A mosquito is more than just an annoying pest. It’s also one of the world’s most deadly animals. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts it, “Spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis, the mosquito kills more people than any other creature in the world.”

February is American Heart Month, an ideal opportunity to shine a light on heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one person dies every 34 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease. Nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease in 2020. Heart disease also has a massive economic impact, costing the U.S. about $229 billion each year from 2017 to 2018. This includes the cost of health care services, medicines and lost productivity.

Legend has it that New Year’s resolutions originated in ancient Babylon more than 4,000 years ago. Some experts say the resolutions of ancient Babylonians may have included promises to pay off debts and return borrowed items. While those continue to be honorable resolutions, others have taken center stage in our modern society. The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) stands ready to help with those current concerns, by way of its Get Healthy Clark County website.

The Southern Nevada Health District and Southern Nevada Community Health Center are continuing their efforts to make services more accessible to the community. To this end, the Health District has expanded hours at its main public health center and is transitioning to a Monday through Thursday schedule for clinical and many customer-based services, effective October 3, 2022. The new Fremont Public Health Center is open Tuesday through Friday and offers clinical services and Food Handler Safety Training Cards, and the East Las Vegas Public Health Center provides an Immunization Clinic location that is also open Tuesday through Friday to ensure the public has access to services five days a week.

Summer 2022 has been one of the hottest in history, setting records with triple-digit temperatures in Europe and Asia. Here in Southern Nevada, we’re accustomed to such temps being the norm every June, July and August but can still fall victim to heat-related illnesses.

The school year begins on Monday, August 8, and the Southern Nevada Health District is encouraging parents and guardians to make immunization appointments for their children as soon as possible to ensure they are ready for the first day. There are mandatory requirements for children entering kindergarten, 7th grade and 12th grade. The Health District’s immunization clinics are open Monday through Friday and services are available by appointment.

June 5, 2022 marks our 60th year serving as the public health agency charged with protecting and promoting the health of residents and visitors in our community. These past six decades have been filled with triumph and tragedy, and it has been an honor to serve as the District Health Officer these past few years and to be a part of the public health history that will continue to shape our community for years to come.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a nationwide grassroots campaign to increase public awareness of [...]

All moms want to protect their children, but it’s not always clear how. Hear from “Moms in Action” as they explain what they feel is the importance of implementing safety protocols and the necessary conversations that led them to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

This week, the Southern Nevada Health District and its community partners commemorated World AIDS Day. This year’s theme, Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice, highlights the need to address health inequities and to innovate and invest in the community to end the HIV epidemic everywhere.

One of the best decisions you can make in life is to prioritize your health. At Southern Nevada Health District, our mission has been to diagnose, treat, prevent, respond, and educate our surrounding communities through quality care and accessible assistance. With the anniversary of our Collect2Protect program coming up, it’s important that we continue to bring awareness to HIV/STI testing and prevention in efforts to decrease the spread. For most of us, talking about these health matters can be down-right uncomfortable – let alone testing your own status. But it’s a vital step in helping maintain the health of not only ourselves, but those around us.