Arizona Department of Health Services, Director’s Blog

Flu Virus Lingers in Arizona in Summer Months

While summer may be in full swing, the influenza season is lingering longer than usual here in Arizona. In June, we typically see around 200 laboratory confirmed influenza cases. This year there were nearly 1,300 confirmed influenza cases in June .

Our ADHS disease detectives and county health departments monitor influenza activity all year. […]

By | July 6th, 2017|Preparedness|Comments Off on Flu Virus Lingers in Arizona in Summer Months

Take Precautions to Lower Your Risk of Adverse Health Effects from Wildfires

Arizona may be known for its deserts, but forests make up nearly 27 percent of Arizona’s land. Recently, several wildfires have arisen across the state. By June 28, the Goodwin Fire in Yavapai County has spread to more than 20,000 acres. The Saddle Fire has also grown to nearly […]

By | July 5th, 2017|Preparedness|4 Comments

Keep Your Family Safe this Independence Day

The bright flash of red, white, and blue accompanied by a thunderous boom defines Independence Day for many Americans. Dozens of professional fireworks shows are preceded and followed by thousands of amateur exhibitions. Arizona relaxed its stance towards the sale and use of fireworks a few years ago but the danger remains. Our 

By | July 3rd, 2017|Prevention|Comments Off on Keep Your Family Safe this Independence Day

Opioid Response Update: First Week Real-Time Data Reported

This week we posted our first report of real time data reported to us from healthcare providers, first responders, law enforcement agencies, and pharmacists in our coordinated response to the alarming increase in opioid deaths in Arizona. Between June 15 and June 22, 191 suspected opioid overdoses, 15 of them fatal, […]

By | June 30th, 2017|Prevention|Comments Off on Opioid Response Update: First Week Real-Time Data Reported

Online Resources for Finding Reliable Health Information

Looking for health information online can be overwhelming and confusing. Since 1997, healthfinder.gov has been sharing reliable health information with health professionals and consumers. As part of this work, they have developed criteria for websites they will link to from healthfinder.gov. These guidelines reflect quality standards that are a part […]

By | June 29th, 2017|Prevention|Comments Off on Online Resources for Finding Reliable Health Information