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| Post Date |
Health Alerts/Bulletins Index
Bulletin
and Alert Archive
|
Dec.
19, 2011
|
Holiday/Furlough
Schedule
The Health Services Agency (HSA) will be
closed beginning Friday, Dec. 23 at 12pm and reopen Tuesday,
Jan. 3. All offices except for HSA clinics, pharmacy, lab will be closed during
this time.
Clinic Hours:
The Health Services Agency Santa Cruz and Watsonville
clinics will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23 between 1 and 5pm and
on Monday, Dec. 26 for Christmas. HSA clinics will be open from Tuesday, Dec. 27th through Friday, Dec.
30th between 8am - 5pm (closed between 12pm-1pm). There
will be Mental Health services at both the Santa Cruz and
Watsonville clinics. The
Watsonville Health Center will not have evening
hours from Dec 15th thru Jan 6th.
Click
here for clinic information.
|
Nov.
16, 2011
Press
Release |
Poisonous
Wild Mushroom Warning
-
Santa
Cruz County received the second report this year of a
hospitalized person who became seriously ill after eating
mushrooms collected in the La Selva Beach area.
- Both
illnesses were probably due to the mushroom Amanita
phalloides.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Wild
mushrooms should not be eaten unless they have been determined
edible by a recognized mushroom expert.
- Individuals
who develop any of these symptoms--abdominal pain, cramping,
vomiting, and/or diarrhea after eating wild mushrooms should
immediately contact the California Poison Control System at
1-800-8-POISON (1-800-876-4766) or 1-800-222-1222 and seek
immediate medical attention.
INFORMATION
- In
past years, multiple hospitalizations, gastrointestinal
illnesses and even deaths, have been caused by the
consumption of wild mushrooms.
- The
deaths have been linked to the Amanita ocreata mushroom,
also known as the “destroying angel” and the Amanita
phalloides mushroom, commonly called the “death cap”
mushroom. · Poisonous mushrooms are found throughout Santa
Cruz County. The most common are:
- Amanita
phalloides
- Amanita
ocreata
- Galerina
autumalis (deadly)
- Eating
poisonous mushrooms can cause abdominal pain, cramping,
vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage resulting in the need for
liver transplant, and death-- the symptoms usually occur 6
to 12 hours after ingestion. After gastrointestinal symptoms
subside, liver damage may appear.
Mushroom
resources recommended by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz
County are: http://www.fungusfed.org,
www.namyco.org
and www.mykoweb.com.
|
| October
3, 2011 |
Seasonal Flu
Vaccine Schedule
 |
For the
current 2011-2012
flu season, the seasonal flu vaccine once again includes
protection against H1N1 flu.
- Flu vaccines
are recommended once a year.
- Children
(6-months to 8-years of age) who did
not receive a flu vaccine last year or have never had
a flu vaccine
may need two doses.
- Talk with your
doctor about protecting yourself and others against the flu.
- Call the flu
information line at (831) 454-4343 for up-to-date
information regarding flu within Santa Cruz County
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|
Days/Times
|
Cost
|
Locations
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Monday - Friday
Between
1pm and 4pm
(excluding holidays and days that
the clinics will be closed
for county furlough on the 4th Friday of each month)
No
appointment necessary, subject to availability and space.
|
Cost:
$25*
* No cost
for people with Medi-Cal, Medicare, Healthy Families or Healthy Kids.
|
Santa
Cruz Health Center
1080 Emeline Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA (831) 454-4100
|
|
Watsonville County Health Clinic
9 Crestview Drive, Watsonville
(831) 763-8400
|
Vaccine
Availability:
Thimerosal-free
vaccine is currently available for pregnant women and children 6
to 36 months of age.
It
is now recommended that everyone six months or older get vaccinated
against the flu each year. This is especially important for the
following groups:
-
Children aged 6
months to 18 years of age,
-
Pregnant women,
-
People 50 years of
age and older,
-
People of any age
with certain chronic medical conditions,
-
People who live in
nursing homes and other long term care facilities,
-
People who live
with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu,
including:
-
Household contacts
of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see
above),
-
Household contacts
and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age
(these children are too young to be vaccinated),
-
Healthcare workers.
The
following sources may also have the flu shot available:
If
you have questions about flu vaccine, call 454-4343 (at
the end of the message, during business hours, you will be able to
speak to a public health nurse).
Click
here for more information about the Flu
|
Sept.
20, 2011
Press
Release |
Emergency
Survival Guide
In recognition of September's designation as National Preparedness Month, the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Health has just completed a comprehensive guide to emergency preparedness intended to help the residents of Santa Cruz County prepare for, respond to, and recover from the disasters that affect our region.
|
June
3, 2011
Public
Health
Advisory |
Outbreak
of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O104:H4
infections in Germany
View
Public Health Advisory
|
May
9, 2011
Public
Health
Update |
Student
Immunization Reminder:
Beginning July 1, 2011, all students entering grades 7-12
within Santa Cruz County must provide proof of having immunization against whooping cough (‘Tdap’) before starting school. In light of California’s recent whooping cough (also known as pertussis) epidemic, there is no reason to wait for the new school year. Health professionals encourage parents to have their children vaccinated with the whooping cough booster shot,
Tdap, now in order to protect them against whooping cough and to meet the 2011-12 school requirements.
Press
Release: New Rule Before School! Vaccines Now Required for 7th-12th Grade Students
|
Public
Health
Warning |
Early
Quarantine of Sport-Harvested Mussels
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|
Coming
a month earlier than in normal years, the annual
quarantine of all mussel species publicly harvested along
the California coast takes effect March 29, 2011.
The quarantine is beginning earlier this year because
testing by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
detected elevated levels of domoic acid and paralytic
shellfish poisoning.
The
mussel quarantine runs through October 31, 2011. It
applies to sport-harvested mussels along the coast,
including all bays, harbors and estuaries. Commercially harvested shellfish are
not included in the
annual quarantine. These products are certified by the state and subject to
strict requirements to ensure that all oysters, clams and
mussels entering the marketplace are free of toxins.
|
|
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
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|
Public
Health
Update |
Information
Regarding Radioactivity from Japanese
Nuclear Reactors
Posted
3/17/11: In a statement released this morning, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) stated that there is no risk expected to California or its residents as a result of the situation in Japan. Both agencies will continue to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to actively monitor the situation.
It is not recommended that residents take potassium iodide tablets as a precautionary measure. The tablets can be a danger to people with allergies to iodine, shellfish or who have thyroid problems. Taken inappropriately, the tablets can have serious side effects including abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding.
- Residents may call the California Department of Public Health hotline with specific questions concerning this incident. The number is 916-341-3947.
- Information on radiation is also available at
http://www.cdc.gov/
- For updated information on monitoring, response and relief efforts in California and Japan, please visit the CalEMA website at
http://www.calema.ca.gov/
View
Public Health Update: English
- Spanish
Radiation
Information:
|
Feb.
15, 2011
Public
Health
Advisory |
Immunizations
for Students entering Grades 7-12
Beginning July 1, 2011, all students entering grades 7-12
within Santa Cruz County must provide proof of having immunization against whooping cough (‘Tdap’) before starting school. In light of California’s recent whooping cough (also known as pertussis) epidemic, there is no reason to wait for the new school year. Health professionals encourage parents to have their children vaccinated with the whooping cough booster shot, Tdap, now in order to protect them against whooping cough and to meet the 2011-12 school requirements.
Press
Release: New Rule Before School! Vaccines Now Required for 7th-12th Grade Students
|
Feb.
4, 2011
Public
Health
Advisory |
Update
on Annual Local Influenza Activity
Since January 18, 2011, four cases of lab-confirmed influenza have been identified in Santa Cruz County. The first case, typed as 2009 seasonal H1N1 influenza, was found in a hospitalized patient who subsequently expired. Two cases, typed as H3 (strain type pending), are part of a large respiratory outbreak in a local congregate living facility. The fourth case, which is rapid screen positive and PCR pending, is also a part of the outbreak.
Public
Health Advisory: Update
on Annual Local Influenza Activity
|
Jan.
4, 2011
Public
Health
Advisory |
The
CDPH Division of Communicable Disease Control (DCDC) was
recently notified by a local health department that a pediatric
cardiology group had recently consulted on seven children with
Kawasaki Syndrome (AKA Kawasaki Disease) in the San Francisco
Bay Area. DCDC is working with several Bay Area counties to
determine whether there are increases in KS cases in these
counties. The County of Santa Cruz public health department
would like you to be aware that cases of Kawasaki Syndrome have
been noted in the Bay Area. Cases may also be occurring in
surrounding communities.
Posted
1/4/11:
Kawasaki
Syndrome Health Advisory
|
| June
24, 2010 |
Pertussis
(Whooping Cough) State Epidemic
California
is experiencing an epidemic of pertussis with a 4-fold increase
from the number of reported cases during the same time period in
2009. As of 6/15/10, there have been 910 cases of
pertussis reported in 2010. There are an additional 600
suspect cases currently being investigated by local health
jurisdictions for a total of over 1500 cases. From January
to May 2010, there have been 5 infant deaths due to pertussis.
Santa Cruz County currently has 20 cases.
Posted
6/24/10:
Pertussis
Public Health Alert
Pertussis
Information:
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Public
Health
Warnings
|
Food/Product
Recalls
Recalls,
Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts - A comprehensive,
up-to-date list of all food and product recalls from the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration.
Posted
8/10/10:
Recall
of Ground Beef Products From Valley Meat Company
Previous
Food/Product Recalls
|
| April
3, 2010 |
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
 People
working or playing outdoors in the winter/spring months should be on
the alert for ticks that may carry bacteria that cause Lyme
disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Western
black-legged ticks were observed this month in Humboldt, Marin,
Mendocino, Sonoma and Trinity counties, somewhat earlier than what has been
documented for the past 10 years.
Ticks
can be found in tall grass and brush in urban, suburban and
rural settings. Adult ticks climb to the tips of
vegetation, often alongside trails or paths, and wait for a host
to brush against them. They attach to animals and humans
and feed by sticking their mouthparts into the skin and sucking
blood for up to several days. Lyme and other tick-borne
diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis,
ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, are transmitted while the tick is
attached and feeding.
When hiking outdoors:
-
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Tuck pant legs into boots or socks and tuck shirts into pants.
-
Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can be easily seen.
-
Inspect yourself frequently for ticks while in tick habitats.
Once out of tick habitat, thoroughly check your entire body for ticks.
Parents should examine their children, especially on the scalp, hairline and skin folds.
-
Apply a
repellent, such as DEET, registered for use against
ticks. Always follow directions on the container and
be extra careful when applying to children. Permethrin
spray may be used on clothing to kill ticks before entering
tick habitat.
-
Stay in the middle of the trail.
Avoid trail margins, brush and grassy areas.
Individuals
should consult their physician immediately if symptoms similar
to those described for Lyme disease develop within one to
several weeks after being bitten by a tick.
Additional
information on Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases |
| March
11, 2009 |
Proper
Disposal of Household Medications and Sharps The County of Santa Cruz
is pleased to offer residents a safe, free and environmentally
responsible way to get rid of household medications and
sharps.
Click
here for detailed information about Sharp Solutions |
| |
Bulletin
and Alert Archive |
|
Many of the documents on this web page are in PDF format and require the Adobe Reader Acrobat program to view them. Click the Acrobat Reader button to the left to download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program. |
|
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