ADHS News Releases

1st Trip to Ballgame for SunWise Poster Winner

The Arizona Diamondbacks have selected Rachel Parks, an 8th-grade student at Bogle Junior High School in Chandler, as this year’s "Be SunWise and Play Sun Smart" poster contest winner.

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State Lab Approved for New H1N1 Influenza Testing

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory to test for the new H1N1 strain of influenza. Arizona was one of six states to receive approval today.

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PIMA COUNTY ANNOUNCES POSITIVE CASES OF INFLUENZA A/H1N1 VIRUS

The Pima County Health Department, in collaboration with the Tohono O’Odham Nation, announced six (6) positive cases of influenza A/H1N1 in Pima County.

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YUMA COUNTY IDENTIFIES 1 CASE OF NEW H1N1 VIRUS BUT NOT WORRIED, "It’s business as usual."

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Yuma County Public Health Services District learned yesterday that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 1 case of New H1N1 virus in Yuma County. Case investigation on the confirmed case has commenced.

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News Release: Maricopa County Health Director Recommends Keeping Schools Open; Awaiting New Case Count from CDC

While the Maricopa County Department of Public Health is awaiting confirmation of its 58 potential cases of Swine Flu (H1N1) from The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, its director is not waiting. "Because current data does not suggest that this strain of H1N1 is behaving any differently than seasonal flu, I am recommending schools in Maricopa County no longer dismiss classes due to a confirmed case." said Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa Department of Public Health.

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Saturday 1pm Press Briefing at State Lab - Situational Update - H1N1 Flu in Maricopa County

Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Arizona Department of Health Services will be conducting a joint press briefing at 1:00pm today at the State Laboratory.

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Situational Update - Swine Flu in Maricopa County

Maricopa County Identifies 3 More Cases of Swine Flu; Dismisses 2 More Schools

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) learned today that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 3 additional cases of the Swine Flu in Arizona.

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Situational Update - Swine Flu in Maricopa County

Maricopa County Identifies Its First Case of Swine Flu; Closes Elementary School For 7 Days

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Maricopa County Public Health Department (MCDPH) learned today that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a case of the Swine Flu in Arizona.

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No Swine Flu in Arizona

A swine flu that has never been seen in humans before has been diagnosed in the U.S. and Mexico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented 8 cases in California and Texas; the same virus has also been detected in central Mexico. The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has not seen the virus, but is monitoring the situation.

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Grant Application Could Extend Abstinence Education Program

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) this month applied for $1,034,776 to keep the Abstinence Education Program up and running. Current funding for the program which provides information for children across the state is set to run out of money in June.

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April is STD Awareness Month - Do You Know Your Status?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) pose a serious public health threat to Arizonans.

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April is Minority Health Month

This is a designated time to draw attention to the health disparities facing Arizona's residents.

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Easter Chicks and Salmonella

Why parents should think twice before giving baby birds for Easter

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ATV Injuries and Children

Read about Unintentional All-Terrain Vehicle-Related Injuries Among Children Age 0-17 Years.

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Time for Drowning Prevention

Check out our Drowning Among Children Age 0-19 Years Fact Sheet.

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Don’t let Rabies Spoil your Spring Vacation

Arizona is on track for another record-breaking year for rabid animals. After last year's astounding 176 laboratory-confirmed rabies cases, 47 animals have tested positive for rabies this year. Most of the animals came from the desert southeast area of the state and in the recreation areas near Flagstaff and Sedona.

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Arizona Teen Dies From Influenza

The first Arizona pediatric death of the 2008-09 influenza season happened last week in Coconino County. The teenager is the fifth pediatric death in the country this flu season. In general, influenza is getting off to a slow start in Arizona and around the country this year.

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ADHS urges people to check pantries for recalled food

The Arizona Department of Health Services wants citizens to check their shelves and cupboards for any recalled food tied to the recent Salmonella outbreak. The nationwide recall of products containing peanut butter from Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) is expanding rapidly. More than 300 products have been recalled as of January 22, 2008.

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Public Meeting Set for $1.1 Million Preventive Health Grant

The Arizona Department of Health Services will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, December 30, 2008, to discuss the state’s plan for using a $1.1 million federal block grant to fund health promotion, disease prevention, and rape prevention programs.

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Isabella’s Reign Continues, While Anthony Replaces Angel: ADHS Reveals the Top Baby Names of 2008

Isabella is still queen, holding the number one girl’s baby name for the second year in a row. Anthony, after years of hovering in the top 10, finally claims the number 1 spot.

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ADHS Stresses Importance of Folic Acid for Young Women

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That old adage is quite true when it comes to reducing brain and spinal birth defects. Today, the Arizona Department of Health Services launched an awareness campaign to stress the importance of preventing those birth defects by taking a multivitamin. In Arizona, more than 50 babies are born with brain and spine birth defects each year. Future mothers can prevent up to 70% of these cases and greatly increase the likelihood of having a healthy...

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Arizona Is Ready

Public health leadership plays a critical role in many potential disasters and emergencies. Because of this, Arizona’s Department of Health Services has a taken proactive stance to protect the people of Arizona.

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Despite Warm Temperatures, State Confirms First Flu Case of the Season

Although Valley temperatures continue to loom into the mid 80's this week, the flu is right on schedule. Today, the Arizona Department of Health Services confirms the state’s first case of influenza, officially kicking off the 2008-2009 flu season. The patient is an infant from Maricopa County who is now recovering at home.

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Valley Fever Awareness Week Nov. 10-16

Governor Janet Napolitano proclaimed November 10-16 Valley Fever Awareness Week to draw attention to the progress made in studying Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) and to promote education.

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ADHS Issues Rabies Warning

Arizona is on track this year to break the state’s annual record number of rabies cases. Since January, Arizona State Health Laboratory has confirmed rabies in 162 animals; 38 humans and 119 pets were exposed to these rabid animals. Many of these exposures occurred within the last few weeks. In 2005, 169 animals tested positive for rabies.

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New Infection Committee is Nothing to Sneeze At

Three weeks after the Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee became a reality, the members met to elect a chair and discuss their objective. The committee now has a second agenda in place for the November 19th meeting. The group is composed of health care professionals from several hospitals, health care facilities, and the state.

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Health Stats Show Arizonans Need to Get Moving

The cooler fall temperatures provide the perfect opportunity for Arizonans to get off the couch and spring into action. A move they need to make according to the latest health statistics which found 25% of all adults in the state are now considered obese and the number of people with diabetes has grown 30% in the last 5 years.

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ADHS Designates First Level IV Trauma Center

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) designated the first trauma care center outside a metropolitan area today. Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low is the first hospital to meet all the standards and criteria to become a Level IV trauma center. The center will provide care for some trauma patients in that community and can stabilize more severely-injured patients before they are transported to a Level I facility.

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Arizona Department of Health Services Launches Emergency Registration System

In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) invites health care professionals to register with the Arizona Emergency System for the Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (AZ-ESAR-VHP). This system enables hospitals and health care facilities to meet the increased demand for medical services in the event of an emergency.

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ADHS Releases Smoke-Free Arizona Act Economic Impact Study

The Arizona Department of Health Services today released the Smoke-Free Arizona Act economic impact study conducted by Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business...

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Arizona Reports First West Nile Death In 2008

The Arizona Department of Health Services today reported the state’s first death from West Nile Virus in 2008. Tests from the Arizona State Health Laboratory indicated that a woman in her '80s from Maricopa County died from West Nile Virus encephalitis this month.

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