Grays Harbor Public Health activates incident management team

Activation allows for better coordination among COVID-19 response partners

Grays Harbor Public Health has activated an incident management team to coordinate the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our department has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Although Grays Harbor County continues to have only 1 confirmed case, we do expect more cases in the days and weeks to come,” said Karolyn Holden, Director. “Activating an incident management team now will allow Public Health to better coordinate and prepare with other local response partners, including Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Summit Pacific Medical Center, and Grays Harbor Emergency Management.”

 Grays Harbor Public Health is receiving assistance from Homeland Security Region 3 and local area agencies to support their response.

 The incident management team will be using the best public health and medical science for controlling and mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide guidance and logistical support to local healthcare systems.

 The incident management team will also be working to get information out as it becomes available. “We know that people need timely and accurate information so that they can make informed decisions about protecting themselves and their families,” said Holden. “Accurate information is one thing we do want to see spreading right now.”

 If you have questions about COVID-19, call the Washington State Department of Health call center at 1 (800) 525-0127.

 For local information and resources related to COVID-19, visit our website at healthygh.org/covid19.

Grays Harbor Health Officer Recommends Social Distancing

Collective action can keep everyone healthy.

The risk of COVID-19 in Washington is increasing. Take steps now to protect yourself and people around you from the disease.

The risk of COVID-19 in Washington is increasing and Public Health expects that more cases will be identified now that the criteria for testing have broadened.

Earlier today, Governor Inslee ordered closure of all K-12 schools across the State of Washington by March 17, 2020 and established requirements that restrict in-person learning in higher education institutions. Inslee’s orders also prohibits large gatherings of more than 250 people statewide.

These restrictions reinforce social distancing. Social distancing means taking extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people.  These measures are put in place to slow the spread of infectious disease so that a lot of people are not sick at the same time.  When a lot of people become ill at one time, critical services like first response, health care, and government may not be able to function.  These systems must remain intact to keep the community safe.

“I understand that social distancing can be very difficult for many, but I know our community has the creativity and compassion to get through it together,” says Dr. John Bausher, the County’s Health Officer. Public Health officials are asking everyone to:

Find child care options that do not rely on people (such as those over age 60, have underlying health conditions, or are pregnant) who are at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19.

Talk to your friends and neighbors about how you can help each other if people in your households get sick.

Find alternatives to gathering or meeting in person whenever possible.  If web or phone options are not feasible, consider cancelling or postponing non-essential events.

Consider alternative methods of service delivery whenever possible, especially for
persons at high risk for severe illness.

Create opportunities and provide infrastructure for employees to telecommute to ensure
that they stay healthy and are able to continue working.

Identify key staff and critical functions and create a plan for continuity of operations in the event that a large number of people are out ill or caring for children.

Evaluate sick leave policies and alter as needed.

Use isolation and quarantine guidance to make decisions about excluding people from work.

Help people feel more comfortable by respectfully refraining from handshakes and hugs.

Practice compassion. Reach out to someone you care about who is at home sick or social distancing. A text, a phone call, or video chat makes a difference. Keep your distance physically, but not emotionally!

More information about Washington’s school closures can be found on the web at www.k12.wa.gov and www.ghc.edu/covid19.

COVID-19 confirmed in Grays Harbor County resident

The person is receiving hospital care.

The risk of COVID-19 in Washington is increasing. Take steps to protect yourself and people around you from the disease.

Grays Harbor Public Health officials are reporting the County’s first case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  The man in his 60s is in isolation and receiving care at Grays Harbor Community Hospital.  He did not travel outside the United States before becoming ill.

Public Health is working with the patient’s family to identify and evaluate persons who had close contact with him while he was contagious.  Persons believed to be exposed will be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days past their last exposure and report any symptoms to Public Health.

“We have expected and planned for this,” said Dr. John Bausher, the County’s Public Health Officer.  “The public health system works every day to track and follow up on cases of disease exposure.  The virus is new, but the public health response is not.”

The risk of COVID-19 in Washington is increasing and Public Health expects that more cases will be identified now that the criteria for testing have broadened.

Most cases are mild
The number of cases are increasing, but the vast majority of the illnesses in the U.S. and around the world are mild, with fever and cough. About eighty percent of people infected with novel coronavirus have not needed hospital care.  A much smaller percentage of cases are more severe and involve pneumonia, particularly in elderly people and people with underlying medical conditions.

When to seek medical evaluation and advice
If you have symptoms like cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, contact your regular doctor first. Do not go to the emergency room unless you need emergency care. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.

If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

If you’re over 60 or you have underlying conditions like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and weakened immune system, come up with a plan with your doctor to identify your health risks for COVID-19 and how to manage symptoms. Contact your doctor right away if you do have symptoms.

Today, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced new community strategies and social distancing plans for: King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties.  Grays Harbor Public Health will continue to monitor statewide guidance and our health officer, Dr. Bausher, will adjust local recommendations as needed.

Grays Harbor County Public Health provides up-to-date information about the County’s COVID-19 response and what County residents can do to slow the spread of the virus and protect people at risk of serious illness. The most current recommendations can be found on the web at http://www.healthygh.org/covid19.

(Updated) Two Grays Harbor County residents under investigation for COVID-19

Update as of March 11, 2020:

On March 3 we reported that two Grays Harbor County residents were being tested for COVID-19. Those results have come back negative.

Moving forward, Grays Harbor Public Health will no longer be reporting numbers on “persons under investigation” (i.e. persons being tested).

In recent days, commercial labs have gained the ability to test for COVID-19. However, commercial labs are not required to go through the same testing notification process as the Public Health Laboratory in Shoreline. As a result, Grays Harbor Public Health is not notified about all of the tests for COVID-19 being conducted on our residents, just a portion of them.

The decision of whether or not to test for COVID-19 is one made by the patient’s healthcare provider.

Grays Harbor Public Health will continue to be notified of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Grays Harbor County residents, regardless of which lab did the test, and Grays Harbor Public Health will report confirmed cases. At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grays Harbor County.

For more information about testing in Washington State, please visit https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/TestingforCOVID19.

For the latest COVID-19 case counts in Washington State, please visit: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

Original post on March 3, 2020:

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grays Harbor County.  At the time of this writing, two Grays Harbor County residents are under investigation for the novel coronavirus and will be tested for COVID-19. Local public health officials are working with health care providers and close contacts of the individuals to control the spread of the virus.

 The COVID-19 situation in Washington State is evolving rapidly and there is now evidence that the virus is spreading in communities.

 Public health officials believe that there will likely be an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases as testing becomes more readily available. The most current information about the number of cases in Washington State is available on the Washington State Department of Health’s 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19) webpage (doh.wa.gov/coronavirus).

 You can take action and make plans to stay healthy and slow the spread of respiratory infections like influenza or COVID-19. By slowing the spread of respiratory infections, communities can reduce the overall number of cases, the number of people who experience complications, and reduce the likelihood that school, business, and health care will be disrupted because many people are ill at one time.

 Actions you can take now include:

·         Stay home when you are sick.

·         Stay away from people who are sick with a fever and cough.

·         Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

·         Cover your coughs and sneezes. Throw out used tissues and wash your hands.

·         Avoid touching your mouth and eyes.

·         Get a flu shot.

·         Make plans for what you might do if your child’s school closes.

·         Find out your options for sick leave or working remotely if you need to stay home, or care for someone at home.

·         Talk with your neighbors and make a plan to help one another if one of you gets sick and stays at home, such as dropping groceries off at the doorstep.

 We are not recommending the use of face masks by people who are not sick as a means of avoiding infection from novel coronavirus. It is important to keep in mind that people wear masks for a variety of reasons, including to avoid pollen and air pollution, as a courtesy to others when they have the common cold, and for other cultural and even social reasons.  Because mask use is customary in some cultures, it’s not appropriate to make assumptions about why someone is wearing a mask or to stigmatize or discriminate against people who choose to wear masks.

 If the spread of COVID-19 continues, health officials may consider other strategies – like canceling large public events – to keep people away from each other to slow the spread of the virus.

For more information

• CDC: cdc.gov/coronavirus (includes guidance for businesses, schools, individuals and families)

• Washington State Department of Health: doh.wa.gov/coronavirus

• Washington State Department of Health call center for general coronavirus questions: 1-800-525-0127, press #

No Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Grays Harbor, but officials are prepared

Local public health officials continue to monitor an international outbreak of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) centered in China. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause respiratory illness. COVID-19 is a new type of coronavirus.

 On January 21, 2020 the Washington State Department of Health confirmed that a Snohomish County resident who traveled home from China had COVID-19. That person has since recovered. There are no cases of COVID-19 in Grays Harbor County and no persons under investigation.

 COVID-19 does not currently present an immediate threat to Grays Harbor or our State, but the virus is now spreading in several countries and health officials believe it is likely that we will start to see the spread of it in Washington State as well.  If that happens, health officials might consider certain strategies - like closing schools or cancelling large public events - to keep people away from each other to slow the spread of the virus.  Grays Harbor Public Health encourages people to take actions and make plans to stay healthy and safe, such as:

 ·         Stay home when you are sick.

·         Stay away from people who are sick.

·         Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

·         Cover your coughs and sneezes.  Throw out used tissues and wash your hands.

·         Avoid touching your mouth and eyes.

·         Get a flu shot.

·         Make plans for what you might do if your child’s school closes.

·         Find out your options for sick leave or working remotely if you need to care for someone at home.

For more information

• CDC: cdc.gov/coronavirus (includes guidance for businesses, schools, individuals and families)

• Washington State Department of Health: doh.wa.gov/coronavirus

• Washington State Department of Health call center for general coronavirus questions: 1-800-525-0127, press #

Temporary cold weather shelter available Tuesday, February 18

A cold weather shelter for community residents unable to access other shelter options will be temporarily available as the weather is forecast to approach freezing temperatures.

The volunteer-staffed cold weather shelter will be available Tuesday 02/18/2020 at 7pm until 7am.

Opening the shelter is assessed and announced separately for each day.

The shelter access is not contingent on sobriety and participation in services of any kind is voluntary. It  serves adults 18 and over, of all genders, as space and volunteer capacity allows.

Shelter rules will be limited and focused on safety for guests and volunteers.

Partners who identify vulnerable residents who may be in need of shelter may escort or refer them to 504 S. F st, Aberdeen, WA between the hours of 7pm and 5am

Interested volunteers should contact Bill Mullikin at billm@coastalcap.org or call 360 660-2096.

Donations of non-perishable foods, hygiene items, socks, coffee supplies, or bottled water may be dropped off at Coastal Community Action Program during business hours or brought to the shelter when in operation.

Local public health officials monitoring novel coronavirus

Local public health officials are monitoring an international outbreak of novel coronavirus centered in China. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause respiratory illness. The "2019 novel coronavirus” (2019-nCoV) is a new type of coronavirus.

There are no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Grays Harbor County and no persons under investigation. Grays Harbor Public Health is working closely with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to monitor the situation.

The Department of Homeland Security is working in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to screen all travelers from China for fever and respiratory symptoms upon arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  They are requiring travelers who were in the Hubei province during the 14 days before their re-entry into the United States to undergo a health screening at the airport and stay in mandatory quarantine for up to 14 days.  Officials are asking travelers from other areas of mainland China to stay home and monitor their health for the next 14 days with the help of public health officials.

On January 21, 2020, DOH confirmed that a Snohomish County resident who traveled home from China had novel coronavirus.  There is no evidence the virus is spreading within Washington State.

The coronavirus is spread through prolonged face to face contact with an infected person.  Casual contact, such as simply passing someone in an airport concourse, has not been shown to spread the disease.  You should call a health care provider if:

·   You feel sick with a fever, cough or difficulty breathing
— AND —

·    You traveled to China or were in close contact with someone with 2019-nCoV in the 14 days before you began to feel sick.

 The current risk of infection with 2019-nCoV in Washington is low, but it is cold and flu season.  There are simple steps people can take to reduce their risk of getting or spreading any viral respiratory infection:

·    Wash your hands often.

·     Avoid touching the face with unwashed hands.

·     Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

·     Cover coughs and sneezes.

·     Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

·     Stay home and avoid close contact with others if you are sick.

·     Get a flu shot.  Influenza is currently circulating in the community and it’s not too late.

 People planning to travel internationally should consult the CDC website for the latest guidance.

 Grays Harbor Public Health has plans in place to respond rapidly to communicable disease risks within our county.  They are working to ensure that local health care providers, government agencies and other organizations have the best information and guidance available and have asked local health care providers to screen patients returning from China for 2019-nCoV and immediately report suspect cases.

 Additional resources:

• CDC: cdc.gov/coronavirus

• Washington DOH: doh.wa.gov/coronavirus

• Washington DOH hotline for general coronavirus questions: 1-800-525-0127

Temporary cold weather shelter available beginning Sunday 1/12/2020 through Thursday 1/16/2020

With temperatures forecasted to fall below 35 degrees overnight and through the weekend according to the National Weather Service forecast the following location will be used as an overnight shelter.

The purpose of the shelter is survival of those who are unhoused and for that reason shelter access is not contingent on sobriety or participation in services of any kind. It will serve adults 18 and over, of all genders, as space and volunteer capacity allows. Shelter rules will be limited and focused on safety for guests and volunteers.

Residents in need of shelter with minor children can contact the Friendship House at 360-533-2221. Shelter is contingent on available beds and ability to meet shelter criteria.

Location: 504 S. “F”st, - Aberdeen

Hours: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Dates: 1/13/2020 – 1/16/2020

Grays Harbor County Public Health and the City of Aberdeen will update their websites with the current status of shelter operations.

Interested in volunteering? Shelter operations for future dates will be contingent on confirmed adequate volunteers. Please contact Bill Mullikin at billm@coastalcap.com

Interested in donating? Bottled water, non-perishable/soft foods, socks, gloves, and other basic hygiene items may be dropped off at 504 S. “F” St. during shelter operation hours or at the Coastal Community Action Program office at 101 East Market Street in Aberdeen during business hours.

Temporary cold weather shelter available Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15

With temperatures forecasted to fall below 35 degrees overnight and through the weekend according to the National Weather Service forecast the following location will be used as an overnight shelter.

The purpose of the shelter is survival of those who are unhoused and for that reason shelter access is not contingent on sobriety or participation in services of any kind.  It will serve adults 18 and over, of all genders, as space and volunteer capacity allows. Shelter rules will be limited and focused on safety for guests and volunteers.

Residents in need of shelter with minor children can contact the Friendship House at 360-533-2221. Shelter is contingent on available beds and ability to meet shelter criteria.

Location: Pearsall Building, 2109 Sumner Avenue - Aberdeen

Hours: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Dates: Saturday, December 14th through Sunday, December 15th

Interested in volunteering? Shelter operations for future dates will be contingent on confirmed adequate volunteers. Please contact Pastor Val Metropoulos at vmetropoulos001@luthersem.edu.

Interested in donating? Bottled water, non-perishable/soft foods, socks, gloves, and other basic hygiene items may be dropped off at the Pearsall Building during shelter operation hours or at the Coastal Community Action Program office at 101 East Market Street in Aberdeen during business hours.

Temporary cold weather shelter available Monday, December 2

With temperatures forecasted to fall below 38 degrees overnight according to the National Weather Service the following location will be used as an overnight shelter.

The purpose of the shelter is survival of those who are unhoused and for that reason shelter access is not contingent on sobriety or participation in services of any kind.  It will serve adults 18 and over, of all genders, as space and volunteer capacity allows. Shelter rules will be limited and focused on safety for guests and volunteers.

Residents in need of shelter with minor children can contact the Friendship House at 360-533-2221. Shelter is contingent on available beds and ability to meet shelter criteria.

Location: Pearsall Building, 2109 Sumner Avenue - Aberdeen

Hours: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Dates: Monday, December 2nd

Grays Harbor County Public Health and the City of Aberdeen will update their websites with the current status of shelter operations.

Interested in volunteering? Shelter operations for future dates will be contingent on confirmed adequate volunteers. Please contact Pastor Val Metropoulos at vmetropoulos001@luthersem.edu.

Interested in donating? Bottled water, non-perishable/soft foods, socks, gloves, and other basic hygiene items may be dropped off at the Pearsall Building during shelter operation hours or at the Coastal Community Action Program office at 101 East Market Street in Aberdeen during business hours.

Temporary cold weather shelter available beginning 11/27-12/2

With temperatures forecasted to fall below 38 degrees overnight and through the weekend according to the National Weather Service forecast the following location will be used as an overnight shelter.

 The purpose of the shelter is survival of those who are unhoused and for that reason shelter access is not contingent on sobriety or participation in services of any kind.  It will serve adults 18 and over, of all genders, as space and volunteer capacity allows. Shelter rules will be limited and focused on safety for guests and volunteers.

 Residents in need of shelter with minor children can contact the Friendship House at 360-533-2221. Shelter is contingent on available beds and ability to meet shelter criteria.

 Location: Pearsall Building, 2109 Sumner Avenue - Aberdeen

 Hours: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

 Dates: Wednesday, November 27th through Monday, December 2nd

Grays Harbor County Public Health and the City of Aberdeen will update their websites with the current status of shelter operations. 

Interested in volunteering? Shelter operations for future dates will be contingent on confirmed adequate volunteers. Please contact Pastor Val Metropoulos at vmetropoulos001@luthersem.edu.

 Interested in donating? Bottled water, non-perishable/soft foods, socks, gloves, and other basic hygiene items may be dropped off at the Pearsall Building during shelter operation hours or at the Coastal Community Action Program office at 101 East Market Street in Aberdeen during business hours.

Temporary cold weather shelter NOT available Friday, November 22

With temperatures NOT scheduled to fall below 38 degrees overnight according to the National Weather Service forecast the shelter will be NOT be used as an overnight shelter Friday, November 22nd.

Grays Harbor County Public Health and the City of Aberdeen will update their websites with the current status of shelter operations.

Interested in volunteering? Shelter operations for future dates will be contingent on confirmed adequate volunteers. Please contact Pastor Val Metropoulos at vmetropoulos001@luthersem.edu.

Interested in donating? Bottled water, non-perishable/soft foods, and other basic hygiene items may be dropped off at the shelter location during shelter operation hours or at the Coastal Community Action Program office at 101 East Market Street in Aberdeen during business hours.

Have an idea for a potential space? Shelter operations for future dates will be contingent on finding suitable locations. Please contact Cassie Lentz at clentz@co.grays-harbor.wa.us or 360-500-4049.

Temporary cold weather shelter available Thursday, November 21

With temperatures falling below 38 degrees overnight according to the National Weather Service forecast the following location will be used as an overnight shelter.

The purpose of the shelter is survival of those who are unhoused and for that reason shelter access is not contingent on sobriety or participation in services of any kind.  It will serve adults 18 and over, of all genders, as space and volunteer capacity allows. Shelter rules will be limited and focused on safety for guests and volunteers.

Location: Aberdeen Polish Club, 823 West 1st Street in Aberdeen

Hours: 7 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Grays Harbor County Public Health and the City of Aberdeen will update their websites with the current status of shelter operations.

Interested in volunteering? Shelter operations for future dates will be contingent on confirmed adequate volunteers. Please contact Pastor Val Metropoulos at vmetropoulos001@luthersem.edu.

Interested in donating? Bottled water, non-perishable/soft foods, and other basic hygiene items may be dropped off at the Polish Club during shelter operation hours or at the Coastal Community Action Program office at 101 East Market Street in Aberdeen during business hours.

Temporary cold weather shelter available

Through a collaborative, community-wide effort, a temporary cold weather shelter for community residents unable to access other shelter options will be temporarily available as the weather is forecasted to approach freezing temperatures this week.

The volunteer-staffed cold weather shelter will be available at the Aberdeen Polish Club, 823 West 1st Street in Aberdeen from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. beginning Wednesday, November 20. With temperatures forecasted to approach freezing Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings this week, the shelter will be available contingent on adequate volunteer availability. A press release update will be issued based on confirmed volunteer availability. Grays Harbor County Public Health will update their website with the current status of shelter operations at http://www.healthygh.org/news.

The shelter access is not contingent on sobriety, and participation in services of any kind is voluntary. It will serve adults 18 and over, of all genders, as space and volunteer capacity allows. Shelter rules will be limited and focused on safety for guests and volunteers.

Partners who identify vulnerable residents who may be in need of temporary shelter may escort or refer them to the shelter at the Polish Club between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Interested volunteers should contact Pastor Val Metropoulos at vmetropoulos001@luthersem.edu. Community donations of bottled water, non-perishable/soft foods, and other basic hygiene items can be dropped off at the Polish Club during shelter operation hours or at the Coastal Community Action Program office at 101 East Market Street in Aberdeen during business hours.

State Board of Health passes emergency ban on flavored vapor products

Today the Washington State Board of Health passed an emergency rule banning the sale of flavored vapor products or any products that will be used to create a flavored vapor product. The rule takes effect on October 10, 2019 and lasts for 120 days. The Board of Health and Department of Health will work closely with the Liquor and Cannabis Board on plans for implementation and enforcement now that the emergency rule is final.

“This is a critical part of our response to the youth vaping epidemic and the outbreak of vaping associated lung injury in Washington and throughout the country,” said Secretary of Health John Wiesman, who is also a member of the board. “While we don’t yet know the exact cause of the lung injury, we know these products are not safe and we must act quickly to protect young people.”

Earlier this month, Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order directing the department to ask the board to adopt this emergency rule and take other actions to address the outbreak of vaping associated lung injury. There are currently seven cases in Washington and over 1000 nationwide. The outbreak is concentrated in young people. Nationally, the median age of patients is 23. Five of the seven Washington patients are between 10 and 29 years old.

 “We know from our health impact review of House Bill 1932 that flavors get adolescents and young adults to start vaping and smoking, and the health effects of added flavors in marijuana vapor products have not been well researched,” said Keith Grellner, chair of the State Board of Health. “Eliminating flavors from these products is an important first step to better protecting the health of people in Washington, especially to prevent and discourage youth and young adults from starting or continuing to vape unknown, unspecified, untested and unverified chemicals.”

In addition to the emergency rule, the department is investigating the outbreak, taking steps to warn consumers of the risks of vaping, asking health care providers to report all suspected cases and expanding educational campaigns to raise awareness of the hazards of vaping, including an emphasis on the high risk of buying and using products from the illegal market.

The healthiest option is to not smoke or vape. Regardless of the ongoing investigation, if you don’t use e-cigarettes or vapor products, you should not start doing so, and youth, young adults and pregnant or breastfeeding women should never use them.

Adults who use e-cigarettes, vapor products or other tobacco products and are attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved medications. Resources are available at www.doh.wa.gov/quit. For those trying to quit marijuana, resources for quitting are available at www.warecoveryhelpline.org.

Severe lung illness linked to use of vaping products in Washington State

From the Washington State Department of Health:

The Washington State Department of Health is closely monitoring an ongoing investigation headed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration regarding an outbreak of severe lung illness associated with using vaping products.

While the CDC investigation is ongoing and has not identified a definitive cause, all reported cases have a history of using vaping devices.

Vaping devices — also known as JUULs, e-cigarettes, e-cigs, vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, mods, tanks, or electronic nicotine delivery systems — can contain nicotine, marijuana, or other substances like flavoring agents and chemicals.

If you continue to use vaping devices, you should monitor yourself for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, chest pain) and promptly seek medical attention if you have concerns about your health. You should never buy vaping products with THC or other cannabinoids off the street, and you should not modify or add any substances to these products not intended by the manufacturer.

The Department of Health reminds people the healthiest option is to not smoke or vape.

Nicotine and marijuana can be harmful in any form. Anyone using tobacco or vaping products and attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved medications. If you need help quitting tobacco or vaping products, contact your health care provider or access online resources to quit tobacco and/or marijuana.

For more detailed information on the federal investigation, please refer to the CDC web page regarding the matter.

State officials make it easier to access overdose reversal drug

Washington State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy has signed a statewide standing order for naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. The standing order works like a prescription and allows any person or organization in the state to get naloxone from a pharmacy.

“Making it easier to access and distribute this lifesaving medication to people who need it is an important step in addressing the opioid crisis and reducing overdose deaths in our state,” said Dr. Lofy. “In 2018, 710 Washington residents died of an opioid overdose.”

An overdose of opioid drugs like prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl can cause a person’s breathing to slow or stop. Naloxone can be given as an injection or a nasal spray to someone experiencing an overdose. It works by temporarily blocking the effects of opioid drugs.

Naloxone is very safe and does not have serious side effects if accidentally given to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose. If you think someone is experiencing an overdose, but aren’t sure what kind of drugs they may have taken, use naloxone.

The Washington State Department of Health encourages anyone who is at risk of experiencing or witnessing an opioid overdose to carry naloxone. People who want to get naloxone can use the standing order at any pharmacy in the state without a prescription from a health care provider.

It’s best to call ahead to make sure the pharmacy has naloxone available and check your insurance coverage. Most commercial health insurance plans cover at least one form of naloxone, but coverage and costs vary. Apple Health (Medicaid) clients can get naloxone at no cost.

Visit our overdose prevention project page to learn about other ways to get naloxone for yourself or your agency.

MMR vaccine exemption law change 2019

In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that removes the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine required for school and child care entry. It also requires employees and volunteers at child care centers to provide immunization records indicating they have received the MMR vaccine or proof of immunity. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on May 10, 2019.

To help answer questions and share the current status, DOH has created an exemption law change webpage at www.doh.wa.gov/MMRexemption. This page contains information and resources on school and child care immunization requirement changes. The page is being updated as more information becomes available. 

The recent measles outbreaks in Washington and the ongoing outbreaks across the United States demonstrate why the change to the vaccine exemption law will help keep Washington healthy and safe from three serious diseases. As the new law comes into effect, DOH will continue work in helping parents and the public understand the safety record of vaccines and the critical role they have in saving lives.

Measles exposures in Pierce and King Counties

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department announced a confirmed measles case in a Piece County resident. There are locations of possible exposure in both Pierce and King Counties.

For a list of possible exposure locations, visit Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s website at https://www.tpchd.org/Home/Components/News/News/126/286?backlist=/home.

For more information to commonly asked questions about measles, download our Measles Q+A document.

Measles Q+A (.pdf)

State of emergency declared in response to measles outbreak

Update (April 29, 2019):

The Clark County measles outbreak has been declared over, after six week with no new cases.

More information: https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/measles-investigation

---

Update (March 8, 2019):

We are continuing to closely monitor the measles outbreak in Clark County. There continues to be no confirmed or suspected cases of measles in Grays Harbor County.

Common questions about measles

What is happening right now?

• There is an ongoing measles outbreak in Clark County, Washington (the area around Vancouver).

• No cases of measles have been identified in Grays Harbor County.

• For the latest information on the Clark County outbreak, visit Washington State Department of Health’s website at https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Measles/MeaslesOutbreak?fbclid=IwAR0vXwnx3cYtCdTKL393Ufg21SgXfHzP5bts3xJN_cu-lOep0ic_acbV6a4

What can I do to prevent measles?

• You can protect yourself and your family by ensuring everyone has the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

• Over 95% of babies who get their first MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination at 12 months of age are protected against measles. Over 99% are protected for a lifetime after their second MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination.

What is Grays Harbor County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) doing about the current measles outbreak?

• PHSS staff are closely monitoring the measles outbreak in Clark County, Washington. We receive daily updates that tell us how many cases have been diagnosed and where exposure to measles is known or suspected to have occurred.

• We regularly fax information about the measles outbreak to our local health care providers so that they know what is happening and can consider measles as a possible diagnosis when they are evaluating a rash illness.

• We consult with health care providers who have questions about measles diagnosis.

• We provide information and education to members of the public.

• We investigate probable and confirmed measles cases and ensure that measures are taken to reduce the spread of disease.

When would a health care provider test for measles?

• When a person goes to a medical provider, the provider will assess their symptoms. Some of the symptoms of measles are also seen in other common illnesses.

• Providers will test for measles if the patient has all of the symptoms of measles and if they have been in an area with a current outbreak or was recently in close contact with someone who has measles.

• Some providers may test for measles even if the patient does not have all of the symptoms and even if they have not been in close contact with a person who has measles – just to be 100% sure they can rule measles out.

What happens if a health care provider suspects that a person has measles?

• If a health care provider suspects that a patient might have measles, they will order lab tests that will confirm or rule out measles. The lab test may take a few days to complete.

• They may also ask the patient to stay home and limit the people they are in close contact with until they get the test results.

• The law requires health care providers and laboratories to report any probable or confirmed cases of measles to PHSS immediately.

• PHSS can receive reports from health care providers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What is a “case” of measles?

• In public health, a “case” is a person who has a diagnosis of a contagious disease that meets specific, defined criteria.

• A “probable case” of measles is defined as someone who, in the absence of a more likely diagnosis, has the symptoms of measles (fever more than 101 degrees, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and tiredness followed by a rash over the entire body that lasts more than 3 days).

• A “confirmed case” of measles is defined as someone who has the symptoms of measles along with positive results to specific lab tests that confirm that the person is currently infected. How are patients informed about a measles diagnosis?

• Patients may receive paperwork that says their doctor saw them for “measles” but that is not the same as a diagnosis of measles.

• A diagnosis of measles is made when lab results confirm the illness is measles. The health care provider will contact the patient directly to share the information from the lab result.

When would PHSS announce a case of measles to the public?

• When there is a suspect or confirmed case of measles, we contact the person who is ill to conduct a thorough disease investigation. In investigations we work to identify places the person has been and people the person has been around during the period of time they are contagious.

• This helps us identify and communicate with every person that has been in contact with the person who is contagious.

• If the person was in a public place that exposed a group of people who couldn’t be identified individually (like a carnival), we would announce the date, time, and location to the public so that people who were there could contact us.

Download and print the Measles Questions and Answers document (.pdf)

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Original post (January 25, 2019):

This afternoon Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in response to a measles outbreak in our state.

Currently, 31 cases of measles have been confirmed in Washington state (30 in Clark County and 1 in King County). No measles cases have been reported in Grays Harbor County.

Our staff will continue to monitor the outbreak closely.

You can protect yourself and your family by ensuring everyone has the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. More information, including how to check your immunization records online, is at https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Measles/MeaslesOutbreak.