ADHS Playbook will guide leaders in emergencies
During a disaster, local, state, and federal governments can declare a state of emergency to free up emergency funding and waive certain regulatory requirements that can impede rapid response. The steps for issuing such a declaration are often complicated by differing laws at the various levels of government. Additionally, it is not always clear how jurisdictions receive crucial federal assets [...]
Halloween 2018 Safety
Halloween could be scary for different reasons than you think because on average, twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween than any other day of year! However, simple steps can be taken to ensure your children stay safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends making sure your children are seen. This can be done through wearing light [...]
Recent Ebola Activity in the DRC
Increased Ebola activity has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since May 2018. Swift and effective public health responses, including the use of an experimental Ebola vaccine, have been successful in containing the outbreak in the northwestern part of the country, which was declared over on July 24. However, a second outbreak in a separate region [...]
Arizona Public Health Works to Improve Vaccine Coverage for Children
Vaccines are critical to protecting the health of all Arizonans because they help stop the spread of numerous dangerous diseases, such as measles and whooping cough. Not everyone is old enough or healthy enough to be protected with vaccines, which is why it’s so important that nearly everyone else in our community is fully vaccinated. This herd immunity – when [...]
National Increase in Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted an increase in reported and confirmed Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) cases in 2018. AFM is a rare but serious condition that affects the nervous system causing a sudden onset of arm and/or leg weakness. AFM has a number of causes, including viruses, such as enterovirus and West Nile virus, and a condition where the body’s immune [...]
International Infection Prevention Week
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) occurs globally from October 14 - 20 and raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays in improving patient safety. The 2018 theme, “Protecting Patients Everywhere,” emphasizes how keeping patients safe from infection is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you’re in a healthcare facility or in the community, there are things you can do to help prevent [...]