Press Releases

Cervical Health Awareness Month

Little Rock, Ark. – January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) BreastCare program coordinates efforts with a statewide network of providers offering no-cost cervical and breast cancer screenings and follow-up services. Cervical cancer is largely preventable with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination, and routine pap tests to detect pre-cancers. Yet, […]

Arkansas Minority Health Commission announces Food Desert Elimination Grant Application

Little Rock, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) – Arkansas Minority Health Commission announces its request for application (RFA) availability for food desert elimination efforts around the state. The Commission will award a maximum of 4 grants of up to $10,000 each to community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and non-profits focused on food desert […]

Arkansas Dept of Health recognizes healthcare providers for stroke care performance

Little Rock, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) recognizes 39 hospitals, 48 ambulance services, two regional teams, and two individuals for excellence in stroke patient care. The hospital awards are based on stroke care performance as documented in the Arkansas Stroke Registry for July 2022 and June 2023 patient discharges. They are given […]

Anti-vaping campaign for young children

Little Rock, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) released a new anti-vaping campaign animated video for children ages 5-7. Created by ADH staff, Coral’s Reef is a campaign designed to educate young children. The average age of nicotine initiation for minors in Arkansas is 13 years of age. Most anti-vaping campaigns target children […]

Wild bat exposure at State Fairgrounds

Little Rock, Ark. – On Saturday, October 21, two individuals were exposed to a bat that was acting unusually in the horse barn at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds. The bat was not captured for testing, and these individuals were advised to begin rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). As a precaution, we are asking individuals who may […]

Locally acquired malaria identified in Arkansas

Little Rock -The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has identified a case of locally acquired malaria in an Arkansas resident. The person resides in Saline County and has not traveled out of the country. This is the only known locally acquired case of malaria in Arkansas. Multiple other cases of locally acquired malaria contracted in […]

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Little Rock, Ark. – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) BreastCare program coordinates efforts with a statewide network of providers offering no-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings and follow-up services. Nearly 400 women die due to breast cancer and over 2500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year […]

Rabid wild bat captured at Little Rock Zoo

Little Rock, Ark. – On Saturday, September 23, the Little Rock Zoo received a report of a wild bat flying erratically on Zoo grounds. The bat tested positive for rabies at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Glen F. Baker Public Health Laboratory. Although we have not yet heard any reports that the bat came […]

Pulsara app now available statewide

Little Rock, Ark. – Beginning October 1, the Pulsara mobile app will be accessible to all ambulance services, acute care, sub-acute care, long-term acute care, nursing homes, behavioral health hospitals, and other affiliated healthcare facilities in Arkansas through funding by the Arkansas Department of Health. The on-demand and real-time HIPAA-compliant platform allows providers anywhere in […]

Measles Update: Get The Latest Measles Information Here

Measles, or rubeola, is a highly contagious, acute viral infectious disease caused by the measles virus. Some people think of measles as just a rash and fever that clears up in a few days; however, measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5-years-old.

The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.