Be aware and take precautions: Backyard poultry can carry Salmonella
Spring is a great time to replenish your backyard poultry flocks. Keeping backyard poultry can be a great experience for you and your family, and whether you are thinking about buying your first chick...
View ArticleConstruction to begin on skilled nursing facility at State Hospital South
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is extremely pleased to announce that construction will begin Wednesday, May 8, on the new Syringa Chalet Nursing Facility at State Hospital South, 700 East...
View ArticleIf you have plans to travel, please talk to your healthcare provider about...
Even though health officials in Oregon and Washington have declared the measles outbreak in their states over, measles outbreaks are still happening both in the United States and in other countries....
View ArticleDHW learns client data may have been accessed without authorization
The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has recently been informed that clients’ personal information contained in a contractor’s employee’s email account may have been accessed without...
View ArticleMay is Mental Health Month: Will you help decrease stigma?
Millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition, which is challenging enough. Add to that the stigma associated with mental illness, and it can cause people to avoid...
View ArticleProtect your skin! Idahoans have a higher melanoma rate than the rest of the...
We’ll soon be spending lots of time in the sun, and many of us won’t properly protect ourselves from its damaging rays. As we get ready for the long Memorial Day weekend to kick off our summer, Friday...
View ArticleAn update on Idaho’s flu season
Idaho’s flu season typically lasts from October through May, and the Department of Health and Welfare has received reports of 57 flu-related deaths this season. That makes it the third most severe flu...
View ArticleRabid bat found in Bingham County
Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SIPH) has confirmed that a bat has tested positive for rabies in Bingham County. This is the first bat to test positive for rabies in Idaho this year. Last year, 12...
View ArticleRabies in Idaho: Teach your children to avoid bats
This is the time of year the department starts to receive reports about rabid bats, so it’s a good time to talk about rabies with your kids. They are out of school by now and playing outside more, so...
View ArticleIdaho WIC makes annual adjustment to income guidelines
Idaho’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will implement new income guidelines effective July 1, 2019, that raise household income eligibility limits to help...
View ArticleMosquito and tick prevention: How to avoid getting bitten
Warm summer days means more time outdoors as we take advantage of the weather and longer daylight hours. Unfortunately, the nicer weather also brings out ticks and mosquitoes. A bite from either can...
View ArticleWest Nile virus detected in Canyon County mosquitoes
Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus (WNV) were detected in Canyon County on June 14, prompting public health officials to remind people to take precautions to “Fight the Bite.” The positive...
View ArticleDHW is accepting public comment on Title V Maternal and Child Health Block...
The Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant Program is one of the largest federal block grant programs and the longest standing public health legislation with the goal of improving the...
View ArticleAs summer heats up, stay healthy by keeping your food safe in the outdoors
Idaho summers are full of sunshine, warm temperatures, and long days. That means it is more likely you will be cooking and eating outdoors, whether you are backcountry camping, whitewater rafting or...
View ArticleThe Poison Center is available to answer your questions 24/7
Thanks to all the summertime picnics, swimming, and cookouts, summer is also a time for more poisonings. As the seasons and weather change, so do the types of calls to the Nebraska Regional Poison...
View ArticleHarmful algal blooms in recreational water: When in doubt, stay out!
Most of the year, Idaho’s lakes and reservoirs are safe to enjoy. But when water temperatures increase, as they typically do in July and August, and the right type of nutrients are available, some...
View ArticleDepartment of Health and Welfare seeks public comments on Section 1115...
BOISE – The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) is requesting public comment through public hearings, email, or traditional mail regarding a draft Section 1115 Waiver application. Public...
View ArticleDOI submits Section 1332 Coverage Choice waiver; DHW suspends public comments...
The Department of Insurance submitted the Section 1332 Coverage Choice Waiver application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Monday, July 15, seeking federal approval to allow...
View ArticleHow to keep your cool in extreme heat
We’ve had a really pleasant string of cool summer days early this summer, but the temperatures are starting to tick up into the triple digits. So it’s a good time to take note of how to avoid...
View ArticleWildfire season means it’s time to pay attention to air quality.
Air quality can be a big deal this time of year, and it changes depending on where the wildfires are and which way the wind is blowing. Wildfire smoke can cause irritating symptoms for healthy people...
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