Public Health – Seattle & King County is following up on the confirmation of an individual associated with Kin On Rehabilitation and Care Center in south Seattle, who was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB). Public Health is working with Kin On to define the extent of any potential TB exposures and supporting the facility as they conduct evaluations for those exposed and provide guidance and information to staff and residents.
Vaccinations are the body’s practice test for diseases like measles and whooping cough. That way, if the real thing shows up, kids’ immune systems know exactly what to do.
Syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia – which are bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – have been on the rise in the U.S., including here in King County. DoxyPEP is a new tool in the safer sex toolbox, offering protection against these STIs for some people.
Wildfire smoke season is upon us and it’s a good reminder to keep indoor air clean when there’s pollution outside. But keeping indoor air clean is not just something we should do on a smoky day. Air pollution can also be a problem inside your home, especially if there’s not good ventilation. In fact, most of our exposure to air pollution comes from indoors!
New research out of the Hazardous Waste Management Program (Haz Waste Program) in King County finds dangerously high levels of lead in traditional eyeliners. The study, published in PLOS Global Public Health on June 25, found lead levels in traditional eyeliners hundreds of thousands of times higher than Washington restriction levels under the Toxics Free Cosmetics Act – even in products labeled “lead free.”
