What foods do our restaurant inspectors not eat?

July 12, 2024.Reading time 7 minutes.

Their time in restaurants has given our investigators insight into a different question – are there any foods they avoid because of the risk of food borne illness? We asked a few of our inspectors and got all sorts of answers. That included plenty who said they didn’t avoid any types of food. For those inspectors who did avoid some foods, two trends emerged.

Public Health monitoring measles exposure among international travelers visiting Seattle

April 17, 2024.Reading time 7 minutes.

Public Health was informed by Washington State Department of Health last week that a group of international travelers visiting Seattle were exposed to an individual with measles prior to arriving in Seattle. Currently, there are no cases of measles among the group (or within King County), but we are monitoring the situation closely.

What is buprenorphine? A Q&A about King County’s new bup hotline

March 25, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

An illustration of a phone with a provider inside, holding out a prescription.

Thanks to a new 24/7 ‘bup’ prescribing hotline, it’s easier than ever for people in King County to get started on medication to treat opioid use disorder. In partnership with the UW Department of Emergency Medicine, King County recently launched a telemedicine program that will provide on-demand access to a buprenorphine prescription, also known as “bup”.

Addressing inequalities in LGBTQ+ cancer screening coverage in King County

June 29, 2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

Rainbow flag with a heart and a stethoscope in front of the flag.

Increasing awareness of cancer screenings is crucial to ensure inclusive and competent care for LGBTQ+ patients and lead to earlier diagnoses, improved health outcomes, and saved lives.

An mpox update: Why a second vaccination is important now

June 9, 2023.Reading time 9 minutes.

Mpox—previously known as monkeypox—hasn’t made headlines lately like it did last summer, but new cases have been reported in the United States, including right here in King County. Unvaccinated people and people who have not received both doses may still be at risk. Fortunately, mpox vaccine is easier to get than last year, so, now is a great time to get an mpox vaccination if you are recommended to receive the vaccine.

Joint statement on regional healthcare facilities’ masking requirement

March 24, 2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

Public Health – Seattle & King County fully supports the decision by many healthcare organizations in our region to require masking in their facilities to decrease the ongoing risk of COVID-19.