-
1/16/26 Health Update: Measles Outbreak Declared in Snohomish County
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Measles, News and Update, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesAdditional measles cases confirmed in Snohomish County. See Snohomish County Health Department’s latest announcement here. All known public exposure locations are listed on the measles map tracker. Requested Actions for Healthcare Providers Immediately report suspected measles cases Remain alert for measles in patients presenting with: Consider proactive measures to protect patients and staff in your…
-
WCHD Provider Advisory: Secretary of Health Mask order for Healthcare Settings continues
Be Aware The Statewide Face Covering Order issues by the Washington State Secretary of Health will remain in place for health care and long term-care settings as well as correctional facilities after the state of emergency ends Oct 31. Background Order 20-03.9 requires face masks in health care and long-term care settings regardless of the county’s…
-
09/14/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunization, Provider ResourcesFDA removed its authorization of current (monovalent) Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines for use as booster doses in people 12 years or older. As of Aug. 31, you may no longer give current (monovalent) Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as booster doses to people 12 years or older. Reschedule existing booster dose appointments for people 12 years…
-
09/14/22 Health Advisory: Monkey Pox Information for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Advisory, monkeypox, Provider ResourcesMonkeypox Monkeypox virus (MPV) is an ongoing health emergency. Whatcom County has 2 reported cases. The United States has over 21,000 reported cases. See our provider resources monkeypox page for prevention, testing and treatment guidance. Monkeypox is a notifiable condition. Call 360-778-6150 to report suspected or confirmed cases within 24 hours. Jynneos vaccine We have a limited…
-
08/26/22 Health Advisory: Monkeypox Update for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, monkeypox, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware, the first cases of monkeypox virus (MPV) in cisgender adult females and an adolescent under the age of 18 were reported in Washington State. Clinicians should suspect Monkeypox virus infection in any patient presenting with one or more lesions that suggest monkeypox infection, regardless of the patient’s age, social history, gender,…
-
07/18/22 Health Advisory: Updated Monkeypox Guidance
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, monkeypox, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Washington currently has 53 reported cases of monkeypox, mostly in King County. Early cases were linked to travel but Public Health Seattle–King County announced last week the virus is likely spreading locally. Monkeypox is rare and not often seen in the United States. It can cause a rash that looks like bumps, blisters…
-
06/24/22 Health Advisory: Updated Monkeypox Guidance
Requested actions Immediately report suspected monkeypox cases to Whatcom County Health Department. Call the reporting line: 360-778-6150. Submit a suspect monkeypox intake form to help us determine whether to test for monkeypox. Be aware, recent confirmed cases of monkeypox in the United States differ from the classic monkeypox presentation of previous outbreaks. To date, all…
-
06/24/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children as Young as 6 Months
Be aware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup concluded COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children as young as 6 months. Available to children 6 months to 4 years old: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, in a 3-dose primary series. Be sure to review dosage and vial labeling…
-
06/14/22 Health Advisory: Routine childhood immunization rates down
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Immunization, Immunizations, News and AlertsBackground On May 12, 2022, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced many children are behind on routine vaccinations compared to pre-pandemic levels. The report found, from June 2019 to December 2021, immunization rates dropped: ↓ 9.6% in children 19–35 months old ↓ 3.9% in children 4–6 years old ↓ 3.6% in children 11–12 years…
-
05/24/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment
Advisory or Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Infection Control, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory about COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment. Continue to offer Paxlovid for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in people at high risk of severe disease. Be aware, providers have reported COVID-19 rebound—recurring symptoms or a new positive test after…
-
05/24/22 Health Advisory: Monkeypox virus in non-endemic countries
Advisory or Update, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware, monkeypox virus infections are occurring in non-endemic countries, including 1 case in the United States. Assess for alternative etiologies in conditions causing pox-like lesions—herpes simplex, syphilis, varicella, etc. Report suspected or confirmed monkeypox cases to the Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD). Call 360-778-6150. WCHD will coordinate testing at the public health…
-
05/20/22 Health Advisory: CDC Recommends 5-11 year olds get a Pfizer COVID-19 Booster
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Alert, Immunization, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recommend children 5-11 years should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose five months after completion of the primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This recommendation comes after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its emergency use…
-
05/19/22 Health Advisory: Severe Hepatitis of Unknown Cause in Children
Actions Requested Be aware of severe cases of hepatitis in children that are occurring in the U.S. and worldwide. Consider adenovirus testing in pediatric patients with hepatitis of unknown cause (see preferred samples below). Report suspect cases in children to Whatcom County Health Department. A suspect case is a child with elevated AST or ALT…