New HIV Data Released
We recently published our HIV/AIDS Integrated Epidemiologic Profile, which includes data from 2009-2012 and contains information about comorbidity of HIV with other infectious diseases like tuberculosis, valley fever, and some STDs. In comparison to other states, Arizona’s case count is average. As of 2013, 15,798 people in Arizona were living with HIV/AIDS and 730 Arizonans were newly diagnosed. Most of Arizona’s [...]
Keep Food Safe at Holiday Celebrations this Summer
Summertime is the season for pool parties, barbecues, picnics and other outdoor family fun. These events are a great opportunity to get together with friends and family and share a meal. However, our hot outdoor temperatures can result in the rapid growth of dangerous bacteria on food, which could lead to foodborne illness. Did you know that one out of six [...]
Diabetes Program Launches Text-Based Engagement Program
Our Diabetes Program has launched a mobile health patient engagement program for the first time in Arizona. This initiative will target patients with diabetes or diabetes risk factors, as well as at-risk women and children, through the use of automated text messaging. In partnership with Adelante Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), we will use text-message based technology to [...]
State Public Health Lab Selected as Level I Lab by USDA
Our Arizona State Public Health Laboratory has been selected as a Level 1 Laboratory in the USDA's Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Cooperative Agreement Program. FERN currently comprises federal, state, and local government regulatory laboratories with varying capacities to perform threat agent testing. The FERN Program enhances the nation's ability to detect microbiological, radiological and chemical threat agents and to improve laboratory capacity [...]
Changes in Screening and Monitoring of Travelers Returning from Liberia
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia on May 9, 2015, when 42 days (two incubation periods) passed since the last Ebola patient was buried. However, the WHO recommended that Liberia maintain heightened surveillance for another 90 days (until August 7, 2015). This led to changes, that began last week, in airport screening [...]
Striving for Excellence in Arizona’s Dialysis Facilities
This year marked the third year that our Division of Licensing Services and Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Program partnered with the InterMountain ESRD Network and others to provide a day-long educational session for end-stage renal dialysis (ESRD) providers in Arizona. More than 200 participants attended this year’s ADVICE Collaborative to identify data-driven opportunities to improve dialysis services in Arizona and [...]