A man in his 60s has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the first human WNV infection in Orange County this year. As of August 5th, the California Department of Public Health has reported seven cases of human West Nile Virus infections statewide this season. More info...
Tecovirimat (TPOXX) is an antiviral medication that is available for use to treat monkeypox under an expanded access investigational new drug (EA-IND) protocol (sometimes called “compassionate use”). It is the first-line medication to treat monkeypox in adults and children weighing 13kg or more.
The CDC IRB serves as the central IRB for the tecovirimat protocol; they have determined that its use dose not constitute research involving human subjects as defined by 45 CFR 46.102. More info...
Hosted by the Orange County Medical Association (OCMA) in collaboration with OC Health Care Agency
August 10, 2022
6:00pm to 7:30pm
Virtual Event
https://monkeypoxocupdate.eventbrite.com
Clinical presentations will consist of:
(Santa Ana, CA) – In response to the monkeypox outbreak, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency on August 1 to bolster the state’s ability to coordinate education, prevention, and treatment across the state. The proclamation supports vaccination efforts to increase the state’s monkeypox defense strategy being led by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
A state of emergency will allow for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and local health jurisdictions to expand the implementation of monkeypox vaccines that have been sanctioned by the FDA. The infrastructure built during the COVID-19 pandemic assists in the monkeypox response with targeting local and community-based organizations that serve at-risk populations.
Through community partners and local providers, the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) is providing vaccinations to persons with an elevated risk of infection as quickly as allocations are received. Additionally, health care workers and laboratorians at particular risk are prioritized to receive vaccinations.
There are a number of ways to prevent the spread of monkeypox, including:
If you have a new or an unexplained rash or other symptoms, seek medical care for testing and evaluation.
HCA’s Public Health Division recommends that you speak to your primary care provider as most providers can now do testing for monkeypox through commercial laboratories.
Updated Monkeypox FAQs can be found HERE.
Local clinicians who have any suspected cases are advised to immediately contact HCA’s Communicable Disease Control Division (CDCD) at (714) 834-8180. For additional information, see the attached Health Advisory from the California Department of Public Health.
For more information on monkeypox, including case counts, prevention strategies, vaccination and what the HCA is doing in Orange County, visit www.ochealthinfo.com/monkeypox or www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html
# # #
(Santa Ana, CA) – The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) is proud to announce the launch of the OC Navigator, an online resource navigation tool designed to help community members connect with local mental health, substance use treatment and supportive resources including physical, transportation, education, housing, childcare, and more. Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation component, the OC Navigator project was activated to facilitate access to diverse local resources targeted to their unique individual needs.
“Orange County boasts hundreds of public and private agencies and community groups who are dedicated to serving others, but it can be challenging to find and coordinate” said Dr. Clayton Chau, HCA Director. “Visiting OCNavigator.org allows a person, who may already struggle in their circumstances, to focus on what’s most important right now – securing immediate and appropriate services to promote their health and well-being.”
The HCA worked with the Chorus Innovations, Inc., a digital platform developer, along with 185 community members, representing 65 Orange County agencies, to curate content for the platform, ensuring the information is accurate, accessible, trustworthy, reflective of the community, and includes a focus on whole person care. The digital resources displayed on the OC Navigator website were carefully designed and organized in a welcoming and easy to understand format, ideal for those who desire a self-guided exploration of local resources.
“OC Navigator is a great example of the positive impact of public-private partnerships,” said Chairman Doug Chaffee, Fourth District Supervisor. “It benefits not only those in need, but also law enforcement and other first responders who frequently go the extra mile to connect people to appropriate resources post-emergency.”
Vice Chairman Donald Wagner, Third District, added, “As we recover from the pandemic, there are many people who need extra support. I’m thankful the County offers additional tools for residents, such as OC Navigator, which can connect people to the right resources as quickly as possible.”
“Here at the County, we are transforming the way services and resources are offered to our residents,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, First District. “The OC Navigator offers direct resources in multiple languages for anyone seeking healthcare and supportive services, such as housing, food, family safety, childcare, legal help, transportation needs, and so much more. And for individuals unsure on where to start, the online resource tool offers a fast and easy survey that will generate resources based on their responses.”
OC Navigator includes contact information for hundreds of local agencies and printable resource guides, in addition to 24/7 live support through OC Links navigators who can discuss a person’s needs and link them to resources including child and adult mental health services, alcohol and drug programs, crisis services, and prevention/early intervention programs.
Supervisor Katrina Foley, Second District, said, “OC Navigator offers a one-stop service resource center for Orange County residents. Now more than ever, residents need simple yet comprehensive access to resources to meet their ever-evolving needs. OC Navigator is the long-awaited solution to bridging the service gaps between our community and existing county resources.”
“OC Navigator was created to enhance access to life-saving resources and is another great example of what can be achieved by leveraging public-private partnerships,” said Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District. “I am thankful to HCA and the hundreds of community members who worked together to launch this powerful new data tool which will help improve the overall quality of life of all Orange County residents.”
OC Navigator resources and support are available in 9 languages including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, Khmer, and Tagalog. The OC navigator website has acquired approximately 150,000 page views to date.
For more information on OC Navigator, visit www.ocnavigator.org or call (855) 625-4657.
# # #
(Santa Ana, CA) – Due to recent increases in COVID-19 case counts, Orange County was moved to "High" community transmission status as of 7/14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Community Level Data Tracker.
As of July 15th, the seven-day average COVID-19 case rate in Orange County increased to 33.1 per 100,000 people (>20.0 CDC threshold) and the average number of daily COVID-19 cases is 1,068. The positivity rate increased to 17.4 percent, with hospitalizations at 277, and ICU admissions to 35. The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) reports COVID-19 cases and hospitalization data using the State’s database reflecting laboratory-reported PCR tests. With widespread use of at-home rapid Antigen testing, which go unreported, the true number of COVID-19 cases across the country are being undercounted.
"We are seeing a summer wave in cases and hospitalizations, and this move to the "HIGH" transmission level confirms that." says Dr. Clayton Chau, OC Health Care Agency Director. "To protect those at high risk, we are recommending that OC residents continue masking in public, indoor settings, especially those who are at high risk or living with loved ones who have comorbidities, are immunocompromised or are prone to getting sick."
The HCA recommends residents take preventive actions to minimize the risk of severe illness and advise the following:
Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are seeking to determine if they would be eligible for therapeutic medications, should contact their health care provider, or locate a Test to Treat site. As of 7/6, state-licensed pharmacists can prescribe Paxlovid to eligible patients, with certain limitations to ensure appropriate patient assessment. Contact your local pharmacy to discuss details.
The CDC launched its Data Tracker earlier this year to create standardized COVID-19 data across the country to provide a county level view of key data for monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. The data measure cases per 100,000 population and hospitalization rates to segment Low, Medium or High Transmission levels. To learn more visit: CDC
For more information on COVID-19 information and resources, including case counts, vaccination, and testing in Orange County, visit ochealthinfo.com/covid.
Other Languages: Chinese (Traditional), Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese
In the last week several commercial laboratories (Labcorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Quest) have announced availability of monkeypox testing. Additional commercial laboratories are anticipated to offer monkeypox testing in coming weeks. Providers should check with the commercial labs they work with about availability and specific specimen collection requirements. OCHCA approval is not required to order testing via commercial labs, although it is still required to request testing through public health. More info...
(Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency (HCA), Communicable Disease Control Division (CDCD) has confirmed the first presumptive case of monkeypox infection in Orange County (OC) and is awaiting final confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While awaiting CDC confirmation of a probable case, the HCA is proceeding with the assumption it is a monkeypox case and is conducting contact tracing and post-exposure prevention for close contacts.
“The Public Health Services (PHS) CDCD team is working with all relevant agencies and partners to track, control, and curtail the spread of monkeypox within the county,” said Dr. Christopher Zimmerman, CDCD Physician. “The affected individual is already in isolation and exposed contacts are in the process to receive post exposure prophylaxis vaccination.”
The outbreak of monkeypox in 50 nations throughout the world has resulted in 4,769 cases as of 06/28/2022. In the United States, there are 306 cases from 28 states.
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an enhanced nationwide vaccination strategy to mitigate the spread of monkeypox. The strategy will expedite vaccinations and protect those at-risk of monkeypox, prioritize vaccines for areas with the highest numbers of cases, and provide guidance to state, territorial, tribal, and local health officials to aide their planning and response efforts. See full report.
As of this time, vaccination soon after exposure can prevent for monkeypox virus infections, the best guidance is to take precautions to prevent monkeypox. Most treatment is supportive, easing the symptoms of illness. However, antivirals developed for use in patients with other viral diseases may prove beneficial in certain cases but are currently available under research protocols. Additionally, some measures including vaccination may be given to prevent the monkeypox infection after a high-risk exposure to the virus.
What people should do:
To prevent the spread of monkeypox in Orange County, we ask individuals to be aware of the risks and how monkeypox spreads. It is also important to remember that monkeypox can spread through sexual networks, and until we learn more, the HCA urges you to be vigilant. People who have symptoms of monkeypox, particularly the characteristic rash or lesions, should take the following steps:
Local clinicians who have any suspected cases are advised to immediately contact the HCA’s Communicable Disease Control Division. For additional information see the attached Health Advisory from the California Department of Public Health.
The CDC does not currently recommend widespread vaccination against monkeypox. However, vaccination may be recommended for some people who are close personal contacts of people with monkeypox, may have been exposed to the virus, and/or may have increased risk of being exposed to the virus. The HCA has secured some vaccines for individuals who are exposed to the virus through contact with cases. If you are exposed or believe you are at risk, please call or visit your primary care provider.
For more information on monkeypox, including case counts, prevention strategies, vaccination and what the HCA is doing in Orange County, visit www.ochealthinfo.com/monkeypox or https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.
# # #
Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) has been notified of its first probable monkeypox virus case. Probable cases are those who test positive for orthopoxvirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Probable cases will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for monkeypox virus confirmation. Probable cases are managed as monkeypox virus cases while awaiting laboratory confirmation. More info...