Health Alerts

January 27, 2023

Advisory

Evusheld No Longer Authorized + Therapeutics Warmline

The purpose of this Health Advisory is to share current COVID-19 therapeutics information with clinicians in Alameda County.

1. On January 26, 2023, the FDA announced that Evusheld is not currently authorized for emergency use in the U.S. It is recommended that facilities and providers with Evusheld retain all product in the event that SARS-CoV-2 variants which are neutralized by Evusheld become more prevalent in the U.S. in the future.  
2. ASPR has released information sheets for providers on ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir/Paxlovid and molnupiravir/Lagevrio.
3. COVID-19 therapeutics warmline now available! California healthcare providers can now call 1-866-268-4322 (866-COVID-CA) to receive free and confidential consultation on COVID-19 testing and treatment, Monday through Friday, 6 am – 5 pm.  Health care providers of any experience level can call to speak with a clinician or pharmacist about drug-drug interactions or any other clinical challenges. The warmline is managed by the UCSF National Clinician Consultation Center. Voicemail messages left after hours will be returned on the next business day. 

For questions about COVID-19 therapeutics, please contact Arnie Spanjers, MD, Alameda County Public Health Department at arnie.spanjers@acgov.org  

January 17, 2023

Advisory

Uganda Ebola Outbreak Declared Over and Traveler Monitoring Discontinued

On January 11, 2023, the World Health Organization declared the Uganda outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) due to Sudan virus is over. Federal, state and local public health monitored travelers returning from Uganda from October 7, 2022, through January 10, 2023.

• CDC no longer recommends post-arrival risk assessment and management of travelers returning from Uganda.
• All monitoring activities have been discontinued.

Please see health advisory.

January 04, 2023

Advisory

Take Me Home Self-Collection Kits

The purpose of this Health Advisory is to inform healthcare providers about the Take Me Home self-testing program for STIs, HIV, and HCV. Actions requested of healthcare providers include:

• Participate in the Take Me Home by sharing the link with patients. Providers can request promotional materials/fliers.
• Counsel HIV-negative patients diagnosed with a bacterial STI in the past six months about PrEP. Patients who request PrEP should be prescribed it even if a provider perceives the patient as low risk of acquiring HIV.
• Follow the HIV and STI prevention and treatment guidelines as outlined by the CDC in their Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.

Please review the advisory for further details.

December 09, 2022

Advisory

Updated Mpox Guidance for Healthcare Providers

The purpose of the attached Health Advisory is to share updated guidance regarding JYNNEOS with healthcare providers. Actions requested of healthcare providers include:

1. Offer JYNNEOS vaccine to ANY person who may be at risk or believes they may be at risk and give vaccine to ANY person who requests it.
2. Routinely offer either subcutaneous (SC) or intradermal (ID) JYNNEOS administration to all persons who are eligible to receive either.
3. Ensure that ALL persons who get the JYNNEOS vaccine complete the vaccine series.

Please review the Health Advisory for further details.

November 21, 2022

Advisory

Respiratory and Influenza-Like Illnesses Guide

ACPHD is informing local healthcare providers about the early rise of respiratory diseases seen in all age groups, especially influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in addition to COVID-19 infection. Influenza and RSV have increased in incidence this fall, earlier by several weeks compared to recent years in the US and California which is significantly impacting healthcare; hospital censuses are increased by ~10% across California and pediatric healthcare delivery systems in California are stressed. Please review the attached advisory for detailed updates and requested actions of providers.

October 18, 2022

Alert

Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness

On October 7, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a health alert regarding the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Uganda caused by the Sudan virus. As of October 12, a total of 74 cases (54 confirmed, 20 probable) and 30 deaths (19 confirmed, 20 probable) have been identified from five affected districts (Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kassanda, Kagadi, Bunyangabu) in Uganda. CDPH, in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is closely monitoring the outbreak and providing guidance and notification to local health jurisdictions receiving travelers returning from Uganda. To date, there are no suspected or confirmed cases reported in the United States. This Alert includes requested actions for Alameda County clinicians and healthcare facilities.

• ACPHD Health Alert

October 14, 2022

Advisory

JYNNEOS Expanded Eligibility, Severe Manifestations of MPX, and Screening suspected/confirmed MPX cases for HIV and STIs

The purpose of this Health Advisory is to update healthcare providers regarding: 1) JYNNEOS vaccine expanded eligibility criteria; 2) severe manifestations of MPX among people who are immunocompromised; and 3) screening suspected/confirmed MPX cases for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The JYNNEOS expanded eligibility include:

• Gay and bisexual men and their sex partners
• Transgender people and their sex partners
• Sex workers and their sex partners
• People with multiple sex partners
• People living with HIV
• People who had sex at any sex venue
• Healthcare workers who are likely to collect laboratory specimens from persons with MPX (e.g., persons working in sexual health clinics or clinical settings that serve at risk populations)
• Laboratory workers who perform MPX testing

September 08, 2022

Advisory

JYNNEOS: Expanded Eligibility, Second Doses & Minor Consent

The purpose of this Health Advisory is to share updated guidance regarding JYNNEOS with healthcare providers. Actions requested of healthcare providers include:

• Expanding eligibility criteria for JYNNEOS vaccination to ALL gay and bisexual men, transgender people, or men who have sex with men or transgender people. Other eligibility criteria for MPX vaccination remain unchanged.
• Second doses of JYNNEOS vaccine should be administered to anyone who received a first dose at least 28 days prior.
• Vaccination sites run by Alameda County staff and contractors will allow all minors 12 to 17 years of age to receive the JYNNEOS vaccine without parent/guardian consent. ACPHD urges all healthcare facilities to also consider implementing a minor consent process for JYNNEOS.

Please review the Advisory for further details. Please also see the 9/6/22 letter from CDPH regarding recent Title 17 revisions.

September 02, 2022

Advisory

Monkeypox (MPX) Guidance for Healthcare Providers

The purpose of this Health Advisory is to share updated guidance regarding monkeypox (MPX) with healthcare providers. Actions requested of healthcare providers include:

• Report all suspect cases (e.g., epidemiologic risk factors and signs and symptoms of MPX) in children or youth < 18 years of age within 1 working day via the pediatric PUI form.
• For patients <18, submit a specimen to the Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL) at California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in addition to regular commercial lab testing.
• Follow up with patients about their MPX test results. The ACPHD contact tracing team has encountered several patients who were never informed that they tested positive.
• Healthcare providers should begin to utilize their vaccine allocations to give second doses, as there is now adequate supply.

Please review the Advisory for further details. Please also see the CAHAN: Healthcare Provider Health Advisory: Updates on Laboratory Testing and Treatment for Monkeypox (MPX) Virus Infection in California (8/30/22)

August 19, 2022

Advisory

Updated Clinical Provider Guidance for Monkeypox (MPX)

The Alameda County Public Health Department has issued a health advisory to provide clinicians with updated guidance regarding monkeypox. Specifically, this advisory provides updated guidance to County healthcare providers regarding monkeypox virus testing, reporting, vaccine administration, and treatment. Guidance provided in this Health Advisory will replace guidance issued on 7/27/2022 and will go into effect on 8/19/2022.

Please review the full health advisory for additional background and action requested of clinicians.

August 10, 2022

Advisory

Health Advisory Update: Outpatient COVID-19 Therapeutics

The purpose of the attached Health Advisory is to share current COVID-19 therapeutics information with clinicians in Alameda County.

Please see our full health advisory for complete information, including the most recent COVID-19 Therapeutics Program Update from CDPH

For questions about COVID-19 therapeutics, please contact Arnie Spanjers, MD, Alameda County Public Health Department at arnie.spanjers@acgov.org

August 01, 2022

Advisory

Clarification Regarding Monkeypox Health Advisory Released on July 27, 2022

On July 27, 2022, the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) released a health advisory providing updated clinical guidance for monkeypox. Since we released this health advisory, ACPHD has received several questions regarding our updated JYNNEOS vaccine prioritization criteria. To address these questions, we are providing further clarification regarding our vaccine prioritization criteria.

Please review full health advisory for additional background and action requested of clinicians.