There has been a nearly 5-fold increase in syphilis in cisgender women since 2015 (cisgender means one’s gender identity corresponds to one’s sex assigned at birth). All sexually active women 45 and under in Washington state who have not had a syphilis test since January 2021 are being advised to test for syphilis.
While vaccination continues to provide the best protection against COVID-19, an oral anti-viral treatment can help people who are at high risk from getting really sick. That’s why if you have COVID-19 symptoms, it’s very important to visit your healthcare provider right away.
There are a few scenarios when someone may be seeking a COVID-19 test. Read more about what test to use in each case and information on what to do if you can’t access a test.
Recently, Public Health – Seattle & King County became aware of a small number of unusual COVID testing operations in King County that the public should avoid. Their practices raise several concerns, including providing potentially inaccurate results.
In a typical year, 1.5 million people die of tuberculosis (TB) globally and 10 million fall ill with it. In Washington, 7% of people with active TB die. TB has been infecting and killing humans for thousands of years, and in fact, it is still one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. Locally, about 100 people are diagnosed with infectious TB every year in King County.