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 communities, and residents of long-term care facilities. This health alert summarizes relevant resources and guidance and aims to remind providers that all symptomatic patients over the age of 12 years and ≥40 kg with a positive COVID-19 test of any type should be evaluated for treatment with one of the National Institutes for Health recommended treatment options.
(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 December 1st, the 2022 World AIDS Day campaign theme is “Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV.” The theme is designed to address inequalities that hold back progress to end AIDS and raise awareness to end stigma and discrimination and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV.
“As of 2021, there were 6,772 persons living with HIV locally,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, HCA County Health Officer and Chief Medical Officer. “While great strides have been made in the treatment and prevention of HIV, this disease remains a public health challenge. We need our community to routinely screen for HIV as part of their routine medical care. Knowing your HIV status is important to prevent new HIV infections.”
Data from UNAIDS on the global HIV response reveals that during the last two years of COVID-19, progress against the HIV pandemic has faltered, and lives are now at risk.
The HCA encourages the local community to take action to stop the spread through the following steps:
Get tested and know your HIV status;
Use condoms for protection from HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs);
Know prevention options if HIV-negative, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may help protect you from getting HIV; and
Learn about new treatment options to get and stay virally suppressed, which means having an undetectable viral load if HIV-positive.
“Current treatments allow individuals who live with HIV to stay healthy and prevent transmission to others,” said Dr. Margaret Bredehoft, HCA’s Chief of Public Health Services. “Through HCA’s 17th St. Testing and Treatment Clinic, as well as community-based partnerships, residents can readily access confidential HIV testing and treatment.”
If you have never been tested for HIV, ask your doctor for an HIV test. Free, confidential HIV testing is available at the agencies listed below.
Local World AIDS Day Events:
The City of Laguna Beach HIV Advisory Committee will host a Meet & Greet at 3 p.m. on the Main Beach cobblestones followed by a Candlelight Celebration from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laguna Beach Community Clinic will be providing free HIV testing vouchers at the event.
HIV testing is available year-round at these locations:
To make an appointment or for additional information regarding testing, contact:
Testing is offered Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
OC Health Care Agency/17th Street Testing, Treatment and Care Clinic: Call (714) 834-8787 to make an appointment or visit http://www.ochealthinfo.com/std for more information. Walk-ins are accepted based on availability. Clinic hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The LGBTQ Center Orange County: For more information or to make an appointment, call (714) 953-5428 or visit https://www.lgbtqcenteroc.org/.Testing is offered:
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 with severe manifestations of MPX who were treated with prolonged (>14days) courses of tecovirimat. The CDC guidance highlights that cidofovir, brincidofovir, and vaccinia immune globulin intravenous (VIGIV) each can be administered concurrently with tecovirimat for certain patients with (or at high risk for) severe monkeypox. Providers should continue to test for MPX as well as HIV and sexually transmitted infection in every sexually active person with suspected MPX.
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 that the surge in RSV hospitalizations are putting on pediatric inpatient bed availability. RSV case rates remained high this week.
The CDC anticipates that a surge in COVID-19 will also occur in the coming months. In the face of a looming “tripledemic”, Orange County providers need to encourage vaccination and other measures to protect patients and preserve healthcare resources.
(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
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 occurred in Orange County in 2016, where 71 children had odontogenic NTM infections following pulpotomy procedures. This outbreak was linked to a failure to use disinfectants on the dental unit waterlines or regularly monitor water quality.
(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 State and Federal resources to address the situation and seek mutual aid from surrounding counties.
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is monitoring regional hospital capacity and engaging hospital and health care systems that are seeing very high patient volumes in their emergency departments and inpatient pediatric units.
“While there isn’t a vaccine against RSV, we want OC residents to know there are many ways to protect children and at-risk individuals. Following preventive measures, including remaining up to date with other vaccinations such as flu and COVID-19, can help reduce the severity of disease and can help reduce the burden on hospitals this fall and winter” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer and HCA's Chief Medical Officer. “Our best shot at protecting ourselves and our children from respiratory illnesses continues to be the same things we practiced throughout the pandemic including the use of masks when indoors around others and staying home when you are sick.”
Seek medical attention immediately if your child is showing warning signs, which may include having trouble breathing, showing signs of dehydration (i.e., no urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears), has a persistent or high fever, or looks or acts very sick. Call your primary care provider, pediatrician, urgent care or hospital to help navigate steps to recommended care before your visit.
Preventative actions:
Do not go to school or work when you are symptomatic.
Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick, and when you are sick.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands.
Mask when indoors or large group settings.
Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after eating and using the bathroom.
Get your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccines to prevent complications from these viral illnesses.
Additionally, parents and caregivers should keep young children with acute respiratory illnesses out of childcare, even if they have tested negative for COVID-19.
(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 illness, specifically Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) severely impacting capacity in our pediatric hospitals,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer. and HCA's Chief Medical Officer. “RSV can severely affect young infants and children and we are encouraging residents to take precautions, especially with groups of children.”
Seek medical attention immediately if your child is showing warning signs, which may include having trouble breathing, showing signs of dehydration (i.e., no urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears), has a persistent or high fever, or looks or acts very sick. Call your primary care provider, pediatrician, urgent care or hospital to help navigate steps to recommended care before your visit.
Preventative actions:
Do not go to school or work when you are symptomatic.
Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick, and when you are sick.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands.
Mask when indoors or large group settings.
Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after eating and using the bathroom.
Get your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccines to prevent complications from these viral illnesses.
Additionally, parents and caregivers should keep young children with acute respiratory illnesses out of childcare, even if they have tested negative for COVID-19.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections occur primarily during the fall and winter cold and flu season, causing bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under one year of age and placing infants, young children, and older adults, with chronic medical conditions, at risk for more severe disease. Annually, RSV leads to approximately 58,000 hospitalizations with 100-500 deaths among children younger than 5 years old and 177,000 hospitalizations with 14,000 deaths among adults, aged 65 years or older.
Providers are encouraged to review California Department of Public Health Alert here and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance options here.
