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05/21/26 Health Advisory: Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
Situation summary The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed an outbreak of Ebola disease in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola . In neighboring Uganda, health authorities confirmed 2 cases of Ebola disease in people who had traveled from DRC. A case of Ebola
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TB Screening for Healthcare Personnel – Updated CDC Guidelines
CDC updated its guidelines for TB screening among healthcare personnel in 2019. Here’s what you need to know: *A companion document to these recommendations was put out in July 2020 by a task force comprised of the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. In it you will find
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Infection Control: Resources and links
Infection Control: Resources and Links – Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities—CDC Guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities —CDC Guideline for hand hygiene in healthcare settings —CDC Guideline for isolation precautions—CDC Guideline for the prevention of surgical site
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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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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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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
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MMR Vaccine Exemption Law Change
In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that removes the personal/philosophical exemption to the MMR vaccine requirement for schools and child cares. The new law removes the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine required for school and child care entry. The law: Takes effect
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Marijuana Prevention
We work to protect the health of youth. We work with community partners to prevent youth marijuana use. Marijuana use is illegal for people under the age of 21. Why is this work important? Marijuana use puts teens at higher risk for addiction. Youth who use marijuana are more likely to fail in school. Most
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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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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