of staying safe during extreme heat, Governor Doug Ducey has proclaimed May 23-27 as Heat Awareness Week. ADHS, the National Weather Service, and the Phoenix Office of Heat Response and [...]
Since COVID-19 vaccines became available in late 2020, millions of Arizonans have gone to mass-vaccination sites, retail pharmacies, health care centers, doctors’ offices, and elsewhere to get lifesaving shots. Today, ADHS and partner agencies are providing even more widespread availability by making COVID-19 vaccines available in neighborhoods through trusted community partners. More than 100,000 doses [...]
Childhood vaccines protect against not just severe illness but prevent disease outbreaks that can interrupt classroom learning. That’s one reason why ADHS and our partners encourage parents to get their children current on required immunizations as well as COVID-19 vaccination. The pandemic has made it more difficult to stay current on routine medical care. With [...]
National Nurses Month 2022 is a chance to celebrate the care nurses provide in settings that extend far beyond hospitals and doctors’ offices. This year’s theme, “You Make a Difference,” honors these skilled professionals and trusted advocates who ensure individuals, families, and populations receive quality care and services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these too-often unsung [...]
Like COVID-19 has proven to be, seasonal influenza is predictably unpredictable. Case in point: Arizona is currently seeing increasing numbers of influenza cases much later than the five-year average shows, though overall numbers for this flu season aren’t as high as some recent seasons. Other states are seeing a similar trend. COVID-19 and influenza share [...]
Like many of you, public health professionals are closely watching trends reflected on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard, including week-to-week increases in cases since early April. The 7,200-plus cases reported for the week beginning May 8 represent a small fraction of the 150,000-plus cases reported during the week of Jan. 9, when the Omicron variant was [...]
ADHS is joining groups across the nation in marking EMS Week, which honors the Emergency Medical Services providers who are rising to the challenge during the month of May. It’s part of National Trauma Awareness Month. Governor Doug Ducey signed a State Proclamation recognizing EMS Week and EMS for Children Day. This year’s theme for [...]
