Health Advisories

  • Health Advisory: Zika Testing

    Health Advisory: Zika Testing

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    Action Requested Know how to order appropriate Zika virus testing through commercial laboratories. Background Because testing for Zika virus is now widely available through commercial laboratories, testing for Zika virus at Washington State Public Health Laboratories is now limited to: Patients for whom cost is a barrier to testing. Infants with possible congenital exposure to…

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  • Lice in Schools

    Lice in Schools

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    What procedures should our school follow if a student has head lice? Head lice are tiny parasites that can live on the human head. They survive by sucking blood from the scalp. Lice eggs (called “nits”) can attach to strands of head hair. Lice can cause the head to itch, but have not been proven…

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  • Health Advisory: Measles Outbreak in Minneapolis

    Health Advisory: Measles Outbreak in Minneapolis

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    Actions Requested Be aware of an expanding outbreak of measles in Minneapolis, MN. Advise patients planning travel of increased measles activity and ensure they are adequately immunized. When evaluating febrile rash illness, ask about out-of-state and out-of-country travel within the last 21 days. Background A measles outbreak is occurring in the Minneapolis, Minnesota metropolitan area.…

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  • Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet

    Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet

    Meningococcal disease is a sudden, severe illness caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The disease manifests most commonly as meningitis and/or meningococcemia, but may also cause pneumonia, arthritis or pericarditis. The symptoms include sudden high fever, chills, severe headache, stiff neck and back, nausea, vomiting, purpural rash, decreased level of consciousness, difficulty breathing and seizures.…

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  • “What is Public Health?” from American Public Health Association

    “What is Public Health?” from American Public Health Association

    Learn why public health is essential in American Public Health Association’s “What Is Public Health?” article. Read article

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  • Measles Diagnosis Information

    Measles Diagnosis Information

    Most people in the United States are protected against measles through vaccination, so local measles cases are uncommon. However, every year measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers (Americans or foreign visitors) who get measles while they are in other countries. They can spread measles to other people who are not protected…

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  • Adult Syphilis Treatment Guidelines

    Adult Syphilis Treatment Guidelines

    This article is excerpted from CDC’s 2015 STD Treatment Guidelines. The preferred drug for all stages of syphilis treatment is Penicillin G administered parenterally. Preparation, dosage, and length of treatment depend on the stage and clinical manifestations of the disease. Selection of the appropriate penicillin preparation is important. T. pallidum can reside in sequestered sites…

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  • Flu Patient Information

    Flu Patient Information

    Worried about the flu? Influenza is widespread and at epidemic levels. The best way to protect yourself and your family is still getting a flu vaccine. Frequent hand washing and avoiding others who are sick also helps. Flu vaccines can take up to two weeks to take effect. What if, despite your best efforts, you…

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  • Tuberculosis Screening

    Tuberculosis Screening

    Consider testing Person traveling in TB endemic areas. Migrant workers. Person experiencing homelessness. Contact to a tuberculosis case. Foreign-born person from tuberculosis-endemic area. Person who injects drugs. Immunosupressed person (e.g., HIV positive or organ transplant). Resident/employee of healthcare, correctional or long-term care facility. Person with chronic medical problem (e.g., diabetes, end stage renal disease). Test…

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  • Health Advisory: Syphilis Increase and Prevention of Congenital Syphilis

    Health Advisory: Syphilis Increase and Prevention of Congenital Syphilis

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    Requested Actions Test all pregnant women for syphilis at the first prenatal encounter. Repeat syphilis testing during the third trimester among women at risk for STD (e.g., recent history of bacterial STD, multiple partners, homelessness; methamphetamine, opioid, or cocaine use; exchanging sex for money, drugs, etc.; having a sex partner who is a man who…

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  • Hepatitis B Immunization and Healthcare Workers

    Hepatitis B Immunization and Healthcare Workers

    Healthcare Worker Immunization Pre-exposure evaluation for healthcare personnel previously vaccinated with complete, ≥ three dose hepatitis B vaccine series who have not had post-vaccination serologic testing* Source: CDC—MMWR December 20, 2013. * Should be performed one to two months after the last dose of vaccine using a quantitative method that allows detection of the protective…

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  • Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Guidelines

    Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Guidelines

    High-Priority Candidates for Latent Treatment Infection (LTBI) Treatment Positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) (>0.35 IU) Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) ≥5 mm HIV-positive people. Recent contacts of person with infectious tuberculosis (TB). People with fibrotic changes on chest x-ray (CXR) suggestive of previous TB; or inadequate treatment. People with organ transplants or immunosuppression therapy. TST ≥10 mm…

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