Body (Santa Ana, CA) – The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) announced today that they are preparing to transition it’s operational, clinical and technological COVID-19 response from an emergency posture to routine business operations. This occurs as COVID-19 Public Health Emergency proclamations are anticipated to end in the first quarter...

Body (Santa Ana, CA) – In response to the US Health and Human Services (HHS) notifications (on 12/2/22 and 12/15/22 ) to State Governors by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, that tools and resources have been added to the US COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) which expand capacity to respond to respiratory...

Body The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians and public health authorities of a recent increase in pediatric invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections. In November 2022, CDC was notified of a possible increase in iGAS infections among children...

Body (Santa Ana, CA) – Orange County has been moved up to the HIGH COVID-19 Community Level according to the latest metrics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) announced today. Combined with a surge in respiratory viruses and the onset of...

Body The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about infections with an extensively drug-resistant strain of Verona Integron-mediated Metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and Guiana-Extended Spectrum-β-Lactamase (GES)-producing carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (VIM-GES-CRPA) in 12 states. Most patients reported using artificial tears. Patients reported more than...

Body (Santa Ana, CA) — Several public health messages were announced recently by a variety of government agencies, including the White House, California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency end dates, available...

Body Orange County’s first West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquito sample of the season was identified through routine trapping and testing by the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD). The sample was identified last week in La Habra. WNV positive mosquito samples have also been identified in Riverside County...

Body Yesterday, the CDC released through its Health Alert Network (HAN) Updated Case-Finding Guidance: Monkeypox Outbreak – United States, 2022 . The Orange County Healthcare Agency (OCHCA) wants to make sure providers are aware of the potential for monkeypox virus infection in patients who meet epidemiologic criteria and/or a clinically consistent...

Body (Santa Ana, CA) –In response to several recent tragedies occurring in our county and throughout the U.S., the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) office encourages OC residents to seek support for yourself and your children with mental health and emotional challenges. “There have been...

Body On June 18th the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years of age and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years of age. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by the Western States Scientific Safety...