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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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02/12/2021-Updates on Quarantine Requirements for Vaccinated Persons & COVID-19 Rapid Testing Instructions
Contact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control 509-249-6509 **Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** Provider Alert: Updates on quarantine requirements for vaccinated persons and COVID-19 rapid testing instructions. February 11, 2021 Requested Actions Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or…
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1/18/21 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Be aware, the state Department of Health (DOH) announced COVID-19 vaccine Phase 1B will start soon. People eligible in Phase 1A should get vaccinated now, before their priority ends. Be aware, DOH’s Phase Finder tool can tell users if they are eligible for Phase 1A and where they can get vaccinated. Starting Jan. 18, the tool will…
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Provider Alert: Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Yakima County and Reminder on New CDC Guidelines to Reduce Quarantine
Contact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control 509-249-6509 **Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** Provider Alert: Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Yakima County and Reminder on New CDC Guidelines to Reduce Quarantine January 19, 2021 Requested Actions Be aware, all people in COVID-19…
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01/5/21 Provider Alert: CDC Updates Gonorrhea Treatment Guidelines
Requested Actions Review updated guidance from the CDC regarding gonorrhea treatment, including treatment of uncomplicated gonococcal infections and changes to expedited partner therapy recommendations for gonorrhea. Be aware that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Yakima Health District is currently not offering free STI testing until they open the building back up to the public.…
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Tdap and Pregnancy Information for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Alert, Immunization, Notifiable Conditions, Pertussis, Provider ResourcesPertussis is a serious disease for young infants. Pertussis epidemics occur in the United States every 3–5 years. Even though we have a vaccine, pertussis is a common infectious disease. There are 10,000–40,000 cases per year and 10–20 deaths.1 In 2013, there were more than 28,000 cases in the United States. Pertussis is most serious in…
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12/24/20 – Provider Alert: Increased Concern of Suicide Risk in Youth During COVID-19
**Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** Questions? Contact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control, 509-249-6509 Requested actions: Screen patients for suicide risk, particularly children, teens, and young adults. See the Screening section below for more information. Share information and resources with patients and their families on crisis support, suicide…
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12/12/20 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Be aware, Governor Inslee extended proclamations 20-05 and 20-24 prohibiting certain medical and dental procedures. All Western Washington healthcare facilities should operate in a contingency care phase—provide appropriate clinical care so long as access to PPE is sufficient and, for hospitals, surge capacity is at least 20%. Be aware, due to rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases across…
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12/3/20 Provider Alert: CDC Updates COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines and Influenza Testing
Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Influenza, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus**Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** Requested Actions Be aware CDC issued new guidelines to reduce quarantine for people who have been exposed to COVID-19 Ensure to continue to test for influenza when suspected Recommend influenza vaccine to all eligible people older than 6 months. Continue to counsel patients…
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12/2/20 Health Advisory: COVID-19 updates for providers
Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesHealth Advisory: COVID-19 updates for providers Requested actions Be aware, because of the rapidly increasing cases across the state, heightened restrictions continue through Dec. 14. Counsel patients on how to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Test patients with new COVID-19 symptoms and those who had close contact with a person with COVID-19. Be aware, an increased demand for…
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Provider Alert 10/19/2020: State updates return to school guidance for COVID-19 cases, HIV clusters & Outbreaks, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults (MIS-A)
Health Advisory, HIV & STDs, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Novel Coronavirus, Provider Resources, SchoolsOctober 19, 2020 Requested Actions Review updated guidance from The Washington State Department of Health (DOH)for allowing children to return to school or childcare and school staff to return to work following a positive COVID-19 symptom screening, as it pertains to potential impact on primary care and other healthcare providers. Be aware CDC issued…
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First Confirmed Case of West Nile Virus in Yakima County
First confirmed case of West Nile Virus reported in Yakima County Requested Actions Be aware that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitos in Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties. Yakima County has reported the first human case of WNV in Washington this year. Be aware of signs and symptoms of WNV infection. Fax…
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Situation Update 9/03/2020
Situation Update 09/03/2020 Contact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control 509-249-6509 Requested actions No community-based testing will be occurring for the next three weeks. Providers urged to increase COVID-19 testing capacity to support additional people seeking testing. Reduce barriers to testing such as scheduling appointments several days out, or requiring symptoms to get tested, etc.…