Multistate foodborne outbreak investigation, illustrated

November 4, 2015.Reading time 1 minute.

With the current E. coli outbreak unfolding in Washington and Oregon, it’s timely that the CDC has come out with a new report on multi-state foodborne outbreaks. The report lays out what can be done to better investigate these outbreaks and prevent them, whether you’re the local health department, a food producer, or a consumer. […]

Raccoon latrines: Yes, they’re a thing, and they are as gross as they sound

October 3, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

You’ve probably not heard the words “raccoon” and “latrine” put together. For instance, it’s doubtful that you’ve heard, “So, what’s up with the raccoon latrine in the corner of your yard?” uttered at the neighborhood block party. But it is a thing. A raccoon latrine is a site where those furry, masked critters repeatedly deposit their feces […]

Emergency preparedness: what’s your readiness?

September 29, 2015.Reading time less than 1 minute.

As we say goodbye to September–which is also National Preparedness Month–we asked some staff about what they’ve done to be ready for a disaster or emergency. Click on the photos to learn more. And if you haven’t done much yet, don’t feel badly. But get started, perhaps taking a tip or two from these examples. […]

More protection, less ouchy: What’s new with flu vaccine in 2015

September 25, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

Kids are finally back at school and that means they are passing their germs to each other and bringing them home so that parents can bring them to work. Time to get a flu vaccine! And there are new options. We sat down with Libby Page from our Immunizations Program to find out the latest. Last year’s […]

Call line for families seeking info about loved ones in Aurora Bridge crash

September 24, 2015.Reading time 1 minute.

UPDATE (9/25/15): The call will be staffed until midnight on Friday, 9/25/15. If you are seeking more information about whether a loved one may have been taken to a hospital as a result of the crash on the Aurora Avenue Bridge in Seattle on September 24, you can call 2-1-1 or 800-621-4636. (If you need […]

Surviving the ‘Really Big One’

July 14, 2015.Reading time 6 minutes.

Did you read the New Yorker‘s recent article about the potential for a whopper of an earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone here in the Pacific Northwest, “The Really Big One?” Yes? Then you’re probably freaked out.