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. |
February 04, 2013 |
Advisory |
Doxycycline and Tetracycline Shortage On February 4, 2013 the State of California Department of Public Health released a notification about recent shortages of Doxycycline and Tetracycline, which may impact your ability to treat or provide prophylaxis for patients. |
January 25, 2013 |
Advisory |
Nationwide Shortage of Isonizaid (INH) There is currently a nationwide shortage of INH, one of the most important drugs to treat tuberculosis (TB) disease and latent TB infection (LTBI). The low inventory is attributed to a shortage of the active ingredient for making INH and shipping delays. |
October 04, 2012 |
Advisory |
Meningitis and Stroke Associated with Potentially Contaminated Product The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are coordinating a multi-state investigation of fungal meningitis among patients who received an epidural steroid injection. Several of these patients also suffered strokes that are believed to have resulted from their infection. |
October 01, 2012 |
Advisory |
Mandatory Influenza Vaccination or Masking of Health Care Workers During Influenza Season Alameda County Health Officer is issuing a joint order with Berkeley Health Officer mandating that all licensed health care facilities in Alameda County and the City of Berkeley require their health care workers (HCWs) to receive an annual influenza vaccination or, if they decline, to wear a mask during the influenza season while working in patient care areas. Facilities with a documented 90 percent or greater HCW influenza vaccination rate are exempt from the masking requirement. |
September 05, 2012 |
Alert |
Hantavirus Guidance for Physicians with Patients Presenting with Concerns or Symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome The California Department of Public Health is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Park Service to investigate the outbreak of hantavirus in recent visitors to Yosemite National Park. CDPH issued this more detailed health alert and guidance for physicians that supports and builds on the previous ACPHD health alert. |
August 31, 2012 |
Update |
Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome in California The California Department of Public Health has reported six confirmed cases of Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) in visitors who stayed in Yosemite National Park from early June to mid-July 2012. Clinicians are asked to educate patients that HCPS is a rare disease that is prevented by avoiding contact with rodents and excreta. Clinicians may consider testing for HCPS in patients with fever, severe pulmonary disease and a history of contact with rodents in rural areas. Suspected HCPS cases should be reported to Alameda County Public Health Department at 510-267-3250. |
May 06, 2012 |
Advisory |
Hot Summer Weather Advisory The summer season with its potential for fluctuating high temperatures is approaching. Health care facilities are reminded that the elderly and other health compromised individuals are more susceptible to extremes in temperature and dehydration. |
January 25, 2012 |
Advisory |
Novel H3N2 Influenza Virus: Increaed Surveillance California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requesting increased surveillance and testing for influenza in children less than 18 years of age. Since July 2011, a novel swine-origin triple reassortant H3N2 influenza virus (S-OtrH3N2) has been reported in 5 states with a total of 12 cases. California has no cases but heightened surveillance is being requested. |
October 05, 2011 |
Alert |
Healthcare Providers: Mumps Health Alert Alameda County has 4 confirmed and 3 probable cases of Mumps that are epidemiologically linked. Individuals are at increased risk for mumps if they are unvaccinated. Mumps should be considered in the differential diagnosis even in fully immunized individuals. |
August 18, 2011 |
Advisory |
Pediatric Health Providers: Fatal Vaccine-Preventable Pneumococcal Disease Immunize all children younger than 5 years of age who have not yet received 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. |
May 20, 2011 |
Advisory |
FDA Warns Not to Feed SimplyThick to Premature Infants Do not feed the thickening product called SimplyThick to infants born before 37 weeks because it may cause a life-threatening condition. |
May 03, 2011 |
Advisory |
Measles Since January 2011, 11 cases of measles have been reported in California. A nationwide increase in the numbers of reported measles cases has also been noted this year. As in recent years, nearly all of the cases are known to have involved recent travel to Europe or Asia, or contact with international travelers (including via transit through U.S. international airports). Some of the cases have been intentionally unvaccinated children. |