Love your heart and it will love you back! February is American Heart Month, and the Southern Nevada Health District is offering free blood pressure screenings from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its main location, 280 S. Decatur Blvd. on Friday, February 2 and at its East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 570 N. Nellis Blvd on Friday, February 16.

There are more than 470,000 African Americans living with HIV. In 2014, among new HIV diagnoses in African Americans, only 72 percent of them were linked with medical care within one month. Wednesday, Feb. 7 marks the annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to encourage African Americans to learn their HIV status.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the most comprehensive survey of the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population is coming to Clark County beginning on February 22, 2018. Why Clark County?

La Encuesta Nacional de Examen de Salud y Nutrición (NHANES, por sus siglas en inglés), el estudio más extenso del estado de salud y nutrición de la población de Estados Unidos se pone en marcha en el Condado de Clark a partir del 22 de febrero de 2018.

A briefing of the 2018 Nevada County Health Rankings. The County Health Rankings are released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI).

The 2018 County Health Rankings, released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI), ranks Clark County as the 10th healthiest county in Nevada, down from 6th in last year’s ranking. The full report is available at www.countyhealthrankings.org. The Southern Nevada Health District presented findings for Clark County at a community event today along with representatives from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health and State Senator Pat Spearman.

In an effort to encourage colleges and universities to adopt smoke-free policies, the tobacco prevention youth group, BreakDown, will launch its month long initiative called “The Next Step” on Wednesday, March 21, to commemorate the annual Kick Butts Day observance. The Next Step is an effort to mobilize students at 10 local high schools to support smoke-free college and university campuses nationwide.

“Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free United States. We can make history. End TB” is this year’s theme for World TB Day, commemorated every March 24. It is the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced he identified M. tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for the disease.

As rates of sexually transmitted diseases continue to remain high across the United States and in Clark County, the Southern Nevada Health District is partnering with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation during STD Awareness Month to offer testing for HIV and STDs through its mobile testing unit at locations throughout the valley. This year’s theme is “Treat Me Right,” a call for health care providers and patients to work together to foster more trusting relationships and more open communication to promote increased access to care, testing, diagnoses, and treatment.

The Southern Nevada Health District will open its first Dental Health Clinic for children and adults on April 23, 2018. Services will be provided by appointment only and available Mondays at the Health District’s Main Public Health Center and Wednesdays at its East Las Vegas Public Health Center.

Due to increased flu activity this season, the Southern Nevada Health District’s Office of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance is working with the Health District’s Vital Records program and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health to review and update previously reported cases of flu. Based on this review, the number of reported deaths for Clark County this season has been updated to 48.

John “Rob” Phoenix, APRN, founder of the Huntridge Family Clinic, is well-known for the exceptional service he provides to the LGBTQ community. Today, the Southern Nevada Health District recognized Phoenix for this service, and his partnership with its Office of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance.

Each year the Southern Nevada Health District reports cases of mosquito-borne illnesses and the positive disease results from its county-wide mosquito surveillance activities. This year, the Health District is kicking off its surveillance season with "Mosquito Monday," an event on Monday, May 14 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. to raise awareness of mosquito activity and to encourage the public to "Fight the Bite!"

Millions of Americans may have chronic viral hepatitis and not know they are infected. National Hepatitis Testing Day is an opportunity for the public to get tested. The Southern Nevada Health District is offering FREE hepatitis C testing on Friday, May 18 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at its Mobile Health Clinic which will be at its main location at 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107. For additional information, contact the Sexual Health Clinic at (702) 759-0708.

The days are long and barbecues and pool parties are the norm! Summer weather has officially arrived in the Las Vegas Valley. This Memorial Day weekend, the Southern Nevada Health District is offering tips and information to help residents and visitors stay healthy and safe during the long, hot summer while enjoying their favorite activities.

While leaded gasoline or paint with lead are no longer available in the United States, children are still exposed to sources of lead in their homes. As part of the U.S. Department of Urban Development's (HUD) annual National Healthy Homes Month, the Southern Nevada Health District has collaborated with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and other community partners to raise awareness and reduce lead poisoning in children.

More than a million people in the United States are living with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of those, many are not aware they are infected. Testing is the only way to know for certain. The perfect date? National HIV Testing Day, Wednesday, June 27.

The Southern Nevada Health District is updating its Food Handler Safety Training Card program. Effective July 1, 2018, Food Handler Safety Training Card applicants will be required to complete testing at a Southern Nevada Health District location during business hours to obtain their cards.

The Southern Nevada Health District reported 123 heat-related deaths among Clark County residents in 2017, an increase from 78 reported deaths in 2016. Heat-related deaths typically occur between May and September.

The Southern Nevada Health District is investigating two cases of Legionnaires' disease reported in guests who stayed separately at Harrah's Laughlin Hotel & Casino in Laughlin, Nev., in November 2017 and March 2018. The hotel is assisting in the investigation, and the Health District is working with the property to notify current and past guests dating back to Oct. 15, 2017. Guests who stayed at Harrah's Laughlin Hotel & Casino during this timeframe and experienced symptoms up to 14 days after their stay can report their illness to the Health District using a survey posted on its website at www.snhd.info/survey2018.

The Southern Nevada Health District is pleased to announce it will begin accepting passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. United States citizens planning international travel can apply for their passports Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Health District's main location at 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89107. The Passport Office is co-located with the Birth and Death Certificate program.

The Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance (SNHRA) is hosting its second International Overdose Awareness Day observance to raise awareness that overdose events are preventable and to commemorate family and friends who have lost their lives to addiction.

On Monday, Sept. 17, the Southern Nevada Health District will begin offering expanded primary care services at its Family Health Care Center inside its main location at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. The Family Health Care Center will provide medical care for adults and children when they are sick, as well as preventive care services, including annual adult physicals and well-child check-ups for children up to 18 years of age.

The Solid Waste Hearing Officer, under authority granted in Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 444.629, conducts monthly hearings to settle cases involving illegal dumping and other solid watse matters.