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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: Update & Interim Guidance on Outbreak of COVID-19
Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel CoronavirusThis is an evolving situation. The guidance is subject to change frequently. Please ensure you are reviewing the information as it comes out. Washington state is responding to an outbreak of COVID-19. As of this morning there are 70 confirmed cases in Washington State. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in Yakima County. Routine outpatient…
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Health Advisory: COVID-19 Cases Increasing in Multiple Countries
Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, TravelRequested actions Be aware COVID-19 cases are increasing globally. Get a detailed travel history for patients with fever and acute respiratory illness. Ask patients with suspected COVID-19 infection to wear a surgical mask. Evaluate them in a private room with the door closed, ideally an airborne infection isolation room. All healthcare personnel entering the room…
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Upcoming MAT Waiver Training Opportunity
Completion of this free 4 hour in-person course followed by a 4 hour online course allows physicians to apply for the waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder. ARNPs and PA-Cs require a 16 hour online course. Non-prescriber OUD care team members, including RNs and Substance Use Disorder Professionals, are encouraged to…
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Health Advisory: Evaluating and Reporting Suspected E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)
Requested actions Ask all patients if they recently used e-cigarette or vaping products and which substances they used. Ask patients who report using e-cigarette or vaping products about respiratory, gastrointestinal and constitutional symptoms (e.g., cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever). Perform chest X-ray. Consider chest CT to evaluate…
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Support Youth Addicted to Nicotine
Supporting Youth who are Addicted to Nicotine: Advice for Pediatricians Ask the Right Questions: •Ask about tobacco and nicotine use in the context of routine screening, using language that youth will understand. Sample screening questions include: o “Do you use any tobacco products, like cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or hookah? Have you used them in the…
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2019-2020 Influenza Season Preparedness
Surveillance updates Seasonal influenza surveillance begins in October and ends in April. It is important to stay up to date on local influenza activity. Vaccine Both influenza A components of this season’s vaccine are different from last season. Both B components are unchanged. CDC recommends influenza vaccine for everyone over age 6 months for whom…
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Vaping-associated Pulmonary Illness
CDC Urges Clinicians to Report Cases of Unexplained Vaping-associated Pulmonary Illness Multiple cases of severe pulmonary disease in patients who use vape products have occurred in Wisconsin and Illinois. Requested actions Ask patients who present with respiratory or pulmonary illness if they vape THC or e-juice. Determine what kind of THC or e-juice they’ve vaped,…
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Statewide Standing Order for Naloxone
On Aug. 28, 2019, Washington State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy signed a statewide standing order for naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. The standing order works like a prescription and allows any Washington person or organization to get naloxone from a pharmacy. We want to remind our local pharmacies and healthcare…
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Outbreak of Hepatitis A in Washington
Washington state is experiencing a hepatitis A outbreak in multiple counties in people who are living homeless or who use drugs. Requested actions Give hepatitis A vaccine to unvaccinated patients living homeless or using drugs. Suspect hepatitis A in patients with acute onset of jaundice, vomiting, anorexia and elevated liver function test results—especially those living…
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MMR Vaccine Exemption Law Change
In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that removes the personal/philosophical exemption to the MMR vaccine requirement for schools and child cares. The new law removes the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine required for school and child care entry. The law: Takes effect…
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Expedited Partner Therapy
There are temporary changes to Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) packs distribution. This is a result of the Washington State Department of Health undergoing an audit of its program. Please: Stop giving out EPT packs. Give the patient a prescription for their partner to fill at their pharmacy of choice. Advise that the partner will need…