TB evaluation at the University of Washington Seattle campus

October 27, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

An X-ray of the chest of a man with tuberculosis. The areas infected with TB bacteria are colored red. Science Photo Library/Corbis

Public Health – Seattle & King County is following up on a person at the University of Washington Seattle campus who was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB). Public Health is working with the UW to determine whether others have contracted TB from exposure to this person. The University and Public Health are contacting all individuals who had […]

TB evaluation at Seattle supportive housing

September 26, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is following up on a person at 1811 Eastlake who was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB). Public Health is working with DESC, which operates 1811 Eastlake supportive housing, to determine whether others have contracted TB from exposure to this person. TB is an infectious disease, but it’s much harder to spread […]

Patient at Overlake diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease

September 26, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Update (10.14.16) Public Health – Seattle & King County confirmed that a King County resident who spent time in the Overlake emergency department on September 23 has tested positive for Legionella. The patient, a female in her fifties, experienced symptoms on September 29 and was hospitalized for Legionella pneumonia (Legionnaire’s disease) at another hospital. She has […]

Two patients at local hospital test positive for Legionnaires’ disease

September 8, 2016.Reading time 18 minutes.

Update 10.10.16 UW Medical Center (UWMC) has not detected any additional Legionella cases. To-date, water samples taken from the in-patient unit in Cascade Tower have tested negative for Legionella bacteria since UWMC completed the hyperchlorination process on September 20. Two scrub sinks in the operating room showed a very low level of Legionella bacteria; those […]

Hesitation blues: Are more parents refusing to vaccinate?

September 8, 2016.Reading time 7 minutes.

A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that more doctors are encountering parents who are refusing vaccines for their children. What did the study show, and why is this trend happening? We sat down with Libby Page, Public Health’s Immunization Assessment and Promotion Program Manager to find out more. Libby, what […]

Public Health investigating possible outbreak at a Lake Sammamish swimming beach

August 29, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Update 9/2/16 Tibbetts Beach at Lake Sammamish is approved to reopen. Public Health is aware of 15 people who got ill after swimming at Tibbetts Beach on Friday, August 26th. Based on their symptoms, the timing between when they swam and became ill, and the duration of illness, we suspect that the likely cause was […]