After King County’s lawsuit win, sex-ed research funding restored

July 25, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

After U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour ruled on May 29 that the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) failed to adequately explain why it cut King County’s funding to study the efficacy of its FLASH sexual health education program, HHS has now approved the $1 million in funding. As explained in a News […]

Aw shucks! It’s pretty risky to eat raw and under-cooked oysters

July 25, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

As waters warm up, shellfish beds become breeding grounds for bacteria, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus or “Vibrio,” one of the most common causes of illness related to raw oyster consumption. And this year, we’re setting records. Why are so many people getting sick? We sat down with Vance Kawakami, our communicable disease epidemiologist, to better understand […]

ONE YEAR LATER: things people still don’t know about the distracted driving law

July 23, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

It’s been a full year since Washington’s distracted driving law went into effect, but according to a survey of 900 King County drivers, there is still plenty of confusion about what is – and isn’t – allowed. Let’s explore the misconceptions. Washington’s cell phone law is 1 today! This calls for a cake smash! “It’s […]

Who is most susceptible to heat? It could be YOU!

July 23, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

Temperatures this week are expected to rise into the low 90s, with some humidity. To my friends in Los Angeles and New Mexico, that’s scarcely hot enough to raise an eyebrow. But here in King County, most people don’t have air conditioning, so our local emergency departments see an uptick of people with serious health […]

5 things to know about bats and rabies

July 20, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Public Health Insider has reported on multiple incidents of human/bat interactions this summer – a bat in a park bathroom, a bat at an equestrian center and a bat near Husky Stadium. Statewide, bat-human encounters broke a record this spring. So what are the essential 5 things to know about bats? Read on: 1. Anyone […]

Wade for it: 5 things you DEFINITELY want to know about wading pools

July 19, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

Visiting a local wading pool is a fun, free way to spend a hot summer day with your little ones. But, even if the pool is chlorinated, there could be germs lurking in the water that can cause illnesses, such as E. coli or Giardia. So, before you bust out your floaties and lather yourself […]

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