Provider Resources WA

01/19/24 Health Advisory: Measles Outbreak in Southwest Washington

| January 19, 2024
Person with head down, covering mouth with hand

An active measles outbreak investigation is underway in Clark and Wahkiakum Counties. As of Jan. 10, 2024, investigators have identified 3 lab-confirmed and 3 epidemiologically linked measles cases in unvaccinated adults. Symptoms began in mid-to-late December. All report isolating at home during their contagious period. Investigators have not identified any public exposure locations. Healthcare providers … 01/19/24 Health Advisory: Measles Outbreak in Southwest Washington

12/15/23 Health Advisory: Test for tuberculosis people who were incarcerated

| December 15, 2023
TB Skin Test

A large outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in the state prison system may affect more than 800 people who were incarcerated. Requested actions Ask patients about risk factors for TB exposure: Test people with risk factors unless they have a known history of TB infection or TB disease. Evaluate people who test positive to rule out … 12/15/23 Health Advisory: Test for tuberculosis people who were incarcerated

09/20/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized

| September 20, 2023
hands in blue medical gloves holding a syringe and drawing from a vile

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 vaccine recommendations: Vaccination remains the best way to prevent COVID-19 hospitalization and death and reduces the risk of long COVID. The new, updated … 09/20/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized

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

04/20/23 Health Advisory: Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment for People Newly Arrived from Ukraine

| April 21, 2023
Person sitting at a desk, with clipboard and pend, holding a chest X-ray,

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 … 04/20/23 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

12/19/22 Health Advisory: Antiviral Flu Treatment Interim Guidance

| December 19, 2022
close up of a line of prescription pill bottles

Be 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 … 12/19/22 Health Advisory: Antiviral Flu Treatment Interim Guidance

12/19/22 Health Advisory: Newly Arrived Ukrainian Citizens’ Medical and Mental Health Needs

| December 19, 2022
two people (profile view) sitting at a window facing each other.

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

11/08/22 Health Advisory: Increased Respiratory Virus Activity

| November 8, 2022
Person with head down, covering mouth with hand

Multiple 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 … 11/08/22 Health Advisory: Increased Respiratory Virus Activity