Ten-year review of sudden and unexpected deaths among people experiencing homelessness

September 29, 2022.Reading time 8 minutes.

A ten-year review of sudden and unexpected deaths among people experiencing homelessness offers a heartbreaking reminder: The median age of death was 51. That compares to an overall median age of 79 for all deaths of King County residents.

Bringing COVID-19 vaccines to people experiencing homelessness

May 27, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

By Ken Anderson and Ben Stocking As Public Health – Seattle & King County strives to get vaccines to everyone in King County, we are making a special effort to reach people living unhoused. Mobile vaccination teams are holding clinics at homeless shelters and encampments across the county. They have visited more than 170 sites and vaccinated more than 2600 people since the beginning of April. The county’s […]

Update on shigellosis outbreak among people experiencing homelessness in King County

May 17, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

Public Health – Seattle & King County continues to respond to an ongoing outbreak of shigellosis, mainly among people experiencing homelessness. In the same timeframe, we have also seen an increase in cases of other diarrheal causing infectious diseases among people experiencing homelessness, particularly cryptosporidiosis and different types of E. coli.

Recent increase in shigellosis cases in King County

December 30, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting an increase in shigellosis cases since mid-December in King County. Since the end of October, Public Health has received 40 total reports of Shigella infection, with 22 of those reported since December 14th.

How to help slow the spread of COVID-19 among people living homeless

July 10, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

People experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious disease. COVID-19 is the most recent and deeply concerning example of that threat. For a population with higher levels of underlying health conditions, less access to resources necessary to stay healthy, and a greater likelihood of living in congregate settings like shelters adds up to an increased risk for infection and severe illness.

Update on Hepatitis A outbreak

May 4, 2020.Reading time 14 minutes.

April 2020 marks one year since we announced the first case of locally-acquired hepatitis A in a person living homeless in King County. We identified this case in the context of many cities and states across the country experiencing large outbreaks of hepatitis A among people living homeless or who use drugs.