College of Marin Health Services is taking steps to keep the college community informed about public health alerts and notifications. Updates and appropriate links provided by the Marin County Public Health Department will be posted on this website. Be sure to check back periodically for public health announcements in Marin County.
https://www.marinhhs.org/content/public-health-updates
ALERT: Zika Virus
Public Health Travel Advisory
Public Health Updates: August 18, 2016 on Zika Virus
For more information, visit CDC web site:
http://www.cdc.gov/zika
ALERT: Measles
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced in April that the measles outbreak of December, 2014 was over. However the California Department of Public Health strongly recommends that travelers to Europe, Africa, Asia, India and the Philippines acquire full protection as described on the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/measles/faqs-dis-vac-risks.htm
Measles surveillance in Marin County
https://www.marinhhs.org/information-measles-marin-county
Additional information on measles in California
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Measles.aspx
ALERT: Ebola
Even though Ebola has faded from the news headlines, the epidemic in West Africa continues to claim lives today. According to a WHO report of this year, a new confirmed case of Ebola was reported on January 14 in Sierra Leone after a postmortem swab collected from a deceased woman tested positive for Ebola virus. The origin of infection is under investigation. As of January, 2016, there are no reported cases in the United States (CDC).
Ebola update report and travelers’ information as of January, 2016.
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/index.html
ALERT: Influenza
In the United States, annual epidemics of influenza occur typically during the late fall through early spring. Rates of serious illness and death are highest among persons aged 65 years and older, children aged younger than 2 years, and persons of any age who have medical conditions that place them at increased risk for complications from influenza tend to be higher during these epidemics.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. Getting the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available each year is always a good idea, and the protection you get from vaccination will last throughout the flu season. Although fall is the best time to get it, the vaccine usually continues to be available through early spring.
Current updates on the incidence of influenza in the U.S.
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/
ALERT: Pertussis (Whooping cough)
The California Department of Public Health recommends that all Californians are immunized against Pertussis, especially if they are in contact with infants. At the close of 2014, over 10,000 cases were reported throughout California and high numbers are predicted to persist. As a result of a serious Pertussis epidemic in 2010, California began requiring an additional booster vaccine for all school-aged children in the 7th through 12th grade. Pertussis vaccine is contained in the TDaP vaccine. To maintain immunity, boosters are recommended every ten years.
Additional information on Pertussis in California
Pertussis Report June 27, 2016
www.marinhhs.org
www.vaccineinformation.org