Health Alerts & Advisories
California Health Alert Network (CAHAN)
The California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) is the State of California’s web-based information and communications system for distribution of health alerts, dissemination of treatment and prevention guidelines, coordination of disease investigation efforts, preparedness planning, and other initiatives that strengthen state and local preparedness.
Health Advisories 2023
October 2023
- October 01, 2023 - Order for Mandatory Masking of Healthcare Workers
Summary: Effective November 1st, masking is required of healthcare workers in specified healthcare facilities including hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities such as crisis stabilization units, skilled nursing facilities, and dialysis and infusion centers. This will be a standing order applicable each “respiratory virus season,” annually from November 1 through April 30 unless rescinded. Click for full text of Health Order.
March 2023
- March 28, 2023 - Presence of Xylazine in Illicit Fentanyl
Summary: On March 20th, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released a Xylazine Alert Letter (ca.gov) PDF PDF PDF requesting Local Health Officers share this FDA xylazine alert for health professionals with medical providers in our jurisdiction. Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer with no approved human use, is showing up in the nation’s street drug supply, where it is also known as “tranq” and “tranq dope.” It is increasingly present in overdose deaths, compounding the overdose crisis. There is no evidence to suggest that xylazine is currently prevalent in California’s drug supply, however experts note that xylazine may be mirroring the path of fentanyl in the illicit drug market with a westward expansion. A sedative and not an opioid, xylazine is not known to be reversed by naloxone. However, since xylazine is typically combined with opioids like fentanyl and sometimes heroin, administering naloxone is still recommended for reversing an overdose. Napa County Public Health Xylazine Alert 3-28-2023
- CDPH Xylazine Alert Letter
- FDA Healthcare Provider Xylazine Alert
- Response options - Philadelphia Department of Public Health
- March 10, 2023 - CDPH Updates COVID-19 Guidance
Summary: On March 3rd, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced several updates to the State Public Health Officer orders that have been guiding California’s healthcare providers on best practices throughout the pandemic. The updated orders will be taking effect in the coming weeks and provide updates related to vaccination, masking, and hospital surges. As we continue to navigate the winter virus season and the upcoming changes in guidance, healthcare sites are encouraged to develop and review their own policies around vaccination, masking, and hospital surges. As a reminder, for the 2022-2023 influenza season, Napa County continues to have the annual Health Officer Order in place requiring healthcare workers to vaccinate or mask. Masking and staying up to date on all recommended vaccinations remain an effective mitigation measure for the current respiratory season and are still recommended. Click for full text Health Advisory
February 2023
- February 24, 2023 - Increase in Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis in the United States
Summary: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been monitoring an increase in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella infections (shigellosis) reported through national surveillance systems [1]. In 2022, about 5% of Shigella infections reported to CDC were caused by XDR strains, compared with 0% in 2015. Clinicians treating patients infected with XDR strains have limited antimicrobial treatment options. Shigella bacteria are easily transmissible. XDR Shigella strains can spread antimicrobial resistance genes to other enteric bacteria. Given these potentially serious public health concerns, CDC asks healthcare professionals to be vigilant about suspecting and reporting cases of XDR Shigella infection to their local or state health department and educating patients and communities at increased risk about prevention and transmission. Click for full text CDC Health Advisory PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- February 16, 2023 - Emergence of Candida auris in Healthcare Facilities in Northern California
The development of cases has been identified in Sacramento and Stanislaus counties since September 2022. Additionally, at the end of January 2023, CDPH was alerted to a case in Contra Costa county associated with an ACH and long-term care setting. These were the first reported C. auris cases in each county, and the patients had no known exposures in healthcare facilities outside of Northern California. These findings suggest there is more transmission in the region than has been identified to date. We continue to see C. auris transmission in Southern California. Patients and residents who have had prolonged admission in healthcare settings, particularly high-acuity care settings including long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH), ventilator-equipped SNF (vSNF), high-acuity ACH units (e.g., intensive care units (ICU) and step-down units (SDU)), are at highest risk of C. auris and other multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization and infection. Click for full text here
This list of health alerts and advisories is not comprehensive, but is here as an archive of previous alerts.
Monkeypox 2022
- For more information on Monkeypox please visit the Napa County Monkeypox informational page.
- Severe Monkeypox (MPX) Infection in People with Untreated HIV and a Weakened Immune System
Coronavirus (COVID-19) 2020
- 02/28/2020: Interim Clinical Guidance for Managing Patients Who May Have Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection
- Confidential Morbidity Report (PDF)
- Coronavirus Information
Zika 2018
- 01/24/2018: Updated Guidance and Testing for Zika Infection (PDF)
- 01/10/2018: Updated Guidance for Assessment and Testing for Zika Virus Infection in Pregnant Women and Newborns (PDF)
- 01/2018: Zika Screening Algorithm (PDF)
Influenza 2017
- 10/02/2017: Order for mandatory influenza vaccination or masking of all healthcare workers (PDF)
- 01/03/2017: 2017 Influenza Health Advisory January 3, 2017 (PDF)
Zika 2017
- 07/2017: Zika Testing Request for Providers updated July 2017 (PDF)
- 01/27/2017: Zika Provider Update January 27, 2017 (PDF)
Fentanyl 2016
Zika 2016
- 08/08/2016: Health Advisory Update on Zika Virus (PDF)
- 07/05/2016: CDPH FAQs for Healthcare Providers (PDF): Zika Virus Testing
- 06/10/2016: Health Advisory Update: Zika Virus (PDF)
- 04/08/2016: California Department of Public Health All Facilities Letter Preventing Transmission of Zika Virus in Labor and Delivery Settings
- 03/29/2016: Health Update on Zika Virus for providers from Napa County Public Health (PDF)
- 03/25/2016: CDC MMWR Vol. 65
- 02/24/2016: Health Advisory Update (PDF): Zika Virus
- 02/02/2016: Health Advisory (PDF): Zika Virus
- Zika Lab testing documents
- Zika lab FAQs for healthcare providers
Zika information for the public:
- Fact Sheet (Bilingual): Zika and Pregnancy (PDF)
- FAQs: English Zika FAQ (PDF) and Spanish Zika FAQ (PDF)
- Mosquito bite prevention:
- In Napa County: English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF)
- For international travelers: English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF)
Influenza 2016
- 02/05/2016: CD Health Advisory Influenza 02-05-016 (PDF): Severe Influenza Illnesses Reported
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Communicable Disease
Physical Address
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Building B
Napa, CA 94558
Phone 707-253-4231Fax 707-299-4479
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Public Health
Physical Address
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Building B
Napa, CA 94558
Phone 707-253-4270Fax 707-253-4880
Hours
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