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01/23/2025 Health Advisory: Subtyping of Influenza A Recommended for Hospitalized Patients
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Infection Control, Influenza, Influenza Update, News and Alerts, Notifiable ConditionsLast week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Advisory recommending influenza A testing for all hospitalized patients with suspected influenza, and also recommending expedited subtyping for influenza A-positive specimens. Providers and clinical laboratories in Washington should: Current Situation Seasonal influenza activity is currently high in Washington State, and across the…
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Northwest Regional Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report for week ending 10/21/23
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Communicable Disease Data Report, COVID-19, Influenza Update, News and AlertsThe Regional Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report for week ending 10/21/23 is now available. PDF of report available here.
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Regional Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report for week ending 10/14/23
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Communicable Disease Data Report, News and AlertsThe Regional Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report for week ending 10/14/23 is now available. PDF of report available here.
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10/17/23 Health Advisory: FDA Authorized New Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Formulation
Advisory or Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesThe new adjuvanted (2023–2204) formulation of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for people 12 years or older as follows: Updated 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine availability may be limited and vary by location. Help patients understand this situation and thank them for their patience. Resources Questions?
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Northwest Regional Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Communicable Disease Data Report, COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Health Alert, Influenza, Influenza Update, News and Alerts, News and Update, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesWhatcom County Health and Community Services is providing a report on respiratory virus activity in our multi-county North Sound region to support the consensus statement on universal masking in healthcare that was recently generated by several large regional healthcare organizations and coordinated by the Northwest Healthcare Response Network. A collaborative group identified percent (%) of ED…
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09/28/23 Health Advisory: 2023–2024 Respiratory Illness Season
Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Influenza, News and Alerts, Provider ResourcesThis 2023–2024 respiratory illness season, we’re monitoring 3 common causes of respiratory illness that circulate in Whatcom County: influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. Influenza Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States last flu season (2022–2023) caused: Those at highest risk for severe illness include: Guidelines RSV RSV…
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09/21/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Provider ResourcesFDA deauthorized previous bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. On Sept. 11, 2023, FDA deauthorized previous bivalent COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. CDC recommends new, updated (2023–2024) COVID-19 vaccines. CDC’s new, updated (2023–2014) COVID-19 vaccine recommendations: Vaccination remains the best way to prevent COVID-19 hospitalization and death and reduces the risk of long COVID. The new, updated…
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9/11/23 Health Advisory: reports of fatal Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) infections
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, News and Update, Notifiable Conditions, Provider Resources, UncategorizedThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to: Recommendations for Healthcare ProfessionalsThis guidance pertains to managing severe V. vulnificus wound infections. Diagnosis Clinical Management Clinician Reporting Recommendations for the PublicTaking the following steps can help keep you safe: Contacting Whatcom County Health and Community Services.…
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07/19/23: The first case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington
A Pierce County man was diagnosed July 13 with colonization due to Candida auris (C. auris), a multidrug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections. This is believed to be the first locally acquired case in Washington. C. auris is a type of yeast that can cause severe illness, especially in those suffering from serious medical conditions who have…
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07/06/23 Health Advisory: Syphilis Treatment Impacted by Bicillin L-A Shortage
Penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin L-A) is in short supply due to increased demand. Syphilis is increasing in all groups, especially in heterosexual people. Reserve Bicillin L-A for pregnant people with or exposed to syphilis, or babies with congenital syphilis. Read on for syphilis: Treatment. Testing with reverse algorithm. Reserve Bicillin L-A for pregnant people. Reserve…
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5/25/23 Health Advisory: Measles Activity in Washington State
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Advisory, Measles, News and Alerts, News and Update, Provider ResourcesBackground Seattle & King County and the Washington State Department of Health have identified a confirmed case of measles in a King County resident with unknown vaccine history. There was no specifically identified exposure, and the infection appears to be U.S. acquired (no international travel). The individual with measles visited the following public locations in Seattle, WA during their…
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03/14/23 Health Advisory: Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Advisory, Infection Control, Notifiable Conditions, Provider Resources, TravelRequested actions Background Shigellosis is an acute enteric infection. It is an important cause of domestically acquired and travel-associated bacterial diarrhea in the United States. A low infectious dose makes Shigella bacteria easily transmitted from person to person. Consider shigellosis in the differential diagnosis of acute diarrhea, especially in people who: Shigellosis can be a mild,…
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Whatcom County Health Advisory
Immunization Reminder- Students 4 years of age on or before September 1, 2023, must receive additional doses of vaccine to attend school. Whatcom County Health and Community Services Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division Background In the past, students had 30 days from the first day of attendance to turn in their immunization documentation to the…