It’s a week to get to know more about antibiotics
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is an annual event that occurs this year from Nov. 18-24 to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic use to decrease the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics are important tools to help fight bacterial infections and potentially save lives; however, some bacteria may develop resistance to these medications. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop [...]
Take steps to keep foodborne illness from spoiling holiday gatherings
The holiday season that begins on Thanksgiving and continues through New Year’s means many things to many people. One thing it means to most of us is food. Meals and appetizers with family and friends help make the holiday season special. But there can be a downside to all that delicious food. If it isn’t prepared, cooked, and stored properly, [...]
Arizona needs everyone’s help to flatten the COVID-19 curve
The 5,070 COVID-19 cases added today to the ADHS dashboard don’t have an asterisk. COVID-19 cases are rising. We can’t say exactly why this increase is happening even before the holiday season, though cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to be largely among unvaccinated people. But we all know how to flatten the curve. That’s why ADHS, our local health partners, [...]
National news about overdose deaths is a call to action for all Arizonans
Today’s grim national news about overdose deaths amid the pandemic strikes a chord in Arizona, where opioid overdose deaths have continued to rise amid increased illegal use of counterfeit fentanyl. The National Center for Health Statistics released provisional figures showing that U.S. overdose deaths exceeded 100,000 for the first time in a 12-month period that ended in April. In Arizona, [...]
The benefits of quitting smoking begin almost immediately
In the 15 years since voters approved the Smoke Free AZ Act, Arizona has made significant progress in the battle to reduce smoking and improve public health in our state. When the measure passed in 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 18.6 percent of Arizonans smoked. Today, that number is down to 13.1 percent, according [...]
COVID-19 was Arizona’s third-leading cause of death in 2020; see ADHS annual report
Any death from COVID-19 is one too many. As public health professionals and public servants, we want Arizonans to have the information they need to protect themselves, including the facts on COVID-19’s death toll. One of our core functions at ADHS is providing data and systematic analysis, based on generally accepted standards for accuracy and context, through our annual vital [...]