Provider Resources WA

09/28/23 Health Advisory: 2023–2024 Respiratory Illness Season

| September 28, 2023
Adult holding a child. A nurse is listening to the child's lungs.

This 2023–2024 respiratory illness season, we’re monitoring 3 common causes of respiratory illness that circulate in Pierce County: influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. Influenza Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States last flu season (2022–2023) caused: Those at highest risk for severe illness include: Guidelines RSV RSV … 09/28/23 Health Advisory: 2023–2024 Respiratory Illness Season

09/26/23: Regional healthcare organizations adopt masking guidelines

| September 26, 2023
Child blowing their nose looking off to the side

Healthcare facilities in the region have joined together voluntarily to prioritize the health and safety of patients and employees by adopting interim thresholds for universal masking in hospitals and outpatient clinics.   When thresholds are crossed, which indicates increased regional respiratory illness activity and impact, masking by staff and patients will be required in patient care … 09/26/23: Regional healthcare organizations adopt masking guidelines

09/19/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized

| September 19, 2023
hands in blue medical gloves holding a syringe and drawing from a vile

On 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. On Sept. 12, 2023, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended everyone 6 months or older get new, updated (2023–2024) COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government will no longer provide COVID-19 vaccine. … 09/19/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized

08/21/23 Health Advisory: DOH links listeria outbreak to Frugals restaurant in Pierce County

| August 21, 2023
Three cleaning spray bottles - two with read nozzles one with white.

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 … 08/21/23 Health Advisory: DOH links listeria outbreak to Frugals restaurant in Pierce County

07/19/23: The first case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington

| July 19, 2023
Holding hands in a hospital bed.

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 … 07/19/23: The first case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington

04/24/23 Health Advisory: Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Use Expanded, Monovalent No Longer Authorized

| April 24, 2023
Warning yellow triangle with black exclamation point on left. "Health Advisory" on right.

Requested 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 … 04/24/23 Health Advisory: Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Use Expanded, Monovalent No Longer Authorized

04/19/23 Health Advisory: Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment for People Newly Arrived from Ukraine

| April 19, 2023
female doctor reviewing lung xray

Requested 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 … 04/19/23 Health Advisory: Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment for People Newly Arrived from Ukraine

03/14/23 Health Advisory: Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis

| March 14, 2023
Pair of hands lathering soap over a steel sink

Requested 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, … 03/14/23 Health Advisory: Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis

02/22/23 Health Advisory: Increase COVID-19 Treatment Access, Prescribing and Uptake

| February 22, 2023
close up of a line of prescription pill bottles

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, … 02/22/23 Health Advisory: Increase COVID-19 Treatment Access, Prescribing and Uptake

02/13/23 Health Advisory: Shop Me Ca “Diep Bao Cream” Recalled

| February 16, 2023
Green background with white lettering -- the product label.

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 … 02/13/23 Health Advisory: Shop Me Ca “Diep Bao Cream” Recalled