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 10, 2021 |
Advisory |
Increased Interseasonal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Activity in Parts of the Southern United States On June 10th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory to notify clinicians and caregivers about increased interseasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity across parts of the Southern United States. Due to this increased activity, CDC encourages broader testing for RSV among patients presenting with acute respiratory illness who test negative for SARS-CoV-2. |
May 28, 2021 |
Advisory |
Myocarditis and Pericarditis after Receipt of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Among Adolescents and Young Adults On May 28th, CDPH issued a Health Advisory about reported cases of myocarditis and pericarditis after receipt of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines among adolescents and young adults, which are being investigated by the CDC. COVID-19 immunization is still recommended for persons 12 years of age and older. All cases of myocarditis following receipt of COVID-19 vaccine, as well as other adverse events following vaccination, should be reported promptly to the CDC/FDA Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) https://vaers.hhs.gov/. |
May 25, 2021 |
Advisory |
Cases of Myocarditis/Pericarditis after Receipt of mRNA Vaccines On May 17th, the CDC Vaccine Safety Technical (VaSt) Work Group released a statement on reports of myocarditis following mRNA vaccines. VaST concluded that there are relatively few reports of myocarditis to date and that these cases seem to occur:
Please report cases of myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination promptly to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). |
April 29, 2021 |
Advisory |
Detection and containment of Carbapenemase-producing Acinitobacter Baumanii The purpose of this joint Health Advisory is to instruct clinicians in Alameda County to test and screen for Carbapenem-resistant Acinitobacter baumanii bacteria. |
April 28, 2021 |
Advisory |
Revised Reporting Requirements for Suspect Variant SARS-CoV-2 Infections The purpose of this Health Advisory is to inform clinicians in Alameda County about the changes in reporting for Variants of Concern, including: (1) Definition of Vaccine Breakthrough Cases of Interest (VBCIs) and (2) Deletion of specific quarantine requirements for close contacts of persons with VOC infections. This advisory was updated April 27, 2021. |
April 21, 2021 |
Advisory |
Reporting cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receipt of J&J vaccine On April 21, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued the following Health Advisory: Pause in administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine; Reporting of cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receipt of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. All cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following receipt of J &J COVID-19 vaccine, as well as other adverse events following vaccination, should be reported to the CDC/FDA Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). |
April 13, 2021 |
Advisory |
Cases of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia after Receipt of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine On April 13, 2021, the CDC issued the following alert about cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with thrombocytopenia after receipt of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Please see the full CDC Health Alert at the following link: https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2021/han00442.asp The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a similar alert through the CAHAN (California Health Alert Network) Disease Notification. |
February 22, 2021 |
Advisory |
Interim Quarantine Guidance for Vaccinated Health Care Personnel CDC has recently released additional quarantine guidance for persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) has updated Health Officer Order 20-06 (Blanket Isolation/Quarantine Order) to align with CDC recommendations, and developed the attached interim guidance for quarantine among vaccinated health care personnel. |
December 02, 2020 |
Advisory |
Influenza and Respiratory Illness 2020-2021 The Health Advisory is designed to help Alameda County clinicians prepare for the influenza season, which generally occurs from November through April. This Health Advisory outlines several actions requested of Alameda County clinicians, emergency departments, pathologists and healthcare facilities. |
November 20, 2020 |
Alert |
Updates November 2, 2020 Health Alert (SUSPENDED 9/20/23) Health Officers for Alameda County and the City of Berkeley are updating their joint Health Officer order mandating that all licensed health care facilities in Alameda County and the City of Berkeley require their health care workers (HCW) to receive an annual influenza vaccination. This Order mandates that health care facilities implement a process for requiring HCW to receive vaccination unless a HCW can produce sufficient documentation to obtain a medical exemption. Unlike in previous years, mask wearing is not an adequate substitution for vaccination under this Order. Health Officers for Alameda County and the City of Berkeley are clarifying their previous joint order (No. 20-16) mandating that all licensed health care facilities in Alameda County and the City of Berkeley require their health care workers (HCW) to receive an annual influenza vaccination. In accordance with previous years, this updated Order includes an exemption for HCW who opt to not receive influenza vaccination due to religious beliefs. |
August 17, 2020 |
Update |
Updated COVID-19 Healthcare Provider Reporting Requirements for Alameda County - Replaces June 17, 2020 Health Advisory This updated guidance for COVID-19 laboratory testing is intended to inform Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) efforts to control the epidemic and aid decision-making by clinicians and other testing providers. The guidance identifies groups that should be prioritized for testing, but it is not a requirement to test in these groups. Testing decisions and policies must be flexible to account for ongoing limitations in testing resources and protective equipment. Clinical judgment should be used to guide testing of symptomatic1 persons. ACPHD typically issues additional testing guidance for certain settings and situations, including outbreaks. |
August 17, 2020 |
Update |
COVID-19 Testing Guidance for Alameda County – Replaces May 12, 2020 Health Advisory Positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and antigen tests for current SARS-CoV-2 infection— not antibody— must be reported to the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD). |