Little Rock, Ark. Today, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) hosted a media briefing and training to support the launch of the Arkansas Food Inspection Portal. This portal contains electronic copies of retail food inspection reports. To access the portal directly visit: https://foodserviceprod.adh.arkansas.gov/Web/inspection/publicinspectionsearch.aspx or visit the ADH website at www.healthy.a…

Little Rock, Ark. Breastfeeding provides an important foundation for healthy eating, growth and development for babies. August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and this year the focus is to reinforce the connections between breastfeeding and a broad spectrum of other health topics and initiatives. Breast milk is the most nutritious food for infants, and it plays a significant role in…

Little Rock, Ark. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has partnered with the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), and Arkansas Childrenâs (ACH) to offer the âStop the Bleedâ Train-the-Trainer (T3) course for Arkansas School Nurses. The program provides bystanders the skills and basic training to stop uncontrolled bleeding in emergenc…

Northeast Arkansas. For the first time in more than two decades, Mississippi County has a confirmed case of rabies. A dog from Mississippi County, Arkansas has tested positive for the virus. The dog was exposed to a skunk in mid-June of this year. All those who may have come into contact with the dog have been contacted for follow-up. Residents are reminded to keep pets up-to-date on rabies vaccin…

Little Rock, Ark. Arkansas has identified its first case of Heartland virus, a relatively new tickborne disease, in an individual living in the northwest part of the state. People become infected with Heartland virus through the bite of the Lone Star tick. Patients are most likely to be diagnosed with Heartland virus from May to September. Heartland virus causes a flu-like illness, including …

Little Rock, Ark. With the Fourth of July approaching, now is a good time to learn about firework, food, and swim safety. Fireworks-related injuries are most common on the Fourth of July. Improper use of fireworks can lead to death and injury, including burns, cuts, and foreign objects in the eye. To prevent injury, keep these safety tips in mind: ⢠Read all labels and instructions before …

Little Rock, Ark. After conferring with the offices of the Governor and the Attorney General, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will now begin issuing birth certificates for same-sex couples who utilized artificial insemination and were married at the time of the birth of their child. Amended birth certificates will only be issued in cases where the birth mother is listed on the certific…

Little Rock, Ark. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will start accepting applications for medical marijuana registry identification cards on June 30. These cards will allow patients or caregivers to purchase medical marijuana at a licensed dispensary. Currently, there are no licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Arkansas. Cards will be issued to qualifying patients and caregivers ap…

Little Rock, Ark. Certain tests have not proven to be reliable for use in the diagnosis of Lyme disease and are not recommended by ADH or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even if they are promoted by some labs or doctors. Tests that have not been approved include: Lyme Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, capture assays for antigens in urine, reverse Western Blots, and measu…

Northeast Ark. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is continuing to see cases in Northeast Arkansas of Shigellosis, an infectious disease that commonly causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Shigellosis is caused by the Shigella bacteria and is very contagious. The ADH urges residents to wash their hands and take other protective measures to keep Shigella from spreading. Shigella is spr…