An important note on the weekly COVID-19 cases update coming Wednesday
Wednesday's weekly update to COVID-19 cases in Arizona will provide a number that needs to be put in context. This number, 26,866, is almost entirely the result of one laboratory reporting cases that occurred throughout 2022. In reality, Arizona saw 1,890 cases for the week ending Feb. 18. Deaths added to the dashboard aren't affected. This kind of reporting anomaly [...]
ADHS Vital Records Bureau Chief takes on national role
Vital records are an essential part of public health and play a huge role in the lives of all Arizonans. The ADHS Bureau of Vital Records maintains and issues certified copies of birth and death certificates, among other essential records. Its work also ensures that our epidemiologists and disease experts get timely death registration information to inform responses to public [...]
His career helps maintain a safe care environment at Arizona State Hospital
Some may have a preconceived image of security guards at major facilities. Perhaps they picture a person in a uniform sitting inside a booth, checking credentials as people come and go, or walking down long corridors looking for suspicious activity. But for 10-year officer Greg Herrera, and the others charged with providing security at the Arizona State Hospital (ASH) in [...]
Food for thought: Stay healthy while feasting on big game and golf
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 2015, the last time the [...]
Follow a COVID-19 action plan if you have a weakened immune system
If you have a moderately or severely weakened immune system, it's more important than ever to have a COVID-19 action plan. The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that the therapeutic agent EVUSHELD is not currently authorized for emergency use in the U.S. This monoclonal antibody had been prescribed to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems to help [...]
Diabetes action plan focuses on prevention, care, and social determinants of health
Diabetes is a relentless disease that affects many families in Arizona and across the United States. A new report from ADHS explains just how much diabetes impacts our state's health care system and communities, and recommends ways to improve the health of Arizonans by reducing the burden of diabetes. With a goal of achieving health equity, the 2023 Arizona Diabetes [...]