Rabbit fever is a thing? Get to know tularemia

August 13, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Also known as rabbit fever or deer fly fever, tularemia is a rare disease caused by infection with the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It can range from mild to life-threatening, causing ulcers, gland inflammations, and in some instances, difficulty breathing. In King County, only seven cases of tularemia have been reported to Public Health over the […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Required childhood immunizations and vaccine exemptions: The bottom line

March 20, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

By Jeff Duchin, MD, Health Officer Media coverage of our recent publication in the journal Pediatrics gave some people the mistaken impression that my colleagues and I want to provide children with a choice to “opt out” of required vaccinations, except for measles vaccine. The fact is that families in Washington currently have the ability […]