Eugene Livar

About Eugene Livar

Dr. Eugene Livar currently serves as Arizona's first Chief Heat Officer. Appointed to this role in 2024, he oversees the implementation of Governor Hobb’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan. He began his public health work at ADHS in 2012 as an epidemiologist assisting with state efforts covering border health and unexplained deaths. Prior to the role of Chief Heat Officer, he held roles as Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) program manager, Office Chief of Disease Integration and Services, Bureau Chief of Epidemiology and Disease Control, and most recently, the Assistant Director of Public Health Preparedness. The Assistant Director role encompassed leading and overseeing six critical public health bureaus: the Bureaus of Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Systems, Environmental Health Services, Immunization Services, Infectious Disease & Services, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, and State Laboratory Services.  Dr. Livar's forward-thinking approach and commitment to public health preparedness continue to shape policies and initiatives aimed at safeguarding the well-being of Arizona's residents.

Arizona cord blood used in life-saving treatments, research

By |2022-11-15T12:14:42-07:00November 15th, 2022|Preparedness|

Today, Nov. 15, is World Cord Blood Day, which calls attention to how stem cells that remain in the placenta and umbilical cord after a child is born help doctors treat more than 80 life-threatening diseases.  There have been more than 40,000 cord blood stem cell transplants since a French doctor first used the procedure [...]

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Watch young children for signs of RSV

By |2022-11-04T14:21:48-07:00November 4th, 2022|Preparedness|

This time of the year, many adults and children catch the common cold. Sometimes, what looks like a cold can actually be RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Many people recover quickly from RSV in a week or two, but it can be potentially more serious for others such as infants and elderly individuals. Arizona is [...]

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Guard against a potentially deadly amoeba in bodies of fresh water

By |2022-11-03T11:49:17-07:00November 3rd, 2022|Preparedness|

As the swim season comes to a close, there is a tragic reminder about the dangers of a potentially deadly amoeba found in lakes, rivers, hot springs, and other bodies with warm water. A boy believed to have been exposed to Naegleria fowleri recently passed after swimming and diving in Kingman Wash on the Arizona [...]

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Respiratory diseases heating up as the weather cools down

By |2022-10-21T10:41:45-07:00October 21st, 2022|Preparedness|

The weather may be cooling down, but respiratory diseases are beginning to heat up in Arizona. Common cold-causing viruses such as rhinovirus and enterovirus are circulating at this time throughout the U.S.  The 2022-2023 influenza season recently began Oct. 2, but we’re already seeing a higher rate of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity [...]

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Vaccination can boost your chances of avoiding long COVID

By |2022-10-17T10:24:00-07:00October 17th, 2022|Preparedness|

For most people who get COVID-19, isolation, rest, and following a doctor's advice leads back to full health within a few weeks, especially if you were up-to-date on vaccination. If you can't shake fatigue a month or more later, however, chances are you're among the millions of Americans facing long COVID. Also referred to as [...]

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