How our Refugee Health clinic is a key step on the path to self-sufficiency

August 16, 2016.Reading time 7 minutes.

The staff at Public Health’s Refugee Health clinic

When refugees escape from war, conflict, famine and other disasters, it’s not unusual for them to end up in King County. We are one of the nation’s major host communities for refugees. A well-organized local network of agencies helps refugees take the first steps into a new life. This network emerged in 1979, when an earlier […]

Better know a germ: Strep zooepidemicus

August 11, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

By Vance Kawakami, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at Public Health – Seattle & King County Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report discussed a recent, fatal Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (Strep zooepidemicus) human infection contracted from close contact with a horse at a private horse riding and boarding […]

Flying down to Rio? Health tips for travelers

July 27, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

We are so pumped for all of the Olympians representing King County and the USA, like weight lifter Morghan King from Redmond, volleyball star Courtney Thompson from Kent, decathalete Jeremy Taiwo from Renton, diver Katrina Young from Shoreline, and the Seattle Reign’s Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo! If you are heading to Rio to cheer […]

Public Health investigates Salmonella outbreak (updated 7/20)

July 18, 2016.Reading time 5 minutes.

Public Health is investigating an outbreak of salmonellosis (caused by Salmonella bacteria) associated with a Good Vibe Tribe Luau held on 7/3/16 from 6:00-11:00 PM at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle. You can read more details about what we know about the ongoing investigation here. Some questions you may have: Who got sick? UPDATED 7/20 […]

AIDS PREVENTION PROJECT: An oral history and online archive

June 20, 2016.Reading time 8 minutes.

You may be surprised to know that King County has a team of archivists who make sure important county work is preserved for posterity. The latest Archives exhibit covers Public Health’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and how this approach became a model for other health departments and future disease outbreaks. We sat down with […]

Low risk for hepatitis B exposure in Virginia Mason dialysis unit

June 17, 2016.Reading time 5 minutes.

Today, Virginia Mason Medical Center notified the public about a lapse in recommended hepatitis B screening and isolation procedures for patients who had received care in their dialysis unit. Public Health – Seattle & King County conducted an investigation into the risk to patients and staff at Virginia Mason. We asked Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health […]