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. |
March 01, 2016 |
Advisory |
Preventing Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse - Opioids Please distribute to all providers in your practice. Prescription drug misuse and overdose is a national epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nationally, each year, prescription narcotics result in more fatal overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined and, in 2015, surpassed auto accidents as the number one cause of accidental deaths. In California, deaths involving opioid prescription drugs have increased 16.5 percent since 2006. In 2012, there were more than 1,800 deaths from all types of opioids – 72 percent involved prescription opioids. In Alameda County, deaths from opioid misuse tripled between 2005 and 2014 and hospitalizations for opioid-related, non-fatal overdoses increased by over 74 percent. This advisory provides actions and resources to help clinicians safely prescribe opioid prescriptions.
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February 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 specific revisions for testing in pregnant woman. This health advisory summarizes key updates since the last Zika health advisory on 1/29/16 and includes new information and guidance for Zika virus testing in Alameda County. In California, six travel-associated Zika cases were reported between 2013 and 2015. On 2/9/16, ACPHD confirmed an Alameda County resident has preliminarily tested positive for the Zika virus. The person was infected with Zika virus while traveling in a Zika-affected country. Health care providers should consider testing for Zika virus infection in persons with a compatible clinical illness and pregnant women with recent travel to affected areas.
For travelers: For health care providers:
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January 29, 2016 |
Advisory |
Zika Virus Disease and Current Travel-Associated Viral Diseases of Concern Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been reported in 24 countries and territories in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania/Pacific Islands. Zika virus causes a mild illness in 20% of those infected, with symptoms of fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes beginning within 14 days of travel to a country with Zika virus transmission. Additionally, in Brazil and other countries with Zika virus transmission, an unusual increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly has been reported. The virus is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which is not native to California but has been detected in 12 California counties. Thus far, the few Zika virus disease cases reported in Californians have occurred in returning travelers; no local transmission has been identified. Health care providers should obtain travel histories from patients with a febrile illness, and consider testing for dengue fever, chikungunya, or Zika virus disease in persons with a compatible clinical presentation and a history of travel to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania/Pacific Islands. Providers should counsel patients who are pregnant or who are attempting to become pregnant about special travel precautions and preventing mosquito bites.
For travelers:
For health care providers:
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December 09, 2015 |
Advisory |
Chikungunya and Dengue in Mexico and Latin America The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) urges Californians to protect themselves against mosquito bites if traveling to Mexico or Latin America, where there have been increasing reports of chikungunya and dengue infections. Chikungunya infection causes fever and joint pain; as of November 2015, over 10,000 cases were reported in Mexico this year, and over 34,000 cases were reported in the Caribbean and Central and South America. Dengue causes fever, headache, joint pain and muscle pain; over 23,000 cases have been reported in Mexico this year as of November 2015, and widespread outbreaks have occurred throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America in recent years. For travelers:
For health care providers: |
September 09, 2015 |
Advisory |
Heat Advisory The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area that remains in effect until Friday, 9/11. |
September 02, 2015 |
Advisory |
Measles in a UC Berkeley Student One laboratory-confirmed case of measles has been identified in a UC Berkeley student. As of September 1, 2015, no Alameda County residents outside of the City of Berkeley have been identified as contacts to this case. However, the case spent time at many public venues while infectious, so not all contacts could be identified. |
September 02, 2015 |
Advisory |
Legionellosis at San Quentin State Prison As of September 1, 2015, six confirmed cases of legionellosis have been reported in inmates of San Quentin State Prison. No confirmed cases have occurred among prison guards, staff, family members living on prison grounds, or visitors. |
July 29, 2015 |
Advisory |
Heat Advisory The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area that remains in effect until Thursday, July 30. |
June 25, 2015 |
Update |
Ebola Virus Disease The ongoing Ebola epidemic in West Africa that started last year is the largest in history, and continues to affect the countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone. Liberia was declared free from Ebola virus transmission by the World Health Organization on May 9, 2015. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not declared Liberia Ebola free, but classifies Liberia as a country with former widespread transmission and current, established control measures. Effective June 17, 2015, the CDC changed its monitoring procedure for Liberian travelers from public health active monitoring to traveler self monitoring. Travelers from Liberia will continue to be screened in the 5 east coast airports they must pass through to enter the US. CDC will continue to notify California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health departments of travelers arriving in our jurisdictions for informational purposes. Alameda County is no longer actively monitoring travelers from Liberia.
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June 11, 2015 |
Update |
Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV) In light of the recent largest outbreak of MERS-CoV outside of the Arabian Peninsula in Korea, the CDC has issued Health Advisory including an update of the criteria for a Patient Under Investigation for MERS-CoV to add – “A history of being in a healthcare facility (as a patient, worker, or visitor) in the Republic of Korea within 14 days before symptom onset.” Only two patients in the U.S. have ever tested positive for MERS-CoV infection, both in May 2014, while more than 500 have tested negative. The CDC has also issued updated Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This updated guidance continues to recommend standard, contact, and airborne precautions. In addition, the updated infection control guidance emphasizes additional elements of infection prevention and control programs that should be in place to prevent the transmission of any infectious agents including respiratory pathogens such as MERS-CoV in healthcare settings. CDC continues to closely monitor the MERS situation globally and work with partners to better understand the risks of this virus, including the source, how it spreads, and how infections might be prevented. CDC recognizes the potential for MERS-CoV to spread further and cause more cases globally and in the U.S. We have provided information for travelers and are working with health departments, hospitals, and other partners to prepare for this. |
May 22, 2015 |
Advisory |
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are untreatable or difficult to treat multidrug-resistant organisms that have developed high levels of resistance to carbapenems, a class of antibiotics that includes doripenem, ertapenem, imipenem and meropenem. Risk factors for CRE colonization or infection include open wounds, presence of indwelling devices including endotracheal tubes, multiple co-morbidities, and high antimicrobial use. Long-term acute care (LTAC) hospitals have the greatest prevalence of patients with CRE-colonization or infection as a result of receiving and caring for patients who have many CRE risk factors and a history of lengthy hospitalizations. |
February 20, 2015 |
Advisory |
Measles Cases in Alameda County and California As of February 20, Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) has confirmed 6 cases of measles in 2015 and is investigating other suspect cases, and California has confirmed 123 cases. Measles is very infectious, and airborne transmission can occur in crowded settings. Think of measles in patients with a fever and rash, especially with a history of travel or exposure to returning travelers or measles patients. Although most measles cases occur in unvaccinated patients, cases have occurred in patients who reported a history of MMR vaccination. All Alameda County residents should ensure they are immune or have been vaccinated against measles. Think of measles in patients with a fever and rash, especially with a history of travel or exposure to returning travelers or measles patients. Although most measles cases occur in unvaccinated patients, cases have occurred in patients who reported a history of MMR vaccination. |