KGMI News
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Health has released the 2018 state health assessment, and Whatcom County is a standout in several ways.
The Whatcom County H-I-V infection rate is less than half that of the statewide average.
Whatcom County also does better than the state average on measures of infant survival, drug overdose rates, self-reported mental health issues, safe storage of firearms, and self-reported hypertension rate.
County residents came in worse than the state average on measures of youth obesity (measured in 10th graders) and self-reported binge drinking.
The county was listed as a federally designated health professional shortage area in the report as well, although the county mental health provider rate topped the state and nearly doubles the national average.
A link to the full report can be found here.