Official insights from Public Health – Seattle & King County staff
You have probably heard about the hepatitis A outbreaks occurring around the country. These outbreaks primarily have affected people living homeless or unsheltered, or people who inject drugs. Although conditions that would facilitate a large hepatitis A outbreak exist locally, we have not had an outbreak among persons experiencing homelessness or who use injection drugs […]
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How would you convince a teenager to take vaccines seriously? One approach that can potentially double vaccine coverage rates is to start with their peers. You can learn how that works in this video from a current exhibit at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center called, “Vaccines & Immunity: It Takes a Community.” The video highlights the Public […]
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At Public Health, we usually leave dog-related health issues to our friends in the veterinary community, but when furry companions start getting people sick, our ears perk up. Our epidemiologists and veterinarians specialize in zoonotic diseases – diseases caused by germs that can be spread from animals to humans. We want your pup to be […]
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By Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer Recent cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) locally and across the US have parents, health care providers and public health professionals deeply concerned and looking hard for the cause, which remains unknown. Based on what we do know about causes of AFM, the leading suspect is infection with a […]
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A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that more doctors are encountering parents who are refusing vaccines for their children. What did the study show, and why is this trend happening? We sat down with Libby Page, Public Health’s Immunization Assessment and Promotion Program Manager to find out more. Libby, what […]
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UPDATED 5/18/17: Most people with chronic hepatitis don’t know they are infected. Getting tested before symptoms develop can prevent chronic liver disease, like cirrohosis, liver failure, and cancer. CDC guidelines recommend Hep C testing for all people born between 1945 and 1965. There are now more types of Hep C medications, and access to treatment […]
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