Everyday in Maricopa County, your Public Health Department is working with hospitals, schools, long term care facilities and even residents to gather data on outbreaks occurring in our environment. There are many topics that affect our county on a seasonal basis while others happen infrequently. Some of the more common include:

Each year, 36,000 people in the United States die from the flu, yet we have a vaccine that most of the population chooses to ignore. Public Health offers free flu shots for most children and a listing of where adults can go to get a flu shot.

A bird disease passed through mosquitoes, somehow we humans got caught in the middle. Each year during our summer months, Maricopa County Environmental Services monitors birds and mosquitoes that may be carrying the virus and Public Health works within the healthcare system to monitor human cases. Getting rid of standing water on your property and using repellant are a few good ways to protect yourself and your family.

Summer months in the Valley of the Sun are not only warm, they can be dangerous in much the same way that winter is in other parts of the country. The human body is equipped to handle this heat if you follow some easy recommendations.

Although our country has not seen a Pandemic flu in many, many years, the potential is there for our next pandemic. The county is working with federal, state and local governments to do our best to prepare. There are also things that you can do to prepare you and your family for a pandemic.

Pertussis or whooping cough is a bacterial respiratory illness characterized by severe spasms of coughing that can last for several weeks or even for months. It is usually spread from person-to-person through close contact with respiratory droplets released when a person coughs or sneezes.

Coccidioidomycosis more commonly known as Valley Fever is an infection caused by a fungi endemic to parts of Arizona, California, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico, and elsewhere in Central and South America. The valley fever fungus lives in soil and is spread through the air. It is treatable with fungus-killing medicines.

Every day, health issues are being monitored here in Maricopa County by our team of nurses and disease investigators. The latest topics can be found here. Coming Soon!