Public Health investigates HIV infection in heterosexuals who inject drugs

Public Health – Seattle & King County has recently identified an increase in the number of new HIV cases among heterosexuals who inject drugs in King County. HIV infection is typically much less common among heterosexuals in King County than among men who have sex with men (MSM). But the risk for HIV infection increases […]

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Staying involved helped one man out of homelessness, and empowers others

by Rekha Ravindran, Health Care for the Homeless Network Over the past decade, Greg Francis has moved into stable housing after living unsheltered – and he still remembers vividly what it was like to live unsheltered. “It was tough,” he says. “It felt like someone else was controlling my life. So I came up with […]

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Meningococcal (bacterial) meningitis case in shelter resident

A resident of a homeless shelter in Seattle tested positive for bacterial meningitis (meningococcal disease) on March 18. The patient, a man in his 60s, is hospitalized and his condition is improving. The bacteria that causes meningococcal disease spreads through direct contact with infectious saliva or respiratory droplets (e.g. being coughed, sneezed or spit on, […]

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Q&A with Dr. Jeff Duchin: Communicable disease outbreaks show homeless at increased risk

Public Health is currently responding to increases in several infectious diseases in King County that particularly affect people living homeless. These diseases include group A streptococcal infections, Shigella, and a cluster of serious infections transmitted by body lice called Bartonella quintana. We sat down with Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer and Chief of Communicable Disease […]

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Gone but not forgotten – 2017

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office will lay to rest the remains of individuals who did not have the means or the family to provide a proper burial. The ceremony will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Renton. King County is required to process and bury these […]

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