Public health is always hard at work identifying and solving outbreaks. In the case of foodborne diseases, public health epidemiologists, nurses, and lab scientists are teaming up at local, state and federal levels to find out what food made people sick. When two or more people with the same foodborne disease get sick from the [...]
Our Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) program works with various partners to improve patient safety across Arizona. On January 20th, the HAI program collaborated with the local Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Grand Canyon Chapter (APIC) to host their annual State of the State meeting. This event took place at Health Services Advisory Group and was attended by more [...]
In Arizona, healthcare providers identify hundreds of children each year with elevated blood lead levels, which our Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) monitors. Although there is no safe blood lead level, interventions are initiated at blood lead levels ≥ 5 µg/dL, the CDC reference value. When a child is identified with elevated blood lead [...]
Cancer is the leading cause of death in our state. According to the most recent data from the Arizona Cancer Registry, 11,642 Arizonans lost their lives to cancer in 2015. We offer several programs and public education campaigns to help raise awareness about cancer prevention, and to help people get screening and treatment for certain [...]
The 2015 Arizona Health Status and Vital Statistics Report, also known as the “Big Book,” is now available. The Big Book presents an annual update of information on vital statistics and the health status of Arizona residents . It provides statewide numbers and rates of vital events such as births, stillbirths, and deaths, and population-based data on pregnancies, [...]
Last week we launched the Public Health Excellence in Law Enforcement program. This program was created to recognize the efforts of Arizona’s law enforcement agencies that work with their local EMS agency partners to train staff to recognize opioid overdose in the field, administer naloxone when necessary, and submit information to the Department of Health [...]
Our primary mission is to improve the health and wellness of Arizonans, which includes our employees. We offer breastfeeding support, an infant at work program, weekly wellness events, on-site health screenings, and more. Offering services centered on the health and wellness of employees can help decrease stress and improve overall productivity, and best [...]
Preventing cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has just become easier. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published new recommendations for HPV vaccines so some teenagers can be fully vaccinated with two doses of HPV vaccine instead of three. The CDC now recommends a two dose HPV vaccine schedule for children [...]
Many women have questions about what is safe and healthy to eat when they’re pregnant. The information about eating fish can be confusing. The good news is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued new advice regarding fish consumption. The information is meant for women who [...]
Every week, our disease detectives in the Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control send data to our national partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data from Arizona and other states is compiled to provide an overall picture of the nation’s health. Since it is a weekly process, the data that is [...]
