Governor Branstad will sign a state proclamation Wednesday, February 22, recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in Iowa. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Iowa and seven out of 10 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer had no signs or symptoms. 

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its first report on hepatitis C infection in Iowa. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in the U.S.

A comparison of data from 2000 to 2015 shows the number of Iowans diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increased nearly three-fold, from 754 cases in 2000 to 2,235 cases in 2015.

The number of influenza-related deaths in Iowa now stands at 25 since October 2, 2016, including 11 deaths reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) during the week ending January 28, 2017. All but one of the individuals who have died had underlying conditions or contributing factors. 

February is National Children’s Dental Health month. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans the key to a lifelong, healthy smile is early preventive care. Beginning regular dental visits by the age of 1, using fluoridated water, and brushing twice a day can help prevent painful cavities from forming in a child’s mouth. 

The ‘big game’ (on February 5, 2017) is the single most watched sporting event in the U.S. It’s a great time to get together with family and friends to enjoy all of those football themed snacks, not to mention the amazing commercials. But for some, the partying and gambling can get out of control