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, 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: |
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. |