Body (Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) encourages community members to drop-off expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications on “National Take Back Day” Saturday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at numerous locations throughout Orange County (OC). “This is a great opportunity for individuals to...

Body Avian influenza A(H5N1) has been identified in United States wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks since January 2022. Recently, the first confirmed cases of H5N1 avian influenza infection were identified in wild birds in Orange County .

Body (Santa Ana, CA) – Due to record numbers of pediatric hospitalizations and daily emergency room visits for respiratory infections, the County Health Officer and OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Medical Directors are strongly encouraging Orange County residents to follow disease preventive measures. “Orange County is seeing very high numbers respiratory...

Body (Santa Ana, CA) – The County Health Officer today issued a Declaration of Health Emergency in Orange County due to rapidly spreading virus infections causing record numbers of pediatric hospitalizations and daily emergency room visits. Additionally, a Proclamation of Local Emergency has been declared, which allows the County to access...

Body The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Health Advisory (HAN) linked here about a number of outbreaks of nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) among children who received pulpotomies in dental clinics where dental treatment water contained high levels of bacteria. Referenced in the HAN is one such outbreak that...

Body (Santa Ana, CA) - County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong and CHOC Dr. Jasjit Singh and Dr. Melanie Patterson provided information on the high volume of respiratory infection cases affecting children and seniors in Orange County. You can watch here: https://youtu.be/sLI3kcCjzmQ

Body In the last several weeks, OCHCA has continued see a rise in influenza cases in the county that is early and steep and suggests that our county will experience a severe influenza season. On November 1, 2022, the County Health Officer announced an emergency declaration related to the severe burden...

Body On November 17, 2022, the CDC released Health Update, Managing Monkeypox in Patients Receiving Therapeutics . While cases rates have declined, new cases continue to be identified, including persons experiencing serious disease. Two cases of laboratory-confirmed tecovirimat resistance have been identified nationally; these were both in individuals with immunocompromising conditions...

Body (Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) recognizes World AIDS Day 2022 as an opportunity to support the well-being of those with HIV; to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illness; and to promote prevention, care, and treatment services to end the HIV epidemic. Recognized on...

Body Once an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19, early treatment with COVID-19-specific agents is the only existing strategy to markedly decrease risk of serious illness. There is ample supply of COVID-19 therapeutic agents, but they have been underused – especially among populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including communities of color, low-income...