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03/10/25 Health Advisory: Report any serious adverse events after ceftriaxone administration
Summary On Feb. 7, 2025, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a call for cases related to about 10 severe adverse events that closely followed ceftriaxone injection or infusion. The events began Sept. 1, 2024. No single product type or lot number is tied to these severe events. While there is no confirmed…
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10/16/23 Health Advisory: FDA Authorized New Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Formulation
Advisory or Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesThe new adjuvanted (2023–2204) formulation of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for people 12 years or older as follows: Updated 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine availability may be limited and vary by location. Help patients understand this situation and thank them for their patience. Resources Questions?
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09/28/23 Health Advisory: 2023–2024 Respiratory Illness Season
Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Influenza, News and Alerts, Provider ResourcesThis 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…
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09/26/23: Regional healthcare organizations adopt masking guidelines
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…
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09/19/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized
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.…
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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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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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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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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…