NASHVILLE – In Tennessee, approximately 18,000 people are living with HIV, and 760 of them were newly diagnosed in 2018. The Tennessee Department of Health is working to increase access to preventive medication and empower HIV-positive Tennesseans to seek and stay engaged in HIV care. As part of this effort to end the HIV epidemic in Tennessee, TDH is joining the “Undetectable Equals Untransmittable” or “U=U” campaign.

NASHVILLE – Breast cancer is the leading cause of new cancer cases and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Tennessee women, with approximately 5,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year in the state. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Tennessee Department of Health reminds Tennesseans that early detection through regular screening and timely treatment can improve chances of survival of breast cancer.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Tennessee Department of Health, and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture today announced the detection of the invasive Asian longhorned tick in an additional six Tennessee counties: Knox, Jefferson, Claiborne, Cocke, Putnam, and Sevier.

The Blount County Health Department celebrated its centennial year of service today at the clinic in Maryville. Blount County Health Department staff members joined colleagues from the Tennessee Department of Health, Blount County officials and other community members for the event. The Blount County Health Department was established as the first public health department in Tennessee in 1919.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Health has reported six cases of suspected serious respiratory disease among people who use electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a cluster of severe pulmonary disease among people who use e-cigarettes or vape, with 215 cases reported to date in 25 states.

NASHVILLE – Marion Kainer, MD, MPH, FRACP, FSHEA has been named the 2019 recipient of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ Pumphandle Award. Kainer serves as director of the TDH Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program, leading a team working to make healthcare safer and to combat antimicrobial resistance.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Nearly 400 teens from communities across Tennessee will gather at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro June 2 – 4, 2018 for the Tennessee Department of Health’s TNSTRONG Youth Summit, a statewide tobacco prevention conference.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and the official opening day for many public pools. The Tennessee Department of Health is celebrating Healthy and Safe Swimming Week leading into the holiday with reminders about simple steps everyone can take to enjoy the fun of swimming and help keep our swimming areas safe and healthy.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is reminding new parents and others in need of vital records to be sure to order these documents through approved channels to avoid scams or excessive fees.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health in celebrating National Women’s Health Week May 12 – 18, 2019. This nationwide initiative brings awareness to the importance of women’s health and empowers women to take small, manageable steps for longer, healthier and happier lives.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Women, Infants and Children or WIC Program has transitioned to an electronic benefit transfer system from a paper-based method of issuing benefits. Tennessee families participating in WIC now use their TNWIC cards instead of paper vouchers to purchase WIC-approved foods. TNWIC is now available in all 95 counties of Tennessee.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health’s role related to Ballad Health’s certificate of public advantage is to provide active supervision, to improve the health and well-being of the region and to maintain access to high-quality health care. These goals guide the department’s data-centered approach in evaluating any plans, strategies and tactics proposed by Ballad Health.

NASHVILLE – Sexually transmitted diseases are preventable and treatable, yet they remain a major public health issue in Tennessee and across the United States. April is STD Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the impact of STDs on the lives of Tennesseans and the importance of discussing sexual health with health care providers and partners.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health State Public Health Laboratory has confirmed two additional cases of measles in residents of East Tennessee. This brings the total number of measles cases in Tennessee in 2019 to three. The two new cases are associated with the first measles case in Tennessee this year which was announced April 18, and were identified as part of the ongoing contact investigation.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health continues to investigate a case of measles in a resident of East Tennessee and notify people who may have been exposed to the illness through contact with the patient. This investigation has identified two locations the patient visited in Tennessee where members of the public may have been exposed to measles.