This March, Erie County, PA received a gold medal from Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC) for prominently displaying MyPlate in 100% of municipal or county-owned or operated venues that serve food and for registering as a MyPlate Community Partner. Click here to view the...

The Erie County Department of Health is partnering with the Bike Erie Coalition to promote bicycling, walking and alternative modes of transportation for health of people and benefit of the environment.  May is National Bicycle Month and May 1 marks the kickoff of the National Bike...

Many families enjoy spending time with their children at local playgrounds, parks and beaches in the Erie area.  However, they may not realize that their children may be exposed to hundreds of toxic and hazardous substances, and may be breathing in cancer-causing smoke if they are playing in...

Let’s talk about prescription drugs, including intentional and unintentional misuse, abuse and dependency among older adults, ages 65 +.  Talking about it allows us to examine the myths and facts about the issue, and to separate truth from fiction. According to the National Council on...

Suicide is a major public health problem. Every year more than 31,000 people die in the United States by suicide. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, and 3rd in Pennsylvania. Last year in Erie County there were 45 deaths due to suicide, the youngest age 10, the oldest...

A community health needs assessment is a tool used to evaluate the health status of residents and identify areas of concern within the community. Data comes from multiple sources, including input from residents themselves. The long-range goal is to provide focus areas for collaborative action...

If you find a tick attached to your skin, there's no need to panic. There are several tick removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers will remove a tick quite effectively. How to remove a tick: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the...

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS.  When the virus enters the body it cannot get rid of it.  Once a person is infected, he or she has it for life. There is no cure. “HIV infection” refers to all cases of...

Fight foodborne bacteria  - Foodborne illness can strike anyone.  Some people are at a higher risk for developing foodborne illness, including pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.  Follow these four simple steps to food...

It seems like all of us have been touched by cancer in one way or another, whether it was a family member, friend or a co-worker.  It is not hard to imagine knowing someone that has been affected by cancer, since the staggering fact is that 1 out of 3 people in the United States will be...