Official population estimates help inform public health actions
From a public health perspective, it matters that 9,562 people live in Greenlee County, and that 1 in every 5 Arizonans lives in an unincorporated area. It’s important that health leaders know how many people in Yavapai County are 50 or older, and what the ethnic makeup is for Gila County. That’s why it’s so important that ADHS and the [...]
Biomedical Research Centre at ADHS supports health research statewide
The Arizona Biomedical Research Centre (ABRC) within ADHS was created to use tobacco taxes and Arizona State Lottery proceeds to identify and support innovative biomedical research that improves the health of all Arizonans. Its outreach includes workshops and other educational activities across Arizona. For the seventh year, ARBC this summer supported an educational series to develop regional and statewide engagement [...]
To stay safe amid extreme temperatures, know the signs of heat-related illness
Most Arizonans, especially those who have lived in our beautiful state for more than one summer, already know the precautions when temperatures are extreme, such as drinking plenty of water and protecting yourself from the sun. Knowing all of that, anyone who ventures outside at this time of the year still faces the risk of heat-related illness if the body [...]
Seniors: Get your COVID-19 vaccine protection up to date
COVID-19 has been especially dangerous for older people throughout the pandemic, but data on the current increase in cases provides even more reason for those in this age group to make sure their vaccines are up to date. Compared to the winter surge driven by the Omicron variant, Arizona has since February seen a greater share of cases, hospitalizations, and [...]
Ten Arizona counties, including Maricopa, have high COVID-19 community levels
Community levels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have moved up and down in many Arizona counties over the past few weeks. The latest CDC update has 10 counties, including Maricopa, with high COVID-19 community levels. This means masks are recommended for public indoor settings. The other counties with high COVID-19 community levels are Apache, Coconino, Gila, [...]
National Tracking Awareness Week: Helping inform critical public health decisions
This is National Tracking Awareness Week, which highlights the work of environmental public health tracking programs in Arizona and elsewhere. Tracking efforts include monitoring community health, identifying communities at risk, supporting epidemiological studies, educating the community, informing local planners, and providing input to health policy decisions. That’s no small task, and it’s a big part of what we do at [...]