-
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…
-
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?
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
02/03/23 Health Advisory: Multistate Cluster of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Associated with Artificial Tears
Actions requested Background Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a cluster of antibiotic-resistant infections that may be linked to artificial tears. The most frequently reported brand was EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free product dispensed in muti-dose bottles. These over-the-counter eye drops are sold widely in…
-
1/25/23 Measles Activity in Washington State
Background Local public health officials in King County are investigating a confirmed measles case in a King County resident, an adult female. The individual was at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Providence Swedish First Hill while infectious. Anyone who was at these locations within the time span that this person passed through may have been exposed to…
-
12/12/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Therapeutics Updates
Advisory or Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Health Alert, Infection Control, News and Alerts, News and Update, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesBebtelovimab no longer authorized in the United States. On Nov. 30, 2022, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for bebtelovimab. Bebtelovimab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat COVID-19. FDA revoked the EUA because the drug lost efficacy against most SARS-CoV-2 variants currently circulating in the United States. Currently,…
-
11/23/22 Health Advisory: Pediatric respiratory illness increasing in Western Washington
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, News and Update, Provider ResourcesOn Nov. 18, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issued a high-level alert on a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing remarkable strain on pediatric emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). This alert followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Nov. 4 Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory on multiple viruses causing…