(Santa Ana, CA) —  The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued a warning due to the detection of dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) and domoic acid biotoxins in bivalve shellfish (mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops). Due to the elevated levels of biotoxins, all recreationally harvested bivalve shellfish from areas between Santa Barbara and San Diego, including Orange County (OC) are unsafe for consumption. OC Environmental Health is collecting shellfish samples for testing.
 
Additionally, beginning May 1st and until October 31st, the CDPH issues a routine, annual mussel quarantine to protect public health during warmer months when PSP and domoic acid levels are more likely to be elevated. The overlap of this annual mussel quarantine along with the warning due to recent detections of elevated biotoxins reinforces the need for caution and adherence to the quarantine to prevent serious illness or death.
 
This advisory does not apply to commercial shellfish from approved sources. For additional information call the Shellfish Hotline at 1-800-553-4133 or online at the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Quarantines and Health Advisories.

ABOUT THE OC HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resources. 

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(Santa Ana, CA) —  A bat found at Rancho Santa Margarita Lake has tested positive for rabies. The bat was found on the ground near a walking path around the lake on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone who may have had physical contact with this bat or saw someone else having contact with the bat is asked to call the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Communicable Disease Control Division at (714) 834-8180 to determine the risk for rabies. This phone line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Owners of pets who may have had contact with this bat should contact their veterinarian.

The rabies virus is found in an animal’s saliva and is transmitted to people by a bite from a rabid animal. Although very rare, contamination of the eyes, mouth or an open wound by the saliva of a rabid animal can also transmit rabies. Most cases of human rabies in the United States in recent years have resulted from bat strains of rabies; bats have very small teeth, and their bites may go unnoticed.

Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. For that reason, preventive treatment to stop the rabies virus from causing illness is given to anyone who may have been exposed to rabies. Medical assistance should be obtained promptly after an exposure so any wound can be cleaned, and preventive treatment can be started. This treatment is safe and effective.

The HCA and OC Animal Care recommend the following actions to minimize the risk of rabies:

• Avoid all contact with wild animals.
• Vaccinate all cats and dogs against rabies.
• Do not sleep with open unscreened windows or doors.
• If bats are seen inside the house or other structure, close off the area and contact animal control. Once the bat(s) have been removed, close off any areas allowing entrance into the house.
• Do not leave pet food outside where it will attract wild animals.
• Immediately wash all animal bites with soap and water, being sure to flush the wound well, then contact your doctor.
• Report all animal bites to OC Animal Care.

Potential exposure to a bat or other wild animal should be reported to the HCA Communicable Disease Control Division at (714) 834-8180.

To report a bat in your home, or an animal bite, contact OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848. Find out more at www.ocpetinfo.com/field-operations/wildlife-information.

You can download a flyer that contains information on what to do if you come in contact with a bat and who to contact by clicking here.

More information about rabies is available at the Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.

ABOUT THE OC HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is a regional interdisciplinary health jurisdiction and an accredited health department, charged with protecting and promoting individual, family and community health through partnership and coordination of public and private sector resources. Visit www.ochealthinfo.com to learn more about services and resources. 

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(Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) invites the community to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at convenient locations throughout Orange County (OC). The public is encouraged to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse. 

“Every pill removed from a medicine cabinet is one less opportunity for misuse,” said Ian Kemmer, HCA’s Director of Behavioral Health Services. “National Take Back Day empowers our community to take simple but powerful action in preventing addiction and saving lives.”

This initiative addresses a crucial public safety and health concern and aligns with the HCA’s commitment to the well-being of the OC community by promoting the responsible disposal of medications to prevent misuse and combat opioid addiction.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day serves as a vital reminder of our collective responsibility in keeping our communities safe. To find a convenient Take Back drop-off location, please visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) website at www.DEATakeback.com or call 1 (800) 882-9539. The drop-off service is both free and anonymous.

For further information on medication misuse prevention efforts in Orange County or to discover year-round safe disposal options, please visit: www.ochealthinfo.com/adept.

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Translations: Arabic | Chinese (Simplified / Traditional) | Farsi | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese

CDPH/Health Advisory- March 25, 2025 - Multiple measles cases have been confirmed in California in recent weeks. All cases have been linked to international travel, reflecting a global rise in measles cases. Health care providers should consider measles in persons presenting with a febrile rash illness and other symptoms consistent with measles.

View the Full Health Alert: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/CAHAN/-Suspect-Measles-Isolate-Report-to-Local-Public-Health-and-Test.aspx

To Find All Health Alerts: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/CAHAN/CAHAN.aspx

On March 14, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Consumer Advisory advising consumers not to inhale nitrous oxide products from any size canisters, tanks, or chargers as inhaling nitrous oxide recreationally can lead to serious health effects, including death. 

Just last month, after the introduction of a local ordinance to ban nitrous oxide (for recreational use) for concerns of harms posed by recreational use by Vice Chair Katrina Foley, the County of Orange Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved the ordinance which bans the sale or distribution of Nitrous Oxide for recreational use. 

Under direction from the Board of Supervisors, Dr. Chinsio-Kwong (Orange County’s Health Officer) is drafting a report on Nitrous Oxide Use/Misuse in Orange County and is encouraging clinicians and first responders serving Orange County residents and visitors to complete a short anonymous survey by March 31, 2025. Insights gathered from the survey will be reviewed and incorporated into a county report. 

The links to the survey are available below.

• Clinician Survey
• 1st Responder-Law Enforcement Survey
• 1st Responder-EMT/Paramedic Survey 

The Digital version of the Health Officer Newsletter is available here: https://issuu.com/ochca/docs/county_health_officer_monthly_clinician_newsletter.

Highlights

• Measles - more comprehensive resources are included in this edition with the rising risk of exposure with travel and ongoing outbreaks in the US. It is important to communicate the potential for non-immune to be contract measles given recent outbreaks across the United States and other countries. Clinicians must review common symptoms and presentations, how to protect the community and staff, and are reminded to immediately contact our CDCD team when measles is suspected. HCA’s PHS team is working with CDPH for specific messaging to the Vietnamese community as all 5 cases identified across California in 2025 returned from Vietnam (a country currently experiencing a surge of measles cases) before returning to California. MMR vaccines are widely available throughout the county. Those seeking MMR vaccines can still utilize myturn.ca.gov to find a vaccine.
• The Protecting Against Measles Flyer is available on our website and is translated in different languages (see bottom of the page – Resources https://www.ochealthinfo.com/measles). 
• World TB Day is March 24 and HCA’s very own TB Controller – Dr. Helene Calvet is providing a webinar on World TB Day to review evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.
• National Nutrition Month- March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme is Food Connects US. Clinicians who are interested in engaging in county wide efforts for sustainable change are encouraged to join the CHIP Diabetes and Obesity workgroup.
• Nitrous Oxide - The FDA issued an alert on March 14th advising consumers not to inhale nitrous oxide products as recreational use can lead to serious health effects, including death. Just last month, the Orange County Board of Supervisors passed an Ordinance banning the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational use and directed for a County Report on the Misuse of Nitrous Oxide in Orange County to be created. I am still gathering information but need insights from Clinicians and 1st responders - EMT/Paramedics as well as Law Enforcement across Orange County. Clinicians, EMT/Paramedics, Sheriffs and Police Officers that serve Orange County are encouraged to complete a short survey. The Survey will be available from March 18 through March 31. Findings will be reviewed and included in the Orange County report. Links to the surveys are available on the newsletter. 
• CDC Alert - Dengue- With Dengue transmission remaining high in the US and locally acquired cases reported in Florida, California and Texas, as well as in other countries, the public as well as clinicians are advised to be on alert, take preventive efforts to control mosquitos in the environment, prevent mosquito bites, and maintain clinical suspicion when evaluating cases.
• Respiratory Virus Season updates - Flu, RSV and COVID-19 are decreasing, however flu, RSV and COVID-19 is still present in our community. Vaccines are still recommended especially for those who are vulnerable and have not yet received updated vaccines.
• H5N1 (Bird Flu) - More poultry and dairy farms are affected across the US, however human cases have remained stable. At this time those in close contact with infected animals are at higher risk than the general public. To date, there has been no human-to-human transmission. Those in close contact with infected animals are urged to take precautions, use recommended PPE, monitor for development of symptoms and are advised to seek medical care if they do develop symptoms. More cats have been identified with H5N1 after consuming raw milk or raw pet food. Pet owners are advised to refrain feeding pets raw milk or raw pet food and to consult veterinarians if their pets become ill.
• Safety Recall - Rebecca’s Toys & Prizes Bowling Pin Sipper Cups were recalled because of elevated lead levels found in the red tape of the product.
• FDA recalls/safety Alerts from March include Raw Pet food contaminated with H5N1, certain prepared vegetable, canned seafood chowder product for concern of listeria or clostridium, and an herbal product contaminated with lead and arsenic.
• March and early April Observances including: National Social Work Month, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, National Poison Prevention Week, Doctor’s Day, and multiple other health professional observances, World Health Day and upcoming Public Health Week. 

Providers can now sign up to directly receive the monthly County Health Officer newsletter by entering email information to a listserv.