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West Coast Health Alliance, WA DOH, and Leading National Medical Organizations Continue to Recommend Hepatitis B Vaccination for Newborns
WCHA disagrees with CDC’s Advisory Committee’s change to decades-long vaccine recommendation that has reduced pediatric hepatitis B infections by 99 percent. The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) strongly supports that hepatitis B vaccination continue to be routinely offered to all newborns, with the first dose of the vaccine given within 24 hours of birth for…
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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
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Health Advisory: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Respiratory Infection in Washington
A traveler who recently returned to Snohomish County from Wuhan, China has lab-confirmed 2019-nCoV. Requested actions Get a detailed travel history when evaluating patients with fever and acute respiratory illness. Suspect 2019-nCoV in patients with: Fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing) and in the 14 days before symptom onset: Traveled to Wuhan City, China,…
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WCHD Epi Watch April 2019
EPI WATCH: April 2019 Click here for the full April 2019 Epi Watch report. Inside This Issue: Measles Vaccines Influenza Notifiable Conditions
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WCHD Epi Watch January 2019
EPI WATCH: January 2019 Click here for the full January 2019 Epi Watch report. Inside This Issue: Vaccines Mumps Outbreaks Harm Reduction TB Referrals Notifiable Conditions
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Health Advisory: Outbreak of Pneumonia of Unknown Etiology in Wuhan, China
Treating patients who traveled in the region and have severe respiratory symptoms Requested actions: Consider pneumonia in patients with severe respiratory symptoms who: Traveled to Wuhan, China since Dec. 1, 2019, and Had onset of illness within 2 weeks of returning, and Do not have another known diagnosis that explains their illness. If a patient…
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12/28/19 WCHD Influenza Report
Whatcom County 2019-20 Influenza Report Weeks 51-52: December 15-28, 2019 Summary During weeks 51-52 there were nineteen positive influenza A tests, and two hundred thirty-six positive influenza B tests, reported by Family Care Network, Quest Diagnostics at PeaceHealth, and Sea Mar combined. There were fourteen hospitalizations related to influenza-like illness during weeks 51-52. No deaths…
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12/7/19 WCHD Influenza Report
Whatcom County 2019-20 Influenza Report Weeks 48-49: November 24-December 7, 2019 Summary During weeks 48-49 there were thirteen positive influenza A tests, and thirty-four positive influenza B tests reported by Quest Diagnostics at PeaceHealth, Family Care Network, and Sea Mar combined. There were less than ten hospitalizations related to influenza-like-illness during weeks 48-49. No…
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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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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…