Watching 911 calls helps ADHS track health trends
Last week in Arizona there were nearly 18,000 emergency calls to 911 reported through the Arizona Prehospital Information and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Registry System (AZ-PIERS). That included 1,271 calls about injuries related to falls, 567 for motor vehicle crashes, and 343 for cardiac arrest and strokes. We keep track of those numbers not out of idle curiosity but because [...]
Pinal County sees season’s first pediatric influenza death
Pinal County recently recorded this season’s first pediatric influenza death in Arizona. This heartbreaking news is a reminder that children younger than 5 who get influenza are among those at increased risk of complications including pneumonia, worsening of chronic conditions, encephalopathy, and sinus and ear infections. Quite simply, influenza is an unpredictable virus that can cause mild to severe illness, [...]
Study: Omicron booster gives significant additional protection against COVID-19
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study has found that the Omicron booster provided significant additional protection against symptomatic COVID-19 illness in people who had received at least two doses of a previous COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC notes that COVID-19 spread has increased during the last two winters. And Arizona cases have increased each week for the last [...]
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week: Help reduce antimicrobial resistance
Improving our understanding of when and how to use antibiotics promotes health, fights the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, and helps ensure that antibiotics will be able to help generations to come. During U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, ADHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are among organizations sharing the message that antibiotics can save lives but aren't always [...]
On Public Health Thank You Day, we thank Arizonans
Given that today is Public Health Thank You Day in the U.S., you'd expect me to praise our team at ADHS and the many others who promote healthier and stronger communities in Arizona's counties, cities, towns, and tribal nations. And I will do that – briefly. Amid a global pandemic, the professionals in Arizona's public health workforce confront complex health [...]
Valley Fever Awareness Week: Reduce your risk, get tested if you have symptoms
With cases of respiratory illness rising in Arizona, it's easy to overlook the possibility that Valley fever might be the reason for a cough, fever, or exhaustion. Caused by a fungus that can be carried by blowing dust, Valley fever is one of the most commonly reported infectious diseases in our state. Anyone who lives or travels here is at [...]