Health Observatory Health Insights
Health Observatory at ASU is an expert in monitoring and assessing emerging diseases, providing timely, science-based insights.
By integrating diverse data sources and applying advanced modeling, the Health Observatory translates complex information into clear, actionable knowledge for policymakers, media, health systems and the public.
With its independent, non-regulatory position, it serves as an honest broker — delivering credible analysis, early warnings and transparent communication to help communities and decision-makers respond effectively to evolving health threats. The Health Observatory provides a suite of interactive datasets designed to track and explain emerging infectious diseases and public health trends.
Valley fever
Valley fever is a disease that usually affects the lungs and is caused by breathing in fungal spores that live in soil—people and animals can breathe them in without even realizing it and develop a lung infection.
Heat
Arizona’s deadliest weather isn’t a storm, and it’s a lot more dangerous than simply a “dry heat.” Extreme heat arrives every year, stays for months and leaves little to no physical wreckage behind.
Measles
Measles is a contagious disease caused by a virus that can be prevented with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. It is so contagious that up to 9 out of 10 people exposed become infected if they are not immune to measles.
Avian influenza (H5N1)
Bird flu, also called avian influenza, is an infection caused by the H5N1 influenza A Virus. Humans can catch bird flu from infected animals, but it is not currently spreading from person to person.