Health Alerts
The list below provides information gathered from press releases and other public notices about certain recalls of FDA-regulated products that affect Alameda County residents.
| ALERT | conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention. |
| ADVISORY | provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action. |
| UPDATE | provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action. |
|
May 1, 2013 |
Update |
Human Infections with Novel Influenza A (H7N9) |
|
April 9, 2013 |
Update |
Human Infections with Novel Influenza A (H7N9) |
|
February 4, 2013 |
Advisory | Doxycycline and Tetracycline Shortage On February 4, 2013 the State of California Department of Public Health released a notification about recent shortages of Doxycycline and Tetracycline, which may impact your ability to treat or provide prophylaxis for patients. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a shortage of doxycycline on January 18, 2013. Doxycycline is a recommended therapy for some sexually transmitted infections and syndromes including Chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis, epidiymitis and pelvic inflammatory disease. It is also an alternative therapy for syphilis in patients with a penicillin allergy. Reports were also received of a shortage of tetracycline, which is an alternative to doxycycline for treating certain conditions. For additional information about the availability of doxycycline or tetracycline including expected dates of resolution for different manufacturers and current distribution allotments please visit the FDC Drug Shortage website and for CDC-recommended and additional STD alternative regimens please consult the 2010 STD Treatment Guidelines or visit this CDC site for updates. |
|
January 25, 2013 |
Advisory | Nationwide Shortage of Isonizaid (INH) There is currently a nationwide shortage of INH, one of the most important drugs to treat tuberculosis (TB) disease and latent TB infection (LTBI). The low inventory is attributed to a shortage of the active ingredient for making INH and shipping delays. |
| December 14, 2012 | Advisory |
Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations for Men Who Have Sex with Men Meningococcal Disease is a severe infection caused by the bateria Neisseria meningitidis. It can cause either meningococcal meningitis or meningococcemia (septic infection). If it is untreated, it leads to death in 50% of people who catch it. Even with early diagnosis it causes death in 5-15% of the people who become ill. Neisseria meningitidis is spread through contact with the saliva, phlegm, or other fluids from the nose or mouth of an infected person. Close contact includes: kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, living in a crowded space together (e.g. in a dormitory), sharing food, drinking from the same cup, eating with the same utensils, sharing a cigarette or pipe. Currently there is an outbreak of meningococcal disease happening in NY among men who have sex with men. These cases are all the same serogroup -C. There was 1 case in August 2010, 4 cases in 2011, and 11 cases in 2012. 9 have been HIV+. These men have contacted each other online, using phone apps, and at parties and bars. This type of meningococcal disease is vaccine preventable. At this time, persons who wish to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease, including MSM, may choose to receive meningococcal vaccine, which can be safely administered to HIV-infected persons.
|
|
October 4, 2012 |
Advisory | Meningitis and Stroke Associated with Potentially Contaminated Product The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are coordinating a multi-state investigation of fungal meningitis among patients who received an epidural steroid injection. Several of these patients also suffered strokes that are believed to have resulted from their infection. |
|
October 1, 2012 |
Advisory | Mandatory Influenza Vaccination or Masking of Health Care Workers During Influenza Season Alameda County Health Officer is issuing a joint order with Berkeley Health Officer mandating that all licensed health care facilities in Alameda County and the City of Berkeley require their health care workers (HCWs) to receive an annual influenza vaccination or, if they decline, to wear a mask during the influenza season while working in patient care areas. Facilities with a documented 90 percent or greater HCW influenza vaccination rate are exempt from the masking requirement. |
|
September 5, 2012 |
Alert | Hantavirus Guidance for Physicians with Patients Presenting with Concerns or Symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome After Visit to Yosemite National Park The California Department of Public Health is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Park Service to investigate the outbreak of hantavirus in recent visitors to Yosemite National Park. CDPH issued this more detailed health alert and guidance for physicians that supports and builds on the previous ACPHD health alert. |
|
August 31, 2012 |
Update | Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome in California The California Department of Public Health has reported six confirmed cases of Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) in visitors who stayed in Yosemite National Park from early June to mid-July 2012. Clinicians are asked to educate patients that HCPS is a rare disease that is prevented by avoiding contact with rodents and excreta. Clinicians may consider testing for HCPS in patients with fever, severe pulmonary disease and a history of contact with rodents in rural areas. Suspected HCPS cases should be reported to Alameda County Public Health Department at 510-267-3250. |
|
May 6, 2012 |
Advisory | Hot Summer Weather Advisory The summer season with its potential for fluctuating high temperatures is approaching. Health care facilities are reminded that the elderly and other health compromised individuals are more susceptible to extremes in temperature and dehydration. |
|
January 25, 2012 |
Advisory | NOVEL H3N2 INFLUENZA VIRUS: INCREASED SURVEILLANCE California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requesting increased surveillance and testing for influenza in children less than 18 years of age. Since July 2011, a novel swine-origin triple reassortant H3N2 influenza virus (S-OtrH3N2) has been reported in 5 states with a total of 12 cases. California has no cases but heightened surveillance is being requested. |
|
October 5, 2011 |
Alert | Healthcare Providers: Mumps Health Alert Alameda County has 4 confirmed and 3 probable cases of Mumps that are epidemiologically linked. Individuals are at increased risk for mumps if they are unvaccinated. Mumps should be considered in the differential diagnosis even in fully immunized individuals. |
|
August 18, 2011 |
Advisory | Pediatric Health Providers: Fatal Vaccine-Preventable Pneumococcal Disease Immunize all children younger than 5 years of age who have not yet received 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. |
|
May 20, 2011 |
Advisory | FDA Warns Not to Feed SimplyThick to Premature Infants Do not feed the thickening product called SimplyThick to infants born before 37 weeks because it may cause a life-threatening condition. |
|
May 3, 2011 |
Advisory | Measles Since January 2011, 11 cases of measles have been reported in California. A nationwide increase in the numbers of reported measles cases has also been noted this year. As in recent years, nearly all of the cases are known to have involved recent travel to Europe or Asia, or contact with international travelers (including via transit through U.S. international airports). Some of the cases have been intentionally unvaccinated children. |
|
May 19, 2010 |
Alert | Mercury Poisoning Linked to Face Cream The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a Health Alert May 19, 2010 notifying persons who may be using unlabeled, nonprescription face creams from Mexico for the purpose of skin lightening, fading freckles and age spots, and preventing acne that these products contain very high levels of mercury, are harmful to your health, and should not be used. |
| February 23, 2010 |
Alert | Measles Health Alert Four cases of measles have been diagnosed in the San Francisco Bay Area in the past two weeks. Two cases occurred in two unvaccinated toddlers who traveled to Europe and Asia; one case in an older adult who traveled to Europe; and the fourth case was an unvaccinated adult with no travel history. |
| July 23, 2009 |
Alert | Novel H1N1 Flu |
| July 20, 2009 |
Alert | Novel H1N1 Flu |
| September 20, 2008 |
Update | Rabies Vaccine Supply Shortage |
| August 29, 2008 |
Update | Rabies Vaccine Supply Shortage |
| August 26, 2008 |
Alert | Rabies Vaccine Supply Shortage The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has strongly recommended that health care providers, state and local health authorities, and animal control officials take immediate steps to ensure the appropriate use of human rabies vaccine due to a national rabies vaccine shortage. |
| July 10-11, 2008 | Advisory | Heat Advisory The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area that remains in effect until 8 p.m. Friday, July 11. |
| July 8-10, 2008 | Advisory | Health Advisory, Red Flag Warning, Spare the Air The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area and a red flag warning for the North and East Bay hills that remain in effect noon today, July 8, until 5 p.m. Thursday, July 10. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has a spare the air notice for the same period. |
| June 25-27, 2008 | Advisory | Air Quality Health Advisory Bay Area Air Quality Management District Issues Health Advisory |
| May, June 2008 |
Update | Salmonella Outbreak Update New cases of Salmonella linked to certain types of tomatoes have been reported to CDPH. |
| May 16, 2008 | Advisory | Heat Advisory The National Weather Service's heat advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area remains in effect noon to 8 p.m. today, May 16. |