-
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…
-
Provider Alert: DOH Delayed in processing reports from Clinical Laboratories
Action requested:• Be aware of a delay since Tuesday 7/27/21 of DOH processing reports from clinical laboratories and routing these to local health departments.• Call the WCHD 24-hour Communicable Disease Report Line (360-778-6150) to notify the health department of new COVID-19 and other reportable conditions this weekend.• Local laboratories should call the CD report line…
-
7/26/21 Health Advisory: Increased Syphilis Transmission Among Heterosexuals
Requested actions Be aware syphilis transmission is increasing among heterosexuals. Test all pregnant women for syphilis at their first prenatal visit. At 24-28 weeks gestation (early third trimester), re-evaluate for risk factors and test again for syphilis if any exist. Test the following people when they present for care (including at emergency departments): Sexually active…
-
COVID-19 provider alert regarding unaddressed behavioral health conditions for healthcare and public health workforce
Actions Requested Engage in a PsySTART-Responder assessment if struggling with feeling trapped within a job, despair from being overextended, or emotionally overwhelmed. See Recommendations section for more information. Practice resilience to reduce compassion fatigue,a burnout,b emotional exhaustion, depersonalization,c and stress. See Recommendations section for more information. Background Research shows that healthcare and public health workers…
-
7/19/21 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) fact sheets to include possible risks of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following vaccination: Fact sheet for healthcare providers. Fact sheet for patients. Be aware the FDA extended the shelf life of J&J…
-
7/5/21 – Health Advisory: Melioidosis Cases Not Associated with Travel Outside the United States & COVID-19 Update for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware of 3 cases of melioidosis in the United States that are not associated with travel outside the United States that appear related based on genomic analysis. Consider melioidosis in patients with a compatible illness even if they have not traveled to an endemic country. If you suspect or confirm Burkholderia pseudomallei in…
-
6/18/21- Potential Myocarditis and/or Pericarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccinations Remain Rare
On 5/26/21, we sent a health alert about potential myocarditis and/or pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations. These events remain rare and COVID-19 vaccination continues to be recommended as an overall safe and effective measure to protect individuals and prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2, including the current circulating variants. DOH has provided an update on the status of their work…
-
6/7/21 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Be aware of local and national reports of myocarditis and pericarditis among people who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within the last 2 weeks. Promptly report cases to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. Vaccinate everyone 12 years or older against COVID-19. Build trust in COVID-19 vaccines. Review all patients’ vaccination…
-
5/26/2021- Myocarditis or pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state health agencies are aware of reports of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination. To ensure all possible cases are identified, DOH is requesting that health care providers: Consider a diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis in any evaluation…
-
5/13/2021 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Build trust in COVID-19 vaccine. Recommend all patients 12 years or older get vaccinated. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine now authorized for people 12 years or older. Providers can now give COVID-19 vaccine simultaneous with or within any number of days of other vaccines. Providers no longer need to use 95% of their COVID-19 vaccine within…
-
4/26/21 – Health Advisory: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Providers
Requested actions Be aware, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine is again authorized for use in people 18 years or older in Washington starting April 24. Discard any J&J Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheets you have on hand. Use the new J&J EUA Fact Sheet. Monitor and properly treat patients who develop signs and symptoms of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS)—severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath—within 3 weeks…
-
4/14/21 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Immediately pause administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Six people reported severe blood clots after getting Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Offer patients Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Continue to store Johnson & Johnson vaccine and await further instructions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are reviewing these cases…
-
3/29/2021-WCHD Health Alert – SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing – criteria and specimen submission
Overview The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has increased whole genome sequencing capacity to track SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and other emerging variants. DOH is working toward sequencing a geographically representative sample representing at least 5% of positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests in Washington State. DOH has additional capacity to sequence individual specimens to investigate…