General

/General

Here you will find topics ranging from current events that affect public health in Arizona to overall information about the Arizona Department of Health Services

Food Safety Tips for Halloween

By | October 29th, 2015|General|

Halloween is loved by children and adults alike. As Halloween approaches, the Arizona Department of Health Services encourages families to celebrate in a safe and healthy way. Parents should talk to their children about Halloween food safety. Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Inspect [...]

Pediatricians Promoting Food Security for All Children

By | October 27th, 2015|General|

It seems hard to believe that one in every five children in the United States lives in a home where there isn’t access to enough healthy food for an active, healthy life for all household members. Here in Arizona, the numbers are estimated to be even higher, affecting as many as one in three children. [...]

Comments Off on Pediatricians Promoting Food Security for All Children

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection

By | October 23rd, 2015|General|

Recent media has highlighted one of the most common antibiotic-resistant-bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the US, over 2 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and more than 23,000 people die due to these infections. Anyone can get MRSA and infections range from mild to very serious, even life-threatening. Most MRSA infections are skin [...]

Comments Off on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection

International Infection Prevention Week

By | October 21st, 2015|General, Prevention|

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety and promotes the belief that everyone plays a role in infection prevention. As IIPW expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). In response to this important need, the Governor of [...]

Comments Off on International Infection Prevention Week

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Efforts Highlight Resources

By | October 15th, 2015|General|

Domestic Violence Awareness Month continues throughout October and ADHS employees keep awareness efforts fresh at the mid-month mark. Today is Wear Purple Day for our department. The color represents a reminder to all of us to lend support in our community and bring an end to domestic violence. Many of our partners are showing support [...]

Comments Off on Domestic Violence Awareness Month Efforts Highlight Resources

Arizona State Laboratory Announces Biosafety Improvement Plan

By | October 12th, 2015|General, Preparedness|

Public Health Laboratory was awarded funds from the Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity cooperative improvement grant to improve laboratory biosafety in Arizona as part of the national response to the Ebola crisis. The funds were awarded to develop a three-year plan to improve the state lab’s biosafety readiness as well as assisting the State Public Health Lab’s [...]

Comments Off on Arizona State Laboratory Announces Biosafety Improvement Plan

Flu has Arrived in Arizona; Get Vaccinated this Month

By | October 7th, 2015|General|

Flu season started early this year with Arizona reporting the first locally acquired flu cases last week. You’ve probably seen or heard messages encouraging you to get a flu shot. That’s because it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect in your system, so we want to be sure you are protected [...]

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By | October 2nd, 2015|General, Prevention|

Across the country domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women aged 15-44. In Arizona last year, 109 individuals and four dogs lost their lives to domestic violence. During the first five months of 2015, there have been 40 documented domestic violence related deaths. Domestic violence does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter what [...]

Comments Off on October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Showcasing successful strategies for collaboration

By | October 1st, 2015|General, Preparedness|

Our partnership building skills were highlighted at the United States Conference on AIDS on September 13, in Washington, D.C. Our Office of Disease Integration and Services, HIV Prevention Program, and Maricopa County Ryan White Part A Program were selected from a pool of a thousand applicants to facilitate a three hour workshop “Thrown Under the [...]

Comments Off on Showcasing successful strategies for collaboration

Addressing environmental health concerns in the community

By | September 30th, 2015|General|

Every year our Environmental Toxicology program responds to environmental health concerns and provides communities with epidemiologic and toxicological health assessments. Recently a community member from the town of Superior brought up concerns that contamination from past mining activities could be affecting the health of residents. Superior is a small mining town with a population of [...]

Comments Off on Addressing environmental health concerns in the community