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Infectious Disease Emergencies / Health Alerts

Urgency Level Categories
Alert: Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention. Advisory: Provides important information for specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action. Update: Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.

Health Alerts

The San Francisco Department of Public Health sends out Health Alerts, Advisories, and Updates regarding communicable disease outbreaks, immunization updates, and emerging infectious diseases to San Francisco clinicians.

Clinicians can sign-up or submit updated contact information to receive Health Alerts. All contact information is kept confidential.

Click for disease reporting numbers, lab forms, and legally reportable diseases.

Health Alerts, Advisories, and Updates
Date_of_Alert_	__Urgency__	Subject
05-03-2013		SFDPH Press Release: Typhoid Fever in Restaurant Worker
05-01-2013	Advisory	Avian Influenza A: H7N9 Advisory
04-16-2013	Advisory	Additional Cases of Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City; Updated Recommendations for San Francisco
04-12-2013	Update	Avian Influenza A: H7N9 Update
04-05-2013	Advisory	CDC Health Advisory: Human Infections with Novel Influenza A (H7N9) Viruses The purpose of this advisory is to inform and provide guidance to health care providers in the evaluation of patients for novel Influenza A (H7N9) infection. Read the full advisory or go to the CDC Health Alert Network Page for additional advisories or updates. As of April 4, 2013, 14 cases of human infection with a novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus were reported from four different provinces in China. All patients were hospitalized with severe respiratory illness and six persons died. These are the first human infections identified with an avian influenza A (H7N9). All illness onsets were from February 19 - March 31, 2013. No person-to-person transmission or epidemiologic link between any of the cases has been identified. Sources of infections are under investigation. The CDC is not yet issuing any formal travel advisories. No cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) viruses have been detected in the United States. However, clinicians are reminded to consider influenza as a possible diagnosis when evaluating patients with acute respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, even outside of the typical influenza season. Read the latest updates, case definitions, and guidance from the CDC on their website. In hospitalized patients or others at high risk of severe disease (i.e, age <5 or >=65 or underlying medical conditions), treatment with oral oseltamivir or inhaled zanamivir should be started as soon as possible, without waiting for laboratory confirmation. Preliminary information indicates the virus is susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors. Clinicians in San Francisco should implement appropriate infection control recommendations and contact the SFDPH/Communicable Disease Control Unit immediately at (415) 554-2830 to arrange testing for Novel Influenza A(H7N9) for suspected cases with a travel or exposure history.
03-08-2013	Advisory	CDC Health Advisory: Updated Guidelines for Evaluation of Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with a Novel Coronavirus The purpose of this Advisory is to provide guidance to health care providers in the evaluation of patients for novel coronavirus infection. Read the full advisory here or go to the CDC Health Alert Network Page for additional advisories or updates. CDC does not recommend that anyone change their travel plans because of these cases of the novel coronavirus. CDC recommends that US travelers to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula monitor their health and see a doctor right away if they develop fever and symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath. They should tell the doctor about their recent travel. UPDATE: As of March 27, 2013, 17 laboratory-confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus have been reported to WHO - from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Among the 17 cases, eleven were fatal. Two of the 17 cases experienced a mild respiratory illness and fully recovered. Read the latest updates, case definitions, and guidance from the CDC. Doctors in San Francisco should contact the SFDPH/Communicable Disease Control Unit immediately at (415) 554-2830 to arrange testing for suspected cases.
03-04-2013	Update	CDC Health Update (HAN): Notice to Clinicians: Continued Vigilance Urged for Fungal Infections among Patients Who Received Contaminated Steroid Injections CDC is still receiving new reports of fungal infections among patients who were given injections of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) from NECC. Most of these recent cases have been localized spinal or paraspinal infections in patients, although new cases of meningitis or arachnoiditis also have been reported. CDC is recommending that physicians seeing patients with mild or even baseline symptoms, consider evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if clinically warranted. Read the full update here, or go to the CDC Health Alert Network Page for more updates. NOTE: San Francisco Clinicians did not receive any of the contaminated medication.
01-11-2013	Advisory	Influenza Health Advisory - contains new Situational Information and updated Anti-Viral Treatment Recommendations
12-06-2012....		SFDPH Press Release: Consider Vaccination to Prevent Meningitis for Certain San Francisco Men Traveling to New York City
12-03-2012	Advisory	New York City Health Department Expands Recommendations for Meningococcal Vaccine for Certain Men Who Have Sex with Men
12-03-2012	Update	CDC Health Update (HAN): New England Compounding Center - Additional Contamination Identified CDC and FDA identified additional microbial contamination in unopened vials of betamethasone, cardioplegia, and triamcinolone solutions distributed and recalled from NECC. Contamination includes bacteria known as Bacillus, and fungal species including Aspergillus tubingensis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporiumspecies, and Penicilliumspecies. Healthcare providers should remain alert for the possibility of infections from these medications. Read the full CDC Health Update, and for updated information go to the FDA website.
11-07-2012	Advisory	Influenza Health Advisory
11-01-2012	Update	Ameridose Voluntary Recall Health Care professionals should stop using Ameridose products at this time, and return them to the firm. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a recall of any unexpired Ameridose products remaining in circulation as of October 31, 2012 out of an abundance of caution. As of October 31, the recall is not based on reports of patients with infections associated with any of Ameridose's products. Therefore, at this time, the FDA is also recommending that health care professionals to not need to follow up with patients who received Ameridose products. Please refer to the following websites for more information about the recall as information may be updated during the investigation: Ameridose Issues Recall of All Products FDA reports voluntary recall of all Ameridose drug products Ameridose News Webpage
10-09-2012	Alert	NECC Recall and Meningitis
09-24-2012	Update	West Nile Virus Health Update
09-07-2012	Update	Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Health Update
06-12-2012	Update	Pertussis Quick Guide for Clinicians
10-17-2011	Advisory	Influenza Health Advisory
03-17-2011	Advisory	Radiation Health Advisory
10-06-2010	Advisory	Influenza Health Advisory
08-04-2010	Update	Pertussis Quick Guide for Clinicians
06-24-2010	Update	Pertussis Pertussis Situation Update Quick Guide for Clinicians
05-06-2010	Alert	Rubella Health Alert
02-22-2010	Alert	Measles Health Alert Measles Flyer from the California Department of Public Health Lab Form Measles FAQs
02-19-2010	Advisory	H1N1 Swine Influenza A Health Advisory Home Page - Novel Influenza A H1N1 (Swine) Flu
02-05-2010	Advisory	H1N1 Swine Influenza A Health Advisory
01-21-2010	Advisory	H1N1 Swine Influenza A Health Advisory
10-26-2009	Advisory	H1N1 Swine Influenza A Health Advisory (Updated 10/30: Infection Control Precautions for Health Care Settings)
10-21-2009	Advisory	H1N1 Swine Influenza A Health Advisory
07-06-2009	Advisory	Novel Influenza A H1N1 (Swine) Virus Health Advisory (Testing and Infection Control sections updated October 13, 2009)
06-24-2009	Alert	Health Alert: Novel Influenza A H1N1 (Swine) Virus Health Alert
06-02-2009	Advisory	Novel Influenza A H1N1 (Swine) Virus Surveillance, Testing, Reporting, Antiviral Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis, and Infection Control Precautions
05-18-2009	Alert	Novel Influenza A H1N1 (Swine) Virus: Surveillance, Testing, Reporting, Antiviral Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis, and Infection Control Precautions
05-12-2009	Alert	Novel Influenza A H1N1 (Swine) Virus: Surveillance, Testing, Reporting, Antiviral Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis, and Infection Control Precautions
05-04-2009	Alert	H1N1 (Swine) Flu Surveillance, Testing, Reporting, Antiviral Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis, and Infection Control Precautions
05-01-2009	Alert	H1N1 (Swine) Flu Surveillance, Testing, Reporting, Antiviral Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis, and Infection Control Precautions
04-29-2009	Alert	Swine Influenza Health Alert - Surveillance, Testing, Reporting and Antiviral Treatment
04-27-2009	Alert	Swine Influenza Health Alert - Instructions for Surveillance, Testing, and Reporting
04-24-2009	Alert	Swine Influenza Health Alert
01-30-2009	Alert	Measles Health Alert Information for Persons Potentially Exposed to Measles Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Measles
01-22-2009	Advisory	Interim Recommendations for the Use of Antiviral Medications During the 2008-2009 Influenza Season
10-30-2008	Advisory	Seasonal Influenza Health Advisory
10-27-2008	Advisory	Syphilis in San Francisco
10-14-2008	Update	MRSA and Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Treatment Guidelines
10-03-2008	Update	Limited Supply of Rabies Vaccine - Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Available with Public Health Approval What You and Your Physician Should Know About Rabies How to Order Rabies Vaccine and Human Rabies Immune Globulin (Updated April 2, 2009) Press Release: City Health Officials Issue Bat and Rabies Warning (Oct. 2, 2008)
07-17-2008	Advisory	Another Measles Case in San Francisco Measles Flyer from California Department of Public Health Laboratory Form Measles FAQs
05-08-2008	Alert	Measles Case in San Francisco
01-28-2008	Update	Botulism Health Update and Rabid Bats found in San Francisco Botulism Information and Resources Rabies Information and Resources
01-18-2008	Advisory	Community Associated Methicilin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in San Francisco MRSA Information and Resources
11-15-2007	Advisory	Seasonal and Avian Influenza Health Advisory and Directions to MRSA Resources Influenza disease reporting and control resources
08-27-2007	Update	Changes in California Disease Reporting Regulations List of Legally Reportable Diseases and Conditions
08-14-2007	Alert	Wound Botulism Cases in Injection Drug Users
11-30-2006	Advisory	Seasonal and Avian Influenza Health Advisory
10-26-2006	Update	N. meningitidis Surveillance & Annual Report on Communicable Diseases in SF Update of Results of N. meningitidis Surveillance in California Annual Report of Communicable Diseases in San Francisco 2004-2005
08-07-2006	Advisory	Contaminated Oysters Responsible for Cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus
06-02-2006	Alert	Wound Botulism Cases in Injection Drug Users
05-09-2006	Update	West Nile Virus: Recognition, Testing, Reporting Procedures, Surveillance Activities
12-12-2005	Update	Rabies Prophylaxis for Potential Bat Exposures
11-17-2005	Alert	Cluster of Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections in Injection Drug Users Frequently Asked Questions: Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections
11-08-2005	Advisory	Seasonal and Avian Influenza Health Advisory
10-31-2005	Advisory	Environmental Detection of F. tularensis
09-09-2005	Advisory	Communicable Disease Management for Hurricane Katrina Evacuees
04-2005	Update	West Nile Virus, Reporting & Testing
02-24-2005	Update	Meningococcal Disease, Enhanced Surveillance & Testing & New Conjugate Vaccine
12-22-2004	Alert	Lymphogranuloma Vernereum (LGV) Infection in San Francisco
11-29-2004	Alert	Cases of Wound Botulism in Infection Drug Users
11-09-2004	Alert	Cases of Wound Botulism in Injection Drug Users
11-03-2004	Advisory	Influenza Health Advisory
08-03-2004	Alert	Cluster of Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infection in Injection Drug Users
02-09-2004	Advisory	Updated Recommendations for Avian Influenza and SARS
01-23-2004	Advisory	Enhanced Surveillance for SARS and Avian Influenza
03-18-2003	Advisory	Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

SF Dept of Public Health Home | SF City & County Home

Urgency Level Categories

Health Alerts

Date_of_Alert_

__Urgency__

Subject

CDC Health Advisory: Human Infections with Novel Influenza A (H7N9) Viruses

CDC Health Advisory: Updated Guidelines for Evaluation of Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with a Novel Coronavirus

CDC Health Update (HAN): Notice to Clinicians: Continued Vigilance Urged for Fungal Infections among Patients Who Received Contaminated Steroid Injections

CDC Health Update (HAN): New England Compounding Center - Additional Contamination Identified

Ameridose Voluntary Recall

Urgency