Healthy start: ADHS Lab checks the health of Arizona’s newborns
Every year since 2010, Arizona parents have brought an average of 80,000 newborns into the world! And every year, health professionals at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory test around 160,000 blood spot specimens to make sure those newborns have the best possible health at the start of their lives. Through ADHS, Arizona is one of ten states leading the [...]
Reminding Arizonans to keep yourselves safe from dangerous fungi that can cause Valley fever
Last week ADHS, alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognized Fungal Disease Awareness Week. The annual event focuses on the growing challenges surrounding the spread of infectious fungi across the United States. While many different types of fungal diseases call Arizona home, one of the most common is Valley fever. Valley fever is caused by the fungus [...]
When COVID-19 hit, he joined the ADHS Laboratory to be part of the solution
When COVID-19 changed all of our lives in so many different ways, Adrian Fichter decided it was important to become part of the solution. A scientist with degrees in conservation biology and ecology, he became interested in public health as COVID-19 spread. He joined the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory in early 2021, right in the middle of the COVID-19 [...]
Folic acid prevents birth defects and promotes a healthy pregnancy
For people able to get pregnant, it's important to think about your health now to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. One simple and effective way to protect your baby’s health is by getting 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. Last week was Folic Acid Awareness Week, reminding us of the importance of this nutrient during pregnancy. You can [...]
New COVID-19 vaccine has been approved: What it means for respiratory illness season and what it means for you and your family
Following the approval this week of a new COVID-19 vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's important for Arizona families to get updated on the newest guidance The CDC recommends that everyone ages six months and older get a new, updated vaccine for COVID-19, commonly referred to as the "updated monovalent vaccine." It’s also safe to [...]
Resources are available to help students and adults facing tough times
Now that school is in full swing across the state and kids start to settle into their routines, it is important for family and friends to be aware of warning signs in kids that might require some extra attention. Recent cases of suicide in adolescents, which while heartbreaking, should serve as a way to show there is even more of [...]