The Alameda County Public Health Department sends out Health Alerts, Advisories, and Updates regarding communicable disease outbreaks, immunization updates, and other public health concerns to Alameda County clinicians and other partners. See recent releases below.
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Health Alerts
| ALERT | conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention. |
| ADVISORY | provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action. |
| UPDATE | provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action. |
June 13, 2017 |
Advisory |
Alameda County Health Officer Order for Reporting Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are untreatable or difficult to treat bacteria that are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics and nearly all available antibiotics. They can cause serious illness and death; bloodstream infections are fatal in 40% -50% of cases. CRE was designated by the CDC in 2013 as one of the three most urgent drug resistant threats in the United States. CRE are easily spread between infected or colonized patients by health care workers and equipment, unless rigorous infection prevention precautions are taken. Cases and outbreaks of CRE have been increasingly recognized in recent years in Northern California, including Alameda County. On June 13, 2017, the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) issued a Health Officer Order for reporting CRE and submitting CRE isolates to the Alameda County Public Health Laboratory, effective June 15, 2017. |
May 26, 2017 |
Advisory |
Increased Norovirus Activity in School Settings Alameda County and California are experiencing an unusually large proportion of reported gastrointestinal illness outbreaks among students and staff in school settings. This has been attributed to a new strain of
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May 17, 2017 |
Advisory |
Foodborne Botulism Outbreak From mid-April through May 16, 2017, 10 cases of foodborne botulism have been reported to Sacramento, San Joaquin, Colusa and Solano county public health departments. Cases consumed nacho cheese sauce from the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove (Sacramento County). No cases of botulism from this outbreak have been reported in Alameda County residents, but Alameda County residents who consumed prepared food at the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove until May 6 may still develop symptoms. Providers are asked to consider botulism in patients with compatible neurological symptoms and to report suspected cases immediately to the Alameda County Health Department. |
March 02, 2017 |
Update |
ACPHD and BPH Joint Zika Virus Update Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) and Berkeley Public Health (BPH) are now encouraging providers to route Zika virus testing through commercial labs for uncomplicated situations. Routing directly to authorized commercial labs does not compromise quality and improves turnaround time by up to five weeks. Clinicians should continue to obtain testing through Public Health (ACPHD or BPH) in complex or questionable situations, such as:
If there are clinical circumstances where it is unclear whether a specimen should be routed through ACPHD or a commercial lab, clinicians should consult with the ACPHD Acute Communicable Disease section during normal business hours M-F 9am – 5pm by calling 510-267-3250. For Berkeley residents only, contact the Berkeley Communicable Disease program by calling 510-981-5292. |
November 02, 2016 |
Advisory |
Recall of Frozen Strawberries from Egypt Potentially Contaminated with Hepatitis A CA Department of Public Health has issued a Health Advisory on 11/2/16 providing Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Recommendations for persons who may have consumed recalled Frozen Strawberries potentially contaminated with Hepatitis A. A large recall of frozen Egyptian strawberries that have been distributed widely in the United States, including California, has been issued due to the possibility of hepatitis A virus (HAV) contamination. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local officials have been investigating an outbreak of HAV linked to frozen strawberries imported from Egypt. Alameda County Environmental Health & Public Health are conducting follow-up notifications of all Alameda County Facilities known to receive this product, and will work with facilities to ensure any remaining product has been destroyed and identify any persons with potential exposures that occurred within the last 14 days that are recommended to receive Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Additional detailed guidance regarding Hepatitis A PEP are in attached advisory. |
October 24, 2016 |
Advisory |
Zika Virus Disease Updated Advisory As of 9/16/16, the CDC has described the characteristics of 2,382 confirmed or probable cases of Zika virus disease with symptom onset during January 1–July 31, 2016. Most (99%) cases were travel-associated, with 98% reporting travel to an area with Zika transmission, and 1% reporting sexual contact with a returning traveler. United States acquired cases included 26 mosquito-borne cases, one laboratory-acquired infection, and one patient with unknown transmission mode. Sixty-five (3%) patients were hospitalized, and one died. For details, please see http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6536e5. Alameda County has reported 20 cases of Zika virus infections & California has reported 348 (including 43 pregnant women, and 2 infants with birth defects, and 3 due to sexual transmission) as of 10/21/16. All California cases are travel-associated, with no locally acquired mosquito borne transmission. Local Case Counts For updated information on Zika cases in Alameda County and California, please refer to ACPHD Zika website. Case counts will be updated weekly on Fridays. Areas with Active Mosquito-Borne Zika Transmission For information on areas of the world, including parts of the United States, with active Zika virus transmission, please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.html This Zika health advisory summarizes key updates since the last Zika health advisory on 8/6/16. The key updates include new information and guidance for prevention of sexual and travel- associated Zika transmission, Zika testing criteria and availability, and specialty society clinical practice guidelines for managing pregnant women, fetal evaluation, and evaluating and managing infants with possible congenital Zika virus infection. We will be issuing further health advisory updates as relevant information becomes available. |
August 10, 2016 |
Advisory |
Zika Virus Disease Updated Advisory As of 8/3/2016, CDC reports 1818 travel-associated Zika infections in the continental U.S., including 479 infections in pregnant women, 16 sexually transmitted infections, and 5 patientswith Guillain-Barré syndrome. One laboratory-acquired infection has been reported. Florida has reported 6 non-travel associated Zika cases due to local mosquito transmission. As of 7/28/16, 15 liveborn infants with birth defects and 6 pregnancy losses associated with Zika have been reported in the continental U.S. As of 8/5/16 California reports 134 cases including 1 due to sexual transmission, 23 pregnant women, and 2 infants with birth defects. All CA cases have been travel associated; 10 of the 134 cases are in Alameda County. See https://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Zika.aspx for weekly updated case counts. See http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.htm for current list of Zika-affected areas. New information on Zika infection continues to emerge and guidelines for Zika virus testing have been updated by the CDC on 7/25/16. This health advisory summarizes key updates since the last Zika health advisory on 4/1/16 and includes new information and guidance for Zika virus testing in pregnant women in Alameda County as well as updates in interim guidance for prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus for couples in which one partner has traveled to or resides in an area with active Zika transmission. For health care providers: |
June 27, 2016 |
Advisory |
Meningococcal Outbreak in Southern California Since May 2016, nine confirmed cases of Meningococcal disease, including one death, have been reported in men living in Southern California, most of who were men who have sex with men (MSM). Six of the cases are known to be caused by serogroup C and one additional case is awaiting serogroup identification. This represents a substantial increase above the typical number of reported cases. Persons with HIV infection are known to be at risk of Meningococcal disease and vaccines are urged for adult gay and bisexual men at risk, and for all people with HIV. This advisory provides background information and Meningococcal vaccine recommendations to help clinicians safely address the current Meningococcal disease outbreak. |
June 13, 2016 |
Advisory |
Bicillin L-A (Benzathine Penicillin G) Shortage On April 29th, 2016, a Bicillin L-A (Benzathine Penicillin G) drug shortage was announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Benzathine penicillin G is the recommended treatment for syphilis and the only recommended treatment for pregnant women infected with or exposed to syphilis. Other formulations of penicillin, including Bicillin C-R, are not acceptable alternatives to Bicillin L-A for syphilis treatment. The manufacturer estimates the Bicillin L-A shortage will last until at least July, 2016. This advisory provides recommended actions and resources to help clinicians safely address the current Bicillin L-A drug shortage. |
April 19, 2016 |
Alert |
Drug Overdose Health Alert: Fentanyl-Contaminated Street Norco ® Clarification on Reporting to County Public Health Overdoses due to illicitly obtained drugs that strongly resemble the prescription drug Norco® have been reported in California, including in Sacramento and Contra Costa County. Instead of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, these counterfeit drugs actually contained an undetermined amount of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a Drug Overdose Health Alert on April 8, 2016 entitled "Fentanyl-Contaminated Street Norco®". This alert describes the recent report of 48 overdoses and at least 10 deaths over a 10-day period in Sacramento County that appear to be associated with the consumption of these counterfeit Norco® pills. CDPH is requesting that all health care facilities report suspected and confirmed fentanyl overdoses to local health departments to assess the magnitude and outcomes of this situation in California. This alert provides awareness and actions for all health care providers in Alameda County to take when presented with a suspected or confirmed opioid overdose case at their facility. |
April 01, 2016 |
Advisory |
Zika Virus Disease Updated Advisory Zika virus transmission continues in Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania/Pacific Islands and Cape Verde in Africa. As of 3/29/2016, two Alameda County residents have been confirmed by laboratory testing to have had travel-associated Zika virus infection. On 3/25/2016, The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced the first confirmed Zika virus case in California acquired through sexual contact with a partner with travel-associated Zika-infection. As of 3/25/16, CDPH began diagnostic Plaque Reduction Neutralization Testing (PRNT) for Zika virus on serology specimens, which no longer require confirmatory testing at CDC. New information on Zika infection continues to emerge and guidelines for Zika virus testing have been updated. This health advisory summarizes key updates since the last Zika health advisory on 3/11/16 and includes new information and guidance for Zika virus testing in Alameda County.
For travelers: For health care providers:
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March 11, 2016 |
Advisory |
Zika Virus Disease Updated Advisory Zika virus transmission continues in Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania/Pacific Islands and Cape Verde in Africa. New information on Zika infection continues to emerge and guidelines for Zika virus testing have been revised, including the addition of more testing capabilities of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL). This health advisory summarizes key updates since the last Zika health advisory on 2/11/16 and includes new information and guidance for Zika virus testing in Alameda County. As of 3/11/16, one Alameda County resident has been confirmed by laboratory testing to have had travel-associated Zika virus infection. Health care providers should consider testing for Zika virus infection in the following persons with a potential Zika virus exposure:
Potential Zika virus exposure is defined as (a) travel to areas with active Zika Virus transmission in the 2 weeks before symptoms onset; or (b) condomless sexual contact with a male partner who traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission and had symptoms of Zika disease during travel or within 2 weeks of return.
For travelers: For health care providers: |