The Southern Nevada Health District is one of the largest public health organizations in the state – and one of the largest in the country. The agency is responsible not only for the general health of Southern Nevada residents, but also for managing the health issues presented by the millions of visitors to Las Vegas each year. They are able to provides services through federal funding, local taxes and fee.
Public Services
The health district provides a number of services to the public including emergency health services; disease survelliance and control; chronic disease control and prevention; and nursing and clinical services.
The nursing and clinical services division provides more than 600,000 clinical health services each year at an average cost of $35. Services include immunizations, sexually transmitted disease testing and control, tuberculosis treatment and well-baby checkups. These services are provided regardless of a client's ability to pay.
The district offers routine immunizations for children, immunizations for travelers and yearly flu and pneumonia vaccines. The health district charges charges a $16 administration fee per vaccine per child. Click here for a full list of immunization clinics
Other services
In addition to general health duties, the health district is responsible for bioterrorism and disaster and emergency preparedness. Click here for more information on the services.
The health district is also responsible for the inspection of food and beverage establishments, public accommodations, child care facilities, public swimming pools and many others.
District suggested pool safety
Swimming is a popular activity in the Las Vegas Valley and the health district has a few tips to stay safe and healthy in public and backyard pools.
Raw Water Intake
RWIs are illnesses that can spread through swallowing, breathing or having contact with contaminated water. According to the health district, "Recreational water illnesses can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including skin, ear, respiratory, eye and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses can be caused by germs such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella and E. coli O157:H7."
RWIs can be found in swimming pools, spas, fountains, oceans, lakes and rivers. For tips on how to prevent getting RWIs, click
According to the health district Web site, mosquitoes can develop in seven to 10 days in any standing water, producing up to 400 larvae, but there are ways to prevent a plague of mosquitoes.
Whether you have an above ground or concrete swimming pools, it’s good to know that chlorine does not kill mosquito larvae, so keep pools covered and tightly sealed and try to keep standing rainwater off the cover. Change water every week in plastic wading pools and keep fish stocked in ornamental ponds to eat the larvae. Also, try to keep water levels up, screen recirculation pumps and drain undesired ponds. If any green or standing water is spotted in the community, complaints can be made online here or call 702-759-1220.
