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Provider Alert: Subtyping of Influenza A is Recommended for Hospitalized Patients
This is a Provider Alert from the Washington State Department of Health and . On January 16, 2025 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Advisory recommending influenza A testing for all hospitalized patients with suspected influenza, and also recommending expedited subtyping for influenza A-positive specimens. Providers and clinical laboratories in…
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09/20/23 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 ResourcesOn Sept. 11, 2023, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized for emergency use new, updated (2023–2024) COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. FDA 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…
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08/21/23 Health Advisory: DOH links listeria outbreak to Frugals restaurant in Pierce County
Washington State Department of Health found Listeria bacteria in milkshake machines at Frugals restaurant in Parkland (10727 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444). Investigators used genome sequencing and interviews to link it to a recent outbreak that has killed three people and sent three more to the hospital. Read DOH’s release to learn more. Most…
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07/19/23: The first case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington
A Pierce County man was diagnosed July 13 with colonization due to Candida auris (C. auris), a multidrug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections. This is believed to be the first locally acquired case in Washington. C. auris is a type of yeast that can cause severe illness, especially in those suffering from serious medical conditions who have…
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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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04/19/23 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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Telehealth sexual and reproductive health care services now available in Washington
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has launched a new webpage and tool to find telehealth sexual and reproductive health care services in Washington. The new DOH webpage and tool offers information about 37 clinics in the Washington State Sexual and Reproductive Health Network that provide telehealth appointments. Available telehealth services include birth control refills, pregnancy options counseling,…
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03/14/23 Health Advisory: Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, News and Update, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested 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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02/13/23 Health Advisory: Shop Me Ca “Diep Bao Cream” Recalled
Actions requested Providers, facilities, parents and children should stop using Diep Bao Baby Skin Cream. Background On Feb. 1, 2023, Shop Me Ca recalled Diep Bao Skin Cream because of possible health risk. Shop Me Ca of Herndon, Virginia recalled its 10-gram tubes of “Diep Bao Cream” because they have the potential to be contaminated…
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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…
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Health Advisory: Updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters authorized for children 6 months to 5 years old
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesEarlier this month, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded emergency use authorization (EUA) of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccines for children 6 months and older. Updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster vaccines are formulated to boost immunity against the original coronavirus strain and protect against the newer omicron…