6 ways you can improve the public’s health

January 11, 2016.Reading time less than 1 minute.

This time of year people are quick to adopt personal health and fitness goals. But have you considered making a public health resolution for 2016? Here are some ideas for what you can do in 2016 for the good of the public’s health and safety. And hey, they’re also good for you too.

Hep Savvy: All baby boomers should get screened for Hepatitis C

December 21, 2015.Reading time 10 minutes.

UPDATED 5/18/17: Most people with chronic hepatitis don’t know they are infected. Getting tested before symptoms develop can prevent chronic liver disease, like cirrohosis, liver failure, and cancer. CDC guidelines recommend Hep C testing for all people born between 1945 and 1965. There are now more types of Hep C medications, and access to treatment […]

More protection, less ouchy: What’s new with flu vaccine in 2015

September 25, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

Kids are finally back at school and that means they are passing their germs to each other and bringing them home so that parents can bring them to work. Time to get a flu vaccine! And there are new options. We sat down with Libby Page from our Immunizations Program to find out the latest. Last year’s […]

Farmers markets: Not just about the $12 tomato

August 20, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

Farmers markets are sometimes perceived as a great way to buy fresh produce – if you have a lot of disposable income. But in King County, they are a symbol of public health and sustainability. At Public Health, we touch farmers markets in a number of ways, from food safety oversight to creating infrastructure that […]

South King County school lunches get farm-fresh

July 23, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

A lunch with cherries, apricots, and green beans from Magana Farms at Kent Elementary. Making school lunches with Washington-grown, farm-fresh food seems like a simple enough idea. But while school nutrition directors may want to provide students with fresh fruit and vegetables from nearby farms, they may end up asking themselves questions like: How do […]

5 simple safety tips for swimming in pools

July 14, 2015.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Click through the images to find out more about why these safety tips are so important. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website.