Eugene Livar

/Eugene Livar

About Eugene Livar

Dr. Eugene Livar is the Assistant Director for Public Health Preparedness at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Eugene has been part of the ADHS team since 2012. He began his public health work at ADHS as an epidemiologist assisting with state efforts covering border health and unexplained deaths. Since then, he has held roles as Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) program manager, Office Chief of Disease Integration and Services, and Bureau Chief of Epidemiology and Disease Control. Eugene has assisted with multiple Health Emergency Operations Center responses during his time at ADHS. In his current role, he leads the division of Public Health Preparedness that encompasses the Bureaus of Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Systems, Environmental Health Services, Immunization Services, Infectious Disease & Services, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, and State Laboratory Services.

Ensuring your family is prepared for an emergency can be simple with these Preparedness Month resources

By | September 29th, 2023|Preparedness|

The old adage “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” is also true for preparedness. As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, it’s a great time to make sure your family is prepared.  Take the opportunity to prepare now before an emergency happens so [...]

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Reminding Arizonans to keep yourselves safe from dangerous fungi that can cause Valley fever

By | September 25th, 2023|Preparedness|

Last week ADHS, alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognized Fungal Disease Awareness Week. The annual event focuses on the growing challenges surrounding the spread of infectious fungi across the United States. While many different types of fungal diseases call Arizona home, one of the most common is Valley fever. Valley fever [...]

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New COVID-19 vaccine has been approved:  What it means for respiratory illness season and what it means for you and your family

By | September 14th, 2023|Preparedness|

Following the approval this week of a new COVID-19 vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's important for Arizona families to get updated on the newest guidance The CDC recommends that everyone ages six months and older get a new, updated vaccine for COVID-19, commonly referred to as the "updated monovalent [...]

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West Nile Virus Season Isn’t Over Yet

By | September 1st, 2023|Preparedness|

Arizona’s hot and dry summer appears to have contributed to fewer virus-carrying mosquitoes than usual so far. However, the monsoon season isn’t over yet, as last night’s storms proved. It’s important to continue thinking about mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus (WNV) as we will likely see an increase in infected mosquitoes. Checking your yard [...]

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Stay weather aware and prepare for Arizona’s monsoon season

By | June 20th, 2023|Preparedness|

While it may feel like summer is just kicking off, the monsoon season has officially started and that means some safety measures should be mixed in with your summer fun.  What is the North American Monsoon? The monsoon involves changes in seasonal winds that can cause extreme weather conditions including extreme heat, dust storms, sudden [...]

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Father’s Day gift for all men: A trip to the doctor

By | June 15th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

For reasons that aren't always clear, men simply don't go to the doctor as often as women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women visit their healthcare provider 40% more often than men. That may be an explanation for what the Washington Post recently called a "silent crisis in men's health." Data [...]

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Free drinking water lead screening available for Arizona schools, child care facilities

By | June 8th, 2023|General, Preparedness|

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is offering free lead screening of drinking water fixtures and faucets for Arizona schools and child care facilities as part of a nationwide program that was established by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADHS received about [...]

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Keep your cool when the heat builds this summer

By | May 4th, 2023|Preparedness|

Summer is right around the corner, and it’s time to get ready for the sweltering heat season from May to September, when Arizona becomes one of the hottest places on earth. No one is risk-free when it comes to deadly summer heat. Arizona hospitals saw an annual average of 2,858 heat related emergency department visits [...]

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Working together to stop the spread of Candida auris in Arizona

By | March 31st, 2023|Preparedness|

A recent press release from CDC highlighted the increasing threat of Candida auris (C. auris) because it is often antimicrobial resistant (available treatments may not work), can cause severe disease, including death, and is spreading among healthcare facilities in the United States. Arizona identified its first clinical case of C. auris in 2020, and there [...]

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Food for thought: Stay healthy while feasting on big game and golf

By | February 6th, 2023|Preparedness|

What happens when you combine the year's most-watched sporting event – the Super Bowl, and in Arizona no less – with the year's best-attended golf tournament: the WM Phoenix Open? In addition to an extended celebration, you get food – lots of it, at homes and events. Arizona hasn't seen a week like this since [...]

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