News Flash

Health Department Seeks Applicants for a Community-Centered Steering Committee

The Washtenaw County Health Department is seeking individuals to apply for a Steering Committee that will prioritize public health issues and take action to improve conditions that support health and well-being. Community members, local health system and ...

Eleven Percent of Washtenaw County Pregnant Women Smoke. Free Help is Available.

Eleven percent of Washtenaw County women who gave birth in 2016 reported that they smoked cigarettes while pregnant, according to a new report from the Washtenaw County Health Department. The Health Department encourages pregnant women to take advantage o...

Main Health Department Phone Number Spoofed

The main Washtenaw County Health Department phone number (734-544-6700) has been falsified in a scam to contact random people for sensitive information. The Health Department has been made aware that the spoofed number is asking individuals for health ins...

Community-wide Solutions Needed to Address Opioid Epidemic

Some epidemics, like Ebola, rush in like a tornado with immediate and obvious destruction. The opioid epidemic, instead, is more like fungus that slowly attacks trees, eventually decimating the forest. This is the focus of a newly published report by the ...

Marijuana Legalization: What You Need to Know

Adult-use recreational marijuana is now legal in Michigan. Here's what you need to know about the law and the health effects.

The Law

On November 6, 2018, Michigan voters approved Proposal 1, creating the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.

• Th...

Opioid Deaths Involving Cocaine Increasing in Washtenaw County

Nearly half of deaths related to opioids in Washtenaw County between Jan. and Aug. this year have involved cocaine. This is an increase compared to previous years, where under a quarter of opioid deaths involved cocaine each year between 2013 and 2017.

&am...

We Support our Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, and Intersex Community Members

The Washtenaw County Health Department supports, and affirms the identities of, our trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex community members. Your existence and health matter to us. You will not be erased.

We strongly oppose efforts (or attempts) by th...

Washtenaw County Sees Increase in Legionnaires’ Disease

Eighteen adults in Washtenaw County have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease (Legionella pneumonia) in 2018. No deaths have been reported.

The Health Department continues to look for sources of common exposure, however, to date, none have b...

It's Time to Get Your Flu Shot

It is time for everyone six months and older to get vaccinated against flu (influenza). Sporadic cases of flu are being reported in Washtenaw County. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting the flu vaccine before the end of...

Vaping increasing among Washtenaw County Youth

Less than two percent of Washtenaw County high school students reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days, according to the 2017-2018 Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth – a decrease from almost four percent in 2015-2016. While cigarette smoking may b...

Michigan extends ‘Do Not Eat’ Fish Advisory for Huron River to Lake Erie

On Aug., 31, 2018, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued an expanded ‘Do Not Eat’ fish advisory for all fish in the Huron River in Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe Counties. The original advisory was issued o...

Washtenaw County Health Department Awarded 'Play Everywhere Challenge' Grant

The Washtenaw County Health Department is thrilled to have been awarded $74,000 to transform public spaces and create opportunities for active play where kids need it most through the KaBoom! Play Everywhere Challenge.

In an effort to make our Humans Servi...

Stop Hepatitis A: Get Vaccinated

There is an outbreak of hepatitis A among adults in Washtenaw and other Michigan counties. The hepatitis A vaccine is extremely effective at preventing infection, but the majority of Washtenaw adults have not been vaccinated. 

Call 734-544-6700 to...

STD Rates Increasing in Washtenaw County

April is Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Awareness Month. STD rates continue to reach record levels in Washtenaw County. The Washtenaw County Health Department encourages residents to get tested for STDs and to take steps to prevent infections.

“If you...

Tuberculosis can Affect Anyone

“Even though it is curable and preventable, TB kills more people than any other infectious disease in the world, surpassing HIV and malaria.” says Mary McCloud, TB nurse coordinator at the Washtenaw County Health Department. “Anyone can get TB. It is in e...

County Health Rankings Show Improved Equity is Needed

Washtenaw County has the most primary care doctors, dentists and mental health providers per capita in Michigan, according to the 2018 County Health Rankings released today. We also have the lowest smoking rate and the most physically active adults in the...