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05/23/24 Health Advisory: Pertussis Increasing in Washington
Summary Current situation in Washington In 2023 CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) week 1–18, healthcare providers reported 24 cases of confirmed or probable pertussis in Washington. In this same period in 2024, providers reported 170 cases. This is a 6-fold increase. Multiple health jurisdictions reported increases. DOH (Washington State Department of Health) updates its weekly pertussis update every Friday. Recommendations for…
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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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04/24/23 Health Advisory: Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Use Expanded, Monovalent No Longer Authorized
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Monovalent Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. Read below for how to discard and report as waste. Use the new simplified schedule to administer COVID-19 vaccine. People who are 65 years or older or have immune compromise can now get a second bivalent booster…
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04/20/23 Health Advisory: Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment for People Newly Arrived from Ukraine
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Test for tuberculosis (TB) people newly arrived from Ukraine, within 90 days of arriving in the United States. Test result Action Positive IGRA or TST Order chest X-ray. Positive IGRA or TST and normal chest x-ray Offer and encourage latent TB infection (LTBI) treatment. Positive IGRA or TST and abnormal chest x-ray Contact…
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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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02/22/23 Health Advisory: Increase COVID-19 Treatment Access, Prescribing and Uptake
COVID-19 treatment is shown to reduce hospitalization. Yet it is under-used for high-risk patients with acute COVID-19. High-risk patients are: COVID-19 continues to cause 2,000 to 3,000 deaths each week in the United States. On Feb. 6, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) relaunched its free telehealth program. The program, in partnership with Color Health,…
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12/19/22 Health Advisory: Antiviral Flu Treatment Interim Guidance
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Influenza, Influenza Update, News and Alerts, Provider ResourcesBe advised: Background Seasonal flu activity is high across the United States. Vaccination and antiviral treatment help prevent and control flu. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 4 antivirals for early treatment of outpatients with flu: oseltamivir, baloxavir, zanamivir and peramivir. While FDA does not report shortages of oseltamivir in any of its forms, providers…
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12/19/22 Health Advisory: Newly Arrived Ukrainian Citizens’ Medical and Mental Health Needs
On April 21, 2022, President Biden announced a new Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) process to help Ukrainian citizens fleeing war come to the United States temporarily. As of Nov. 18, 2022: Newly arrived Ukrainian citizens have various medical and mental health needs. Resources
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11/08/22 Health Advisory: Increased Respiratory Virus Activity
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Provider Resources, SchoolsMultiple viruses are causing increased respiratory illness, especially among children, straining healthcare systems. Transmission of respiratory illnesses is increased in our communities. Schools report much higher absenteeism than normal for this time of year. Our hospital emergency departments are seeing many patients. This increase in illness early in respiratory illness season highlights the importance of…
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10/27/22 Health Advisory: 2022–2023 Influenza Season Surveillance, Testing & Treatment
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Influenza, Influenza Update, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Vaccine This season’s updates in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Prevention and Control of Influenza (MMWR Vol. 71/No. 1): Surveillance Seasonal influenza surveillance starts in October and continues through April. We expect SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses will circulate simultaneously. To aid testing and treatment decisions, stay aware of local influenza and…
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10/19/22 Health Advisory: Updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters available to children 5 years or older
Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup approved an age expansion for updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. The expansion allows children: 5–11 years old to get 1 booster dose of Pfizer pediatric updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. 6–17 years old to get 1…
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10/03/22 Health Advisory: Severe cases of monkeypox among people with immune compromise
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Advisory, monkeypox, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesSince May 2022, the United States has seen more than 25,000 cases of monkeypox virus (MPV). Most cases are mild to moderate, but some people are at higher risk of severe illness: Under 8 years old. Immune compromise. Atopic dermatitis or eczema. Pregnant. Unsuppressed or uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Of those currently diagnosed with MPV…
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09/09/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 and Monkeypox Update for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, monkeypox, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesCOVID-19 Monkeypox Monkeypox virus (MPV) is an ongoing health emergency. Pierce County has 40 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 to report suspected or confirmed cases within 24 hours. Jynneos vaccine We have a limited…