TB EVALUATION AT TODD BEAMER HIGH SCHOOL

August 31, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is following up on the report of a Todd Beamer High School community member who was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB). Public Health is working with the high school and Federal Way School District officials to define the extent of any potential TB exposures, conduct evaluations for those exposed, and provide guidance and […]

Aw shucks! It’s pretty risky to eat raw and under-cooked oysters

July 25, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

As waters warm up, shellfish beds become breeding grounds for bacteria, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus or “Vibrio,” one of the most common causes of illness related to raw oyster consumption. And this year, we’re setting records. Why are so many people getting sick? We sat down with Vance Kawakami, our communicable disease epidemiologist, to better understand […]

ONE YEAR LATER: things people still don’t know about the distracted driving law

July 23, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

It’s been a full year since Washington’s distracted driving law went into effect, but according to a survey of 900 King County drivers, there is still plenty of confusion about what is – and isn’t – allowed. Let’s explore the misconceptions. Washington’s cell phone law is 1 today! This calls for a cake smash! “It’s […]

Seeking people exposed to bat at Cottage Lake Park in Woodinville

July 13, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

At around 6:30 a.m. on July 13, a bat was found in a public men’s restroom by park staff at Cottage Lake Park in Woodinville. Based on a description of the bat provided by park staff, the bat may have been handled by one or more people. Park staff were able to safely capture the […]

Cold cases: Help identify unknown people found dead in King County

July 12, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office is hoping forensic sketches of people who have died will help lead to their identification. At any given time, there are about 40,000 unidentified remains in the United States – around 50 in King County. Washington’s only forensic anthropologist, Dr. Kathy Taylor, investigates these remains with help from law […]

Repost: Confirmed measles case in Snohomish County

July 9, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

The following information has been shared by the Snohomish Health District and is also available here. While we do not have any reports of measles in King County at this time, the person infected with measles visited King County. See the list below for areas of potential exposure. Potential risk of exposure for unvaccinated people at […]