Fungal Disease Awareness Week is Here
The first Fungal Disease Awareness Week is taking place from August 14 through 18. This week was organized by the CDC and partners in order to raise awareness about fungal diseases. Although there are many types of fungal diseases that occur in the U.S., there is one that stands out above the rest in Arizona. Valley Fever has a large [...]
Opioid Update: Governor Ducey Extends Executive Order for Increased Reporting
Last week Governor Doug Ducey extended the executive order for increased reporting of opioid-related data by renewing his recent. The order, originally issued on June 13, allows state health officials to obtain critical information within 24-hours of an opioid-related overdose or the identification of a baby with drug withdrawal symptoms. This data is a vital resource to ADHS and other [...]
Protecting People and Pets against Plague in Arizona
Summertime in Arizona can bring outdoor fun for people and their pets, but also a risk for exposure to diseases, such as plague. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and usually circulates between fleas and wild rodents, including prairie dogs. People and animals can be exposed to plague by handling blood or tissues of infected wild rodents or [...]
Arizona Cancer Programs Secure Increased Funding for the State
The Arizona Cancer Registry and Office of Cancer Prevention and Control received good news last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – their grant application was approved for a total of $3,930,027 per year for the next five years. This represents a 13.5% increase in funds of $466,909 per year. The five-year grant period extends through [...]
Newborn Screening Program Adds SCID Testing to Program Today
The State Public Health Lab Newborn Screening Program started testing for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) syndrome on August 9. SCID is the name for a group of inherited disorders that cause babies to be born without a working immune system, putting them at risk for getting serious infections and death. Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation in May to allow the [...]
Opioid Update: Blood Screening, Grant Funding and Emergency Rule for Licensed Facilities
We continue to make steady progress in addressing the statewide opioid epidemic. Last week we expanded blood screening at the State Public Health Lab, announced a $505,104 grant award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and issued emergency rules for licensed healthcare facilities. The State Public Health Lab is now screening blood samples from suspected overdose cases for [...]