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8/25/25 Health Advisory: Potentially Dangerous Heat Wave in Washington this Week
Current Situation The National Weather Service has forecasted a potentially dangerous long-duration heat event for Washington State and the Western US, beginning August 22 and extending to midweek this week. During this time, elevated daytime temperatures and limited cooling at night may pose a moderate to major risk for heat-related illnesses, with some areas under…
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5/31/20: WCHD Health Alert COVID-19 Update – COVID-19 Reporting and Testing Update
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]May 31, 2020 Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division Update on COVID-19 Reporting and Testing Requested actions: Report all…
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5/16/20 WCHD Influenza Report
Whatcom County 2019-20 Influenza Report Weeks 19-20: May 3-16, 2020 Click here for the full Influenza Report for 2019-20 Weeks 19-20. Summary The current 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19) has likely impacted data. During weeks 19-20 there were no positive influenza tests reported by Family Care Network, PeaceHealth Medical Group Pediatric Clinic, or Sea…
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5/2/20 WCHD Influenza Report
Whatcom County 2019-20 Influenza Report Weeks 17-18, April 19-May 2, 2020 Click here for the full Influenza Report for 2019-20 Weeks 17-18. Summary: The current 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19) has likely impacted data. During weeks 17-18 there were no positive influenza tests reported by Family Care Network, PeaceHealth Medical Group Pediatric Clinic, or…
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5/01/20: WCHD Health Alert COVID-19 Update – COVID-19 Testing Update
Outdated Content – please see most recent alerts. Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division Update on COVID-19 testing Requested actions: Test all patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 regardless of age or health status. COVID-19 can present with symptoms other than cough or dyspnea and may include fever, chills, rigors, myalgia, headache,…
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3/28/20 WCHD Health Alert: COVID-19 Update
Outdated Content – please see most recent alerts. Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division Practice Advisory for Community Testing: Whatcom County Health Department has expanded a drive-through testing site for COVID-19 and is accepting referrals from local providers at its State Street office on a scheduled basis. We have partnered with Northwest…
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Infection Control: Resources and links
Infection Control: Resources and Links – Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities—CDC Guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities —CDC Guideline for hand hygiene in healthcare settings —CDC Guideline for isolation precautions—CDC Guideline for the prevention of surgical site…
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3/20/20 WCHD Health Alert: COVID-19 Update Current guidance on testing, PPE, Isolation, Quarantine, and Return to Work for HCW.
COVID-19, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesMarch 20, 2020 Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division Washington DOH issued two documents this week summarizing current guidance on COVID-19 testing, PPE use, isolation, quarantine, and return to work for healthcare workers, superseding previous guidance. Please review both of these short documents carefully. Attached are the two documents updating guidance on…
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3/17/20 WCHD Health Alert: COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesOutdated Content – please see most recent alerts. Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division Who to Test for COVID-19: COVID-19 testing is allowed based on clinician’s judgement per CDC. This opens up access under the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that regulates public health and clinical laboratories. COVID-19 testing is recommended for:…
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3/03/20: WCHD Health Alert COVID-19 Features Update
Outdated Content – please see most recent alerts. Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division The Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) is currently fielding a large number of questions from the individuals who report respiratory symptoms or other health concerns potentially related to COVID-19. Reminder: WCHD does not diagnose patients. As a reminder…
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Health Advisory: COVID-19 Cases Increasing in Multiple Countries
Requested 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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Health Advisory: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Respiratory Infection
There is 1 lab-confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in Washington, a traveler who returned to Snohomish County from Wuhan, China. Requested actions Get a detailed travel history when evaluating patients with fever and acute respiratory illness. Suspect 2019-nCoV in patients with: Clinical Features Epidemiologic Risk Fever1 or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough or shortness of…
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WCHD Epi Watch July 2019
EPI WATCH: July 2019 Click here for the full July 2019 Epi Watch report. In This Issue: Lyme Disease Bat Exposures Infection Control Hepatitis Notifiable Conditions