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With autumn just ahead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging consumers to plan to get their flu vaccination early this year. Arizona Department of Health Services reports there have already been 12 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza in the past two weeks, from five counties. This is similar to the same time last year.

In the wake of last year’s particularly severe flu season, health officials are stressing the importance of getting a flu shot in the hope that the 2018-2019 flu season won’t be as deadly. The CDC notes that 180 children died from the flu during last year’s flu season; approximately 4 out of five of those children weren’t vaccinated. It was reported that over 700,000 people were hospitalized with flu symptoms last season.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination every year. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.

Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors 9/5/18 - effective 1/1/2019

Notice is given that the Yavapai County Community Health Services is recommending to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors (BOS) an update to the currently adopted Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance to be made effective January 1^st 2019.  The courtesy presentation to the BOS will be on August 15, 2018 at 10 S. 6^th St. Cottonwood 86323 at 9:00 AM.  The formal hearing will be on September 5, 2018 at 1015 Fair St. Prescott 86305 at 9:00 AM.   The Yavapai County Health Code describes the legislative authority delegated by the State of Arizona to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, by way of the county health department, to administer establishment licensing procedures; plan reviews (building and operating); requirements which may include beverages, mobile food establishments, catering and food processors; and Food Worker and Management certification and requirements. The last revision of this Health Code occurred in 2016. The changes made in this current version of the Health Code are described in summaries of proposed revisions, which can be obtained online by going to yavapai.us/chs or by calling 928-771-3149 in the Prescott area or 928-639-8138 in the Verde Valley. At this time, we feel that these changes bring the Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance up to a suitable standard for our industry of food safety and public health protection.  This will include the 2017 FDA Model Food Code.

Summary of Food Code Changes follow:

Notice is given that the Yavapai County Community Health Services is recommending to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors (BOS) an update to the currently adopted Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance to be made effective January 1^st 2019.  The courtesy presentation to the BOS will be on August 15, 2018 at 10 S. 6^th St. Cottonwood 86323 at 9:00 AM.  The formal hearing will be on September 5, 2018 at 1015 Fair St. Prescott 86305 at 9:00 AM.   The Yavapai County Health Code describes the legislative authority delegated by the State of Arizona to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, by way of the county health department, to administer establishment licensing procedures; plan reviews (building and operating); requirements which may include beverages, mobile food establishments, catering and food processors; and Food Worker and Management certification and requirements. The last revision of this Health Code occurred in 2016. The changes made in this current version of the Health Code are described in summaries of proposed revisions, which can be obtained online by going to yavapai.us/chs or by calling 928-771-3149 in the Prescott area or 928-639-8138 in the Verde Valley. At this time, we feel that these changes bring the Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance up to a suitable standard for our industry of food safety and public health protection.  This will include the 2017 FDA Model Food Code.

A summary of changes to the Health Code follow:

Valley fever is caused by breathing airborne fungal spores, called Coccidioides, or cocci, found in Arizona soil.  With the recent Haboobs in PHX, there is more concern about valley fever – haboobs may kick up a lot of dust, but they typically last only a few hours, whereas spores of the valley fever fungus are in the air day in and day out.  So the real risk is living in or traveling to areas like Phoenix where the spores are consistently present.  This year, in Yavapai County 25 people have had symptoms and were tested for valley fever.

The long, hot days of summer can bring dangerously high temperatures.  Here are steps people can follow to stay safe when it’s hot outside.

You can prepare for extreme heat by:

• Stocking up on food, water and medicines so you don’t have to go out in the heat. Visit your doctor to check if changes are needed to your medicines during extreme heat.
• Storing medicines safely at the recommended temperature.
• Checking that your fan or air-conditioner works well. Have your air-conditioner serviced if necessary.
• Looking at the things you can do to make your home cooler such as installing window coverings, shade cloths or external blinds on the sides of the house facing the sun.

You might feel like summer vacation just started, but Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS)
is urging parents to start thinking about back-to-school vaccinations now. YCCHS has arranged a
convenient schedule for parents to bring their children in for back-to-school shots at each of their public
health locations before school begins in August. And this year, we are offering sports physicals at the same
time!

Arizona is very dry and we are continuously having days of high winds and low humidity. We would like to ask for your help in sharing these reminders. It is up to us and our visitors to stay safe and do what we can to reduce wildfire danger.

On April 16, the Yavapai Healthy School (YHS) Coalition presented their top honor of Yavapai Healthy School of-the-year to Coyote Springs Elementary School in Prescott Valley.  Yavapai County Health Department’s Carol Lewis, Suzie Delgado and Rachel Mills presented Principal Candice Stump with the award. Superintendent Dan Streeter was also present to accept the award on behalf of Humboldt Unified School District. Congratulations Coyotes! 

241 Yavapai County food establishments have earned the 2017 Golden Plate Award. This is the thirteenth year of the award, and to be eligible, an owner or operator needed to meet three criteria:

1)  Operate throughout the entire calendar year 2017 without a cited critical food handling violation.
2)   Have an approved and implemented food safety plan.
3)  Have a person-in-charge with an accepted and current manager-level food safety certificate throughout the year.