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Wawona Packing Company Fruit Recall and Listeria monocytogenes

Wawona Packing Company Fruit Recall and Listeria monocytogenes Date: July 24, 2014 This health alert informs the medical community about a recent fruit recall due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination and provides resources for clinicians on listeriosis and on the management of high-risk individuals with potential exposure. Fruit Recall Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, California, voluntarily recalled certain lots of whole peaches (white and yellow), nectarines (white and yellow), plums, and pluots packed between June 1, 2014, and July 12, 2014, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Wawona Packing has notified retailers ...

Chikungunya Case Confirmed in San Diego County Resident

Chikungunya Case Confirmed in San Diego County Resident Date: July 9, 2014 This health alert informs the medical community about the first case of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection confirmed in a San Diego County resident and provides resource links for clinicians on this emerging disease. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) requests that healthcare providers report suspect cases of CHIKV to the Epidemiology Program, especially when CHIKV testing is being considered or has been requested. Case Description A previously healthy San Diego County resident was visiting Haiti in ...

Tattoo-associated Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Skin Infections

Date: May 23, 2014 This health alert informs the medical community about recent San Diego cases of skin infection after tattoo placement caused by nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM). The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) requests that providers report similar cases. Case Descriptions Case #1: A previously healthy San Diego resident noted a pruritic rash within 48 hours of receiving a tattoo at a local shop in late February 2014. The individual sought care and on exam was found to have scaly papules and plaques along portions of the ...

Mercury Poisoning Linked to Use of Skin-lightening or Acne Creams From Mexico

Date: May 20, 2014 The attached health alert from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) informs providers about recent cases of mercury poisoning linked to the use of skin-lightening or acne creams from Mexico. The CDPH alert recommends that clinicians consider mercury poisoning when working up patients with suggestive signs and symptoms. Flyers in English and Spanish are also attached to assist in educating patients about this potential health risk. Local providers can contact the California Poison Control Center at any time of day, seven days a week, at 1 (800) ...

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS ALERT IN PDF Date: May 15, 2014 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) This health alert provides an update on recent MERS-CoV detections in the United States and the Middle East and contains resource links and recommendations for local healthcare providers. Update on Cases On May 2, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first U.S. case of MERS-CoV infection in a healthcare worker who resides and works in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and had traveled to Indiana. CDC confirmed a second MERS-CoV ...

Dr. Horacio Rodiles Appointed to the United States-México Border Health Commission

Dr. Horacio Rodiles Appointed to the United States-México Border Health Commission  President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Dr. Horacio Rodiles and Dr. Susan (Sue) Forster-Cox to the United States Section of the United States-México Border Health Commission (USMBHC), a binational presidential commission co-chaired by the secretaries of health of the United States and México. The mission of USMBHC is to provide international leadership to optimize health and quality of life along the U.S.-Mexico border. The commission, composed of presidential appointees and state health officers from each of the 10 ...

Pertussis Cases Increase in San Diego County

Date: April 29, 2014 This health alert informs the local medical community of recent increases in pertussis cases in San Diego County, provides links to treatment and prevention references, and reminds providers about important management issues. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has confirmed 298 pertussis cases in San Diego so far in 2014. This compares to only 53 cases reported at this time last year and reflects increasing cases noted throughout California. Local case reports began to increase last September, with 275 of the 430 ...

Meningococcal Disease Cases Prompt New Immunization Recommendations in Los Angeles County

Meningococcal Disease Cases Prompt New Immunization Recommendations in Los Angeles County Date: April 9, 2014 The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) issued new recommendations last week for vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in response to eight confirmed IMD cases reported in Los Angeles County since January 1, 2014. Four cases occurred in men who have sex with men (MSM), three of whom were HIV-positive. There were three deaths, all in MSM, including two men who were HIV-positive. Three MSM cases reported residence in or socializing around ...

Wound Botulism Associated With Drug Injection

Date: March 21, 2014 Since March 1, 2014, two highly suspect cases of wound botulism associated with black tar heroin injection have been reported in San Diego County. The two hospitalized cases are apparently unknown to each other and presented with wound infections and a recent history of skin popping black tar heroin. Other symptoms included diplopia, bilateral ptosis, bilateral extraocular palsy, slurred speech, and generalized weakness. The patients were treated with botulism antitoxin released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The sources of the black tar heroin ...

New Measles Case Confirmed in San Diego

Date: March 12, 2014 Another San Diego resident was confirmed to have measles after being exposed to an ill individual who returned from a recent trip to the Philippines. This new case is the third one linked to the original exposure. There have been 32 confirmed measles cases in California in 2014. This latest patient may have exposed persons at the following four locations during the dates and times specified below: Veterans Administration (VA) Chula Vista Clinic, 835 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, from March 3–7 and on ...