National public health surveillance has recently detected an increase in invasive Neisseria meningitidis (N men) disease caused by isolates that are resistant to ciprofloxacin. In February 2024, the CDC addressed this issue in a report Selection of Antibiotics as Prophylaxis for Close Contacts of Patients with Meningococcal Disease in Areas...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers to cases of meningococcal disease linked to Umrah travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that can...
World AIDS Day has been commemorated every December 1st since 1988. It is dedicated to spread awareness of the AIDS epidemic, to acknowledge all those living with HIV and to mourn all that have died of the disease. World HIV/AIDS Since 1988, 44 million people worldwide have died of AIDS...
(Santa Ana, CA) — A recently released report from the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner shows a decrease in fentanyl-related deaths, marking a five-year low in the county. The OC Sheriff Coroner Division report shows there were 407 fentanyl-related deaths in 2024, down from 613 deaths in 2023. The numbers reported so...
Recreational use of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is an emerging public health concern across the country and in Orange County (OC). While nitrous oxide is traditionally used in medical, automotive or culinary purposes, recent reports and observations indicate a rise in its misuse as an inhalant for...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and health departments about a new outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Ethiopia’s South Ethiopia and Sidama regions. MVD is a severe illness that can be fatal. No suspected...
Let’s be honest—parenting is one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs out there. There’s no manual, no one-size-fits-all approach, and every child is wonderfully unique. But one approach that’s consistently shown to help kids thrive emotionally, socially, and even academically is positive parenting . So, what exactly is positive...
What You Need to Know: West Coast Health Alliance continues to recommend vaccination in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. On January 5, 2026, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a decision memorandum (PDF) to...
Key messages: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is issuing an update to its December 5 health advisory as an outbreak of amatoxin poisoning continues across California. This outbreak is linked to the consumption of wild foraged mushrooms and has caused severe liver damage in children and adults. As...
Key Messages Kratom has a complex pharmacological profile with the potential for sedative, stimulant, and opioid effects. 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, is a potent opioid that usually makes up a very small percentage of the kratom leaf, but can be concentrated and added to products to increase their activity...