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Health Advisory: Pertussis Cases Continue to Increase in Washington State
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Health Alert, Immunization, Immunizations, News and Alerts, News and Alerts, Pertussis11/07/2024 This is a Provider Alert from the Yakima Health District regarding an increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases. Healthcare providers should: This is an update to the Provider Alert sent in May 2024. Current Pertussis Situation in Washington There has been a total of 1,099 confirmed and probable cases of pertussis reported statewide during…
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Health Advisory: CDC Confirms Nine Human Cases of Avian Influenza in Washington State
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Health Alert, Infection Control, Influenza, Influenza Update, News and Alerts, News and Alerts, News and Update11/01/24 Clinicians in Washington should consider avian influenza infection in patients who present with acute respiratory illness, isolated conjunctivitis, or influenza-like illness (ILI), and to assess patients for exposures to animals (poultry, cattle, wildlife, or other animals) or people suspected or known to be infected with avian influenza. Current Situation The Centers for Disease Control…
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Health Officer Order for Reporting Hospitalizations and Deaths Due to RSV, COVID-19, and Influenza
DATE: September 26, 2024 TO: Health care providers, health care facilities, medical examiners, and coroner’s office FROM: Neil Barg, MD, Health Officer RE: Health Officer Order for Reporting Hospitalizations and Deaths Due to RSV, COVID-19, and Influenza Pursuant to WAC 246-101-505 Effective Date: October 1, 2024 Authority Under the authority granted to the Local Health Officer pursuant to…
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Pacific Power’s Medical Certificate Program For Qualifying Customers to Receive Extra Notifications During Public Safety Power Shutoff Events
06/25/2024 Pacific Power’s Medical Certificate Program To help Washington customers prepare for emergencies and potential power outages, Pacific Power’s Medical Certificate Program ensures that qualifying customers will receive extra notifications whenever possible during Public Safety Power Shutoff events for those that have a medical condition that requires use of electrically powered medical equipment in the…
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Health Advisory: Pertussis Increase in Washington State
Current Situation in Washington There have been a total of 170 confirmed and probable cases reported statewide during 2024 through 5/4/2024 (CDC Week 18), compared to 24 cases reported by CDC Week 18 in 2023, an increase of 6-fold. Multiple jurisdictions have reported increases. Current information about pertussis in Washington can be found in the…
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05/01/24 Health Advisory: Invasive Serogroup Y Meningococcal Disease Increasing in the United States
Summary Increase nationwide On March 28, 2024, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) issued a health advisory about the increase in invasive serogroup Y meningococcal disease in the United States. Washington has not seen an increase in cases. Washington had 4 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease in 2023. Providers have reported 3 confirmed cases so far…
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Health Advisory: Evaluating and Managing Patients Exposed to Birds and Other Animals (Cattle) Infected with Avian Influenza A Viruses of Public Health Concern
Requested Actions Background Avian influenza A viruses circulate among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species to cause disease referred to as avian influenza. Some avian influenza A viruses have caused rare, sporadic infections in people, resulting in human illness ranging from mild to severe respiratory disease. People who are…
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Health Advisory: New Washington State Department of Health Guidance for COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illnesses Does Not Apply to Healthcare Settings
03/20/2024 Requested Actions Background The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced updated guidance for what to do when someone is sick with COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses. The new guidance recommends people return to normal activities when their symptoms are getting better overall and they have not had a fever (without having to…
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01/19/24 Health Advisory: Measles Outbreak in Southwest Washington
An active measles outbreak investigation is underway in Clark and Wahkiakum Counties. As of Jan. 10, 2024, investigators have identified 3 lab-confirmed and 3 epidemiologically linked measles cases in unvaccinated adults. Symptoms began in mid-to-late December. All report isolating at home during their contagious period. Investigators have not identified any public exposure locations. Healthcare providers…
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Health Advisory: Tuberculosis Testing For People Who Were Previously Incarcerated
11/30/2023 The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC), and local health jurisdictions continue to work to address a large tuberculosis (TB) outbreak within the state prison system. Since July 2021, 28 people have been diagnosed with active TB; during the outbreak investigation, DOH and DOC identified over 2900 potentially…
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09/27/2023 Increase in Shigella Cases in Yakima County
Requested Actions How Shigella Spreads Shigella bacteria cause an infection called shigellosis. Shigella can spread easily from one person to another- and it only takes a small amount of Shigella to cause illness. Shigella spreads easily and individuals can get infected by swallowing Shigella. Some ways Shigella can get on individuals’ hands are: Symptoms of…
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09/20/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, News and Alerts, Provider Resources, UncategorizedOn Sept. 11, 2023, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized for emergency use new, updated (2023–2024) COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. FDA deauthorized previous bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. On Sept. 11, 2023, FDA deauthorized previous bivalent COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. CDC recommends new, updated (2023–2024) COVID-19 vaccines. CDC’s new, updated (2023–2014) COVID-19…
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07/19/23: The first case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington
A Pierce County man was diagnosed July 13 with colonization due to Candida auris (C. auris), a multidrug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections. This is believed to be the first locally acquired case in Washington. C. auris is a type of yeast that can cause severe illness, especially in those suffering from serious medical conditions who have…