Central Nevada Health District

05/21/2026

Come and join us on Wednesday, May 27th, for a diabetes prevention class at the Eureka Senior Center. The class is from 10:00-11:45 am. This is a free class and space is limited. All attendees who complete the course will receive a $25 Visa gift card. Call or stop by to sign up!

05/21/2026

📢️️ We NEED your help‼️
CNHD is conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment and we need to hear directly from community members with lived experience. Specifically those without insurance and those who don't access healthcare due to the cost.

All participants will receive a $25 gift card. If you would like to participate, call or text 775-237-8415 to schedule or go to https://forms.gle/rzcUhvVDXZJ3qnTd9 to complete a short survey.

05/20/2026

Bites from mosquitoes and ticks can make you sick!
Mosquitoes and ticks can spread germs that cause diseases like West Nile and Lyme disease.
You can Fight the Bite and learn how to protect yourself and loved ones from mosquito and tick bites.
Know where to expect ticks
Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails to prevent contact with ticks.

Follow this link on what to do after a tick bite:

Steps to take after a tick bite including removing a tick and watching for signs and symptoms.

05/19/2026

Harmful Algal Bloom Advisory 5/19/26:

Walker Lake has been placed on a HAB Watch advisory as of 5/19/2026 following visual observation and satellite imaging of a surface bloom. Hazardous conditions are possible or present.

People and pets should use caution when in contact with water and avoid areas of algae accumulation.

05/19/2026

Last month, Central Nevada Health District successfully completed our free chronic disease education course, Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention, offered to community members across all four CNHD jurisdictions: Fallon/Churchill County, Lovelock/Pershing County, Hawthorne/Mineral County, and Eureka County. These courses were completed over 6 weeks.

During this course, participants learned:

-Common risk factors for heart attack and stroke, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and obesity
-Warning signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke
-The importance of calling 911 immediately when symptoms occur
-How healthy eating and regular physical activity can reduce risk
-Ways to manage stress and improve sleep
-Strategies to control chronic conditions and work with healthcare providers to improve heart health

More than 40 community members participated in the course, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees shared that they learned new information, felt empowered to make healthier lifestyle choices, and appreciated having access to free educational opportunities close to home.

Heart disease and stroke remain two of the leading causes of death in the United States, and here in Nevada, but many cases can be prevented through healthy habits, routine medical care, and early recognition of symptoms.

A special thank you to the CNHD staff who made this course possible, including our Resource Liaison, Epidemiology Program, and Registered Nurse, for their dedication to improving the health and well-being of our communities.

In the month of May, CNHD will conduct another free chronic disease course on Diabetes Prevention.

05/19/2026

Come and join the Central Nevada Health District today at the William N. Pennington Life Center for a free class on diabetes prevention fron 1:00-2:30pm. This class will provide education and information on life saving diabetes prevention tips. All attendees who participate will receive a free $25 dollar Visa gift card. Please call or stop by the Life Center to sign up. Space is limited!

05/15/2026

CNHD Respiratory Weekly Snapshot:
Week 18: 5/3/26 - 5/9/26

We anticipate the release of CNHD's new respiratory dashboard for new updates and alerts. We will post more updates on information regarding when it will be available to the public.

The CDC recommends an RSV immunization for infants younger than 8 months who are entering their first fall-to-spring RSV season or born during it. (Babies whose birth mother received an RSV vaccine during pregnancy do not need an immunization.)
Pregnant women should get a single dose of the maternal RSV vaccine (Pfizer’s Abrysvo) during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy sometime between September through January.
A one-time RSV vaccine is recommended for adults age 75 and older, and for ages 50–74 at increased risk.
To help protect yourself and others wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, clean frequently touched surfaces, and stay home if you’re feeling sick.
If you must go out while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce the spread. Taking these simple steps can make a big difference in keeping our community healthy.
Click here to view the CDC weekly national report:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

05/15/2026

What are Harmful Algal Blooms?

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) form when naturally occurring blue-green algae multiply quickly and cause discoloration, scum, and mats on the water. Blue-green algae are not actually algae, they are single-celled aquatic organisms called cyanobacteria that are closely related to bacteria and can photosynthesize like algae.

These microorganisms have been a natural part of aquatic ecosystems for thousands of years. Although most algal blooms are not toxic, some types of cyanobacteria produce nerve or liver toxins. Toxicity can be hard to predict because a single species of algae can have both toxic and non-toxic strains, and a bloom that tests non-toxic one day can be toxic the next. Because it is hard to tell whether an algal bloom is harmful or not it is recommended to avoid contact with any floating mats, scums, and discolored water.

Blooms in Nevada occur in freshwater, such as lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. They can occur any time throughout the year although the conditions that lead to harmful algal blooms generally occur in the late summer and early fall.

These conditions include:

High nutrient levels
Abundant sunlight
Warm water temperatures
Stagnant or slow-moving waters

If these conditions are present for several days, cyanobacteria can multiply to form large blooms that can cover an entire lake or collect in smaller areas.
Blooms generally die and disappear after one or two weeks.

For more information: https://nvose.org/programs/environmental-health/harmful-algal-blooms-eh/

05/14/2026

⚠The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) has placed Lahontan Reservoir on a HAB Watch advisory as of 5/11/2026, following visual observation and satellite imaging of a surface bloom. Hazardous conditions are possible or present. People and pets should use caution when in contact with water and avoid areas of algae accumulation.

These toxic algae can cause serious health issues for humans and animals.
If you see water that looks discolored or smells bad, stay away.

For more information on HABs visit: https://nvose.org/programs/environmental-health/harmful-algal-blooms-eh/

SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK!

05/08/2026

The Central Nevada Health District is monitoring the nation wide media reports of hantavirus, a rare but serious illness that is typically spread through contact with rodents or areas contaminated with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.

Recently, health officials have reported cases of the rare Andes virus, a type of hantavirus found primarily in South America. Unlike most hantaviruses, Andes virus has been shown in rare circumstances to spread from person to person through close contact with an infected individual.

The good news is that the risk to the general public in Central Nevada remains very low!

There are currently no cases reported in our region, and most hantavirus infections in the United States are associated with rodent exposure rather than person-to-person transmission.

You can reduce your risk by:
• Sealing holes and gaps where rodents may enter your home
• Avoiding sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings
• Wetting contaminated areas with disinfectant before cleaning
• Wearing gloves when handling rodent-contaminated materials

Hantavirus infections are uncommon, but taking simple precautions can help keep you and your family safe.

The Central Nevada Health District is committed to monitoring emerging health concerns and providing timely updates to protect our communities across Churchill, Pershing, Mineral, and Eureka counties, and the City of Fallon.

For more information, visit CDC Hantavirus Information or contact CNHD at outbreaks@centralnevadahd.org or (775) 866-7535.

Send a message to learn more

05/08/2026

A simple check-in can make a big difference.

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to overlook how we’re really feeling. Taking a moment to pause, reflect, and connect—with yourself or someone else—can support your mental well-being.

Small actions that matter:
Send a quick “thinking of you” text
Take a few minutes to breathe and reset
Step outside for fresh air
Limit screen time when you need a break
Reach out if you’re struggling
Start the conversation

You don’t have to have the “perfect words.” Just asking “Are you okay?” can open the door.

📍 Support is always available

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7.

We’re stronger when we look out for one another.

Central Nevada Health District is here to support healthy communities—inside and out.