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9/29/25 Health Advisory: Clade I Mpox Virus Detected in Wastewater; Rise in Cases of Clade II Mpox
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Alert, monkeypox, News and Alerts, Notifiable ConditionsThis is a Provider Alert from the Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH) Office of Infectious Disease. WA DOH is requesting that providers remain alert for cases of mpox due to: Current Situation: Mpox (formerly “monkeypox”), the infection caused by the mpox virus (MPXV), has been circulating at low levels in Washington State since…
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Needlestick Injury or Other Blood Exposure Procedures – Training Document
Needlestick Injury or Other Blood Exposure Procedure Purpose: Prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Definition of substantial exposure to potentially infectious body fluids: Any percutaneous, mucosal, or non-intact skin contact with the blood or other potentially infectious bodily fluids of another person. In some instances, the Health Department may consider gross exposure of intact skin to…
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Treatment Guidelines: Key Updates
Treatment of Uncomplicated Gonococcal Infections of the Cervix, Urethra, Pharynx, and Rectum Recommended treatment regimen is dual therapy with Ceftriaxone 250 mg IM in a single dose plus Azithromycin 1 gm p.o. in a single dose. Doxycycline is no longer recommended for use in conjunction with Ceftriaxone to treat gonorrhea. If Ceftriaxone is not available,…
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Health Advisory: Change in Consent Requirement for HIV Testing
Overview In the past, providers were required to get exceptional consent before testing patients for HIV. On June 7, 2018, Washington State Legislature Bill SB 6580 passed, repealing the law requiring exceptional consent for HIV testing. Now HIV testing has the same notification and consent requirement as any other medical test. Impacts of this Change…
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Health Advisory: 2018-2019 Influenza Reporting, Testing and Treatment
Reporting Seasonal influenza surveillance begins in October. Influenza surveillance relies on high-quality data received from healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, laboratories and other partners in the community. It is early in the season, but laboratory-confirmed influenza and influenza-associated hospitalizations have already occurred in Washington. Washington law requires healthcare providers to report the following…
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Health Advisory: Increase in Suspected Cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
Increase in Suspected Cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) As of Oct. 9, 2018, 5 cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in Washington are being evaluated by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) neurologists and other AFM experts. All cases are among children between 7 months and 5 years of age who presented with…
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West Nile Virus
Background and Epidemiology WNV infection first became a public health problem in the United States in the late 1990s. WNV is a mosquito-borne flavivirus in the same family as yellow fever, dengue fever and St. Louis encephalitis. In rare situations, blood transfusion, organ transplant, transplacental, breastfeeding and percutaneous injury of laboratory workers can transmit the…
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MRSA Resources for Schools
What is MRSA? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria resistant to many forms of antibiotics. Many people carry it in their nose or on their skin. Most infections affect the skin, but MRSA can also infect other organs. Without treatment, infections can be life threatening, causing severe complications like sepsis or endocarditis.…
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Health Advisory: Unhealthy Air Quality
Unhealthy Air Quality Guidance for Healthcare Providers On Aug. 19, 2018, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency determined air quality in Pierce County will be unhealthy for everyone for the next several days. This means everyone should stay indoors and refrain from outdoor activities until the clean air agency lifts or revises the air quality…
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Flu Symptoms Checklist
Should my child stay home from school? ☐ Yes ☐ No Does your child have a sore throat, bad cough or runny nose? ☐ Yes ☐ No Does your child have body aches and chills? ☐ Yes ☐ No Does your child have a fever of 100°F or higher? If no thermometer, does your…
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School Opiate Overdose Resources
Schools can prepare for opiate overdose. About 2,500 Washington State 12th graders had tried heroin at least once and even more (about 3,500 ) use pain killers to get high in any given month. Almost one in 10 teens believe prescription drug misuse carries little to no risk. –2018 Health Youth Survey If a student…
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Opiate Overdose Resources
Schools can prepare for opiate overdose. “In 2016, about 3,621 Washington State 12th graders had tried heroin at least once and even more (about 4,526) use pain killers to get high in any given month.” If a student overdoses, a medication called naloxone could save their life. To prevent and prepare for opiate overdose, schools…