Arizona Department of Health Services, Director’s Blog

Displaying Data to Improve Health Outcomes

Publicly displaying vital public health information can help engage community partners in understanding emerging diseases of concern as well as identify whether public health interventions are improving the health of Arizonans. Our newly established Environmental Public Health Tracking Program furthers this strategy by distributing environmental health surveillance data to help public health practitioners, healthcare […]

By | December 6th, 2017|Preparedness|Comments Off on Displaying Data to Improve Health Outcomes

It’s Not Too Late to Get the Flu Shot

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) was established in 2005 by the CDC to highlight the continuing need to vaccinate for influenza through the holiday season and beyond. This year, NIVW is being observed December 3 through 9.

Influenza causes mild to severe illness, and even death. Every season, roughly 4,000 Arizonans are hospitalized […]

By | December 5th, 2017|Preparedness|Comments Off on It’s Not Too Late to Get the Flu Shot

World AIDS Day Recognizes Progress Made to End the Epidemic

Today the Arizona Department of Health Services join all Arizonans in the recognition of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day was established in 1988 as opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and to remember those who have passed.

This year, […]

By | December 1st, 2017|Prevention|Comments Off on World AIDS Day Recognizes Progress Made to End the Epidemic

Cough? Fever? Exhausted? You could have Valley Fever

All it takes is one breath. An estimated 150,000 people are infected each year in the U.S. by the fungus that causes valley fever (coccidioidomycosis). The fungus is mostly found in the Southwest with nearly two-thirds of all nationally reported cases residing in Arizona.

Arizonans in every county are affected by valley fever year-round. […]

By | November 29th, 2017|Preparedness|Comments Off on Cough? Fever? Exhausted? You could have Valley Fever

Vital Records Staff Participate in National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day, which took place this year on Nov.18, is an annual event held to raise awareness for more than 100,000 foster-care children nationwide who are waiting to find their forever families. Adoptions for hundreds of children are finalized on this special day. This year 261 children were adopted in […]

By | November 28th, 2017|Licensing|Comments Off on Vital Records Staff Participate in National Adoption Day

Informatics Improves Childhood Blood Lead Surveillance

Informatics is the science behind storing, accessing, and sharing information, a critical component to public health practice. Public health organizations, such as ADHS face challenges collecting and analyzing data related to the health of a population and managing this data in the most efficient and effective ways. The ability to store and analyze data […]

By | November 27th, 2017|Preparedness|Comments Off on Informatics Improves Childhood Blood Lead Surveillance