Advisory

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.

• More info from Alameda County Public Health
• More Info from The National Weather Service

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.

For Healthcare Providers:
Consider measles in patients with fever, followed by a descending rash that starts on the face or head, regardless of age, immunization status, or travel history. Call Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) at 510-267-3250 to report suspected measles cases who live in Alameda County outside of Berkeley, and to arrange for expedited PCR testing at the Public Health Laboratory; do not send specimens to a commercial lab.

Implement airborne precautions immediately for patients with a febrile rash illness with suspected measles.

• City of Berkeley Public Health Alert

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.

For Healthcare Providers:
Consider testing for legionellosis in patients with pneumonia who visited or worked at San Quentin State Prison in August 2015.  Please order a Legionella urine antigen test and culture of lower respiratory tract secretions (e.g., sputum, lung tissue, broncheoalveolar lavage), specifying suspected legionellosis to ensure that specimens are cultured on appropriate media.

Report confirmed and suspected legionellosis cases to ACPHD by phone (510-267-3250) or fax (510-268-2111) in Alameda County residents not living in the City of Berkeley.

• Marin County Public Health Alert

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.

• More info from Alameda County Public Health
• More Info from The National Weather Service

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.

Multiple clusters and outbreaks of CRE have been increasingly recognized in recent years in Northern California acute and long-term care facilities, including facilities in Alameda County. CRE are highly transmissible in healthcare settings and both infected and colonized patients can serve as reservoirs for transmission. Early recognition and prompt implementation of infection control precautions are critical to control the spread of CRE in our region.

• Full ACPHD Health Advisory
• ACPHD CRE page
• California Department of Public Health CRE Page
• Centers for Disease Control CRE Page

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.

• ACPHD Health Advisory – Feb. 20, 2015
• CDPH Health Advisory - Feb. 20, 2015
• ACPHD Measles Page
• CDPH Measles

January 16, 2015

Advisory

Measles Cases in Alameda County and California

As of January 16, Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) has confirmed 4 cases of measles in 2015 and is investigating other suspect cases. The State of California has confirmed 33 recent cases. An outbreak of measles from exposures associated with visits to Disney theme parks in December 17-20th, 2014 has resulted in 28 cases throughout California, including in Alameda County. Five additional cases have no identified common exposures with the outbreak. Cases involve both children and adults, ages 7 months to 59 years old, including 15 unimmunized individuals. A small number of cases were previously immunized. Measles is very infectious, and airborne transmission can occur in crowded settings. Outbreaks in California typically involve infected international visitors or unimmunized persons traveling overseas in areas where large measles outbreaks are occurring, followed by local spread. 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.

• ACPHD Health Advisory – January 16, 2015
• ACPHD Measles Page
• CDPH Measles

January 07, 2015

Advisory

Measles Cases in Alameda County and California

As of January 8, 2015, Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) has confirmed one case of measles in 2015, and is investigating two additional suspect cases. These cases were likely exposed during a visit to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park 12/17-12/18/14. As of 1/6/15, an additional six cases have been confirmed in California with similar exposure, and three others are under investigation in CA and Utah. All patients reported visiting Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park in Orange County, California between December 15th and December 20th, 2014. Confirmed CA cases range in age from 8 months to 21 years. Of the seven confirmed CA cases, six cases were unvaccinated for measles (two were too young to be vaccinated, and one had received appropriate two doses of MMR vaccine). Several large contact investigations are ongoing. It is likely that a person infectious with measles was at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park on these dates. However since persons can be infectious with measles for 9 days we cannot rule out the possibility of additional exposure dates or venues.

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.

• CDPH Health Advisory – January 7, 2015
• CDPH Measles Press Release- January 7, 2015
• Alameda County Public Health Department - Measles

October 29, 2014

Advisory

Ebola Virus Disease

West Africa continues to experience the largest known outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, with high case fatality rates, in three countries: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Spread of Ebola was contained in Nigeria, and it has been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization. A small number of Ebola cases continue to be diagnosed in travelers returning from West Africa to the United States, and two cases of Ebola were diagnosed in health care workers who cared for a patient with Ebola while he was critically ill in Texas. To date, other persons with a known exposure to confirmed cases in the US have not developed Ebola. As of 10/11/14, CDC is screening all travelers coming into the US from the three impacted countries, and notifying local health departments in their final destination of their arrival. Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) is actively monitoring travelers arriving from these 3 countries with widespread Ebola transmission, including health care workers, for 21 days after date of departure from West Africa. All healthcare providers, including those in primary care and other outpatient settings, should be prepared to identify and temporarily isolate a patient presenting with fever and recent travel from one of the Ebola-affected areas. Early recognition and appropriate infection control precautions continue to be critical for disease control.

• ACPHD Health Advisory
• ACPHD Ebola Page
• CDPH Ebola Page
• CDC Ebola Page

October 14, 2014

Advisory

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) Respiratory Illness & Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance

As of September 30, 2014, 472 cases of EV-D68 have been confirmed in 41 states, including seven cases in California: six in southern California residents, and one case has been identified in northern California. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) are investigating a cluster of pediatric patients hospitalized with acute flaccid paralysis and spinal cord lesions in Colorado; the possible linkage of these to the respiratory illness outbreak is still under investigation. Some of the Colorado cases with neurologic illness had respiratory specimens test positive for EV-D68.

• ACPHD Health Advisory
• CDC Enterovirus D68 Page

October 08, 2014

Advisory

Ebola Virus Disease

The first case of Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola) diagnosed in the United States (US) was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 9/30/14 and occurred in a traveler from Liberia to Dallas, Texas. The patient fell ill on 9/24/2014, sought medical care at a Dallas hospital on 9/26/14 and was released despite a reported history of recent travel to Liberia. On 9/28/14, he returned to the same hospital and was admitted for treatment. The CDC issued a Health Advisory on 10/2/14 to advise clinicians to identify, isolate, and immediately report suspected Ebola cases to their local health department. Early recognition and appropriate infection control precautions are critical for disease control.

• ACPHD Health Advisory
• CDPH Ebola Page
• CDC Ebola Page

May 22, 2014

Advisory

Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV)

As of May 2, 2014, the CDC confirmed that the first case of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV) has been reported in a US citizen in Indiana. On May 11 a second case was confirmed in Florida. The cases are unrelated. Both were healthcare workers who had returned from the Middle East. On May 16, 2014 the first domestic secondary case was reported in Indiana. This case was exposed to the first case and remains asymptomatic, but lab testing indicates exposure and immune response to MERS-CoV. The CDPH and CDC have provided guidelines for healthcare providers.

• ACPHD Health Advisory
• CDPH MERS CoV page
• CDC MERS Cov page