Indiana State Department of Health

Social Determinents Of Health Explored At Event

By Jill Sheridan • Sep 11, 2019

Where you live and other socio-economic factors can have a negative influence on your health. A recent event outlined ways Indiana is addressing this issue.

Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says place can influence access to a quality education, healthy food, transportation and safe housing.

First Vaping Death In Indiana, Third Confirmed Nationwide

By Jill Sheridan • Sep 9, 2019

Indiana is reporting the first death in the state related to lung injury after vaping. This is the third confirmed fatality in the country.

Indiana Receives $21 Million To Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths

By Jill Sheridan • Sep 5, 2019

The state will receive $21 million over the next three years to prevent drug overdose deaths.

Infant Mortality Summit Discusses Solutions

By Jill Sheridan • Aug 23, 2019

Indiana has a higher infant mortality rate than the national average. A summit in Indianapolis focused on moves being made to improve outcomes for infants in Indiana.

Indiana Joins States Investigating Illness In E-Cigarette Users

By Isaiah Seibert • Aug 19, 2019

Indiana’s health department is investigating 11 cases of a severe respiratory illness to see if they’re linked to e-cigarettes. Similar cases were also discovered in Illinois and Wisconsin.

State Begins Rollout Of Inititative To Help Pregnant Women

By Carter Barrett • Aug 13, 2019

Health leaders are raising awareness about a new initiative to tackle Indiana's high infant and maternal mortality rates. The state launched a public awareness campaign this week.

John Dillinger's Grave To Be Exhumed

By David Wolfe Bender • Aug 5, 2019

John Dillinger, the 1930s gangster and bank robber, was killed by the FBI in 1934 and supposedly buried in an Indianapolis cemetery.

Dillinger's relatives asked the Indiana State Department of Health permission to exhume the body from Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. In the request, Dillinger’s nephew and niece say they were presented with evidence to suggest the body is not actually his. Their request has been approved.

Susan Sutton of the Indiana Historical Society says getting to the coffin may a tough task.

Coalition Petitions State To Reduce Action Level For Lead In Children

By Rebecca Thiele • Jul 29, 2019

A large coalition — made up of doctors, legal experts, advocacy groups, and others — is petitioning the state to lower its threshold for when public health agencies should address elevated blood lead levels in children.

Opioid Response Training Offered To Faith Communities

By Jill Sheridan • Jul 22, 2019

An Indiana non-profit is touring the state to bring opioid education and tools to faith based communities.

Health Fair Offers Access At Black Expo

By Jill Sheridan • Jul 20, 2019

The annual health fair at the Indiana Black Expo kicked off Thursday and for many it's the only chance to receive important health screenings.

New Guidebook Encourages Communities To Promote Physical Activity Through Design

By Jill Sheridan • Jul 6, 2019

A newly published guidebook provides Hoosier communities with plans to encourage more physical activity and outlines ways to address common barriers.

Hepatitis A Outbreak Slowing

By Sean Rogan • May 24, 2019

Monroe County health officials are cautiously optimistic that the number of confirmed Hepatitis A cases may have already peaked statewide.

Health Department Administrator Penny Caudill says cases are still emerging but they’re declining.

“It does appear that we possibly could have peaked with our numbers in the state this winter," Caudill says. "And that we might be on kind of … right now our numbers are declining which is good news.”