Ellis County Health Department

12/30/2025

Wishing our community a healthy, hopeful, and happy New Year!

12/24/2025

Someone created this picture for us and we couldn't help but share.

To our fellow public health departments and to our community, thank you for being a part of the work that keeps us all well.
May all your holiday wishes come true!🎄

12/23/2025

ECHD wishes our community a joyful and peaceful holiday season. We hope this time brings rest, connection, and good health!

12/23/2025

Holiday travel means more time in the car, make sure to keep this in mind as you get ready for the road.

Keeping your kids warm in the winter is important, but bulky coats and puffy materials can prevent a car seat harness from fitting safely. Instead, choose lightweight fleece layers to keep them cozy without compromising the harness fit. For extra warmth, you can drape a blanket over your child or put their coat on backwards after securing the harness. Safety and warmth can go hand in hand!

12/12/2025

The holiday season can be difficult for many. If you or your loved ones need support, reach out via text or call to 9-8-8 or visit https://bit.ly/3PctCZU.

12/08/2025

As adults, we juggle work, family, responsibilities, and staying healthy helps to keep everything running smoothly. That’s why getting the flu vaccine is such a simple but powerful step.

The flu shot isn’t just about avoiding a few sick days. It helps:
* Strengthen your immunity so your body can fight the virus more effectively.
* Reduce the risk of severe illness, complications, and hospital visits.
* Protect vulnerable people around you including children, older adults, and anyone with chronic conditions.
* Lower community spread, especially during peak flu season.

The vaccine is safe, quick, and recommended every year because flu strains change. Most adults are in and out of the appointment in minutes, and side effects (if any) are usually mild.
Vaccines are one of the greatest public health tools in history. They are safe, effective, and life-saving. It takes about two weeks to build immunity after vaccination, so now is the time to protect yourself and your loved ones before holiday gatherings.

Walk in anytime, Monday-Thursday, 7a.m.-5:15p.m. or give us a call to schedule a time at 785-628-9440.

12/08/2025

December 6, 2025

Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for Sunset Valley MHP, Hays, KS, Ellis County

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Sunset Valley MHP, Hays, KS public water supply system located in Ellis County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure due to required maintenance in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind notice following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the Sunset Valley MHP, Hays, KS indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 308-629-7874 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service.
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov

12/03/2025

Attn: Sunset Valley MHP, Hays, KS, Ellis County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 3, 2025

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Sunset Valley MHP, Hays, KS public water supply system located in Ellis County.
Customers of the City of Hays public water supply system are not affected by this boil water advisory
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on December 3, 2025 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure due to required maintenance in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 308-629-7874, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:
https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov

11/25/2025

November 24, 2025
Thank You Public Health Day🎉

One of the best things about public health is the community that comes with it. From our local team, to our partners across Kansas, and everyone who shows up to keep our communities healthy, we say thank you!

To all our public health friends, cheers to you, today and every day. We’re grateful for you!

11/20/2025

The Health Department will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

We’re thankful for our community and your ongoing commitment to keeping each other healthy. Enjoy the holiday and remember to travel safely, wash hands often, and savor those moments with loved ones!

11/18/2025

We’re always happy for the chance to support community and our first responders! Come warm up with some great soup and a great cause.

‼️YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS‼️
Join us Thursday November 20th from 5-8pm at 229 W 10th as we compete to win best soup among first responders. We have some tough competition so it should be a really fun time. We are fundraising to help the buffalos basketball team and bowler get to USA games next June!! Come out and see us it’s going to be a soup-er good time!!!! Free will donation! There will also be a bake sale with lots of yummys!!!

11/17/2025