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Central District Health Department Asks Providers to Include Measles in Differential Diagnosis for Patients with Febrile Rash Illness

February 5, 2019
At this time, there are no reported cases of measles in Idaho; however, there are ongoing measles outbreaks in Washington, New York and Texas. Healthcare providers should consider measles in patients presenting with a febrile rash illness and clinically compatible symptoms, especially if the patient recently travelled internationally or to areas in the United States experiencing a measles outbreak. Full HAN Message

Lead in Drinking Water for Health Care Providers; Information about Water Lead Levels and School Test Results

October 29, 2018
As part of a voluntary water testing program, school officials recently detected elevated lead levels (>15 parts per billion (ppb)) in some drinking water samples at Fairmont Junior High. As Boise School District continues to test other schools, there may be additional public announcements about elevated water lead levels in fountains or faucets. Parents may have questions about the risk to their children’s health, or about the need for blood lead testing. As CDC case studies have demonstrated, exposure to a water source with elevated lead levels does not necessitate blood lead testing (CDC, 2004; 2010; 2012; 2016). Lead levels in Boise’s drinking water are not elevated so lead is typically from the fixture or plumbing components. Full HAN Message

Plague (Yersinia pestis) Confirmed in Child; Plague Exposure Could Be from Idaho or Oregon; Watch for Cases

June 12, 2018
Plague was confirmed this week in an Elmore County child. The child was in Idaho and Oregon during the incubation period. A source has not been identified and the investigation is ongoing. No ground squirrel die-offs have been detected this year in Ada or Elmore County or in Oregon. Full HAN Message

Central District Health Department Asks Medical Providers to Consider Enteric Testing for Romaine Lettuce Consumers with Diarrheal Illness

April 13, 2018
Central District Health Department (CDHD) has identified six Shiga-Toxin Producing E. coli (STEC O157:H7) cases who are associated with a nation-wide cluster. Onset dates for CDHD patients range from March 25 to March 30. Please continue to watch for new cases. Full HAN Message

Central District Health Department Asks Medical Providers to Consider Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Test Suspect Cases in Infants, Teenagers, and Adults

November 20, 2017
During the last three months, 12 pertussis cases have been reported among Ada County residents. This is twice the number compared to the same time period last year. Many of the cases are in teenagers and young adults (i.e. 13-20 years old), however 25% of the cases are older than 40. Full HAN Message

Zika Virus Testing Update for Health Care Providers

March 20, 2017
Idaho Bureau of Laboratories (IBL) provides testing for emerging diseases when diagnostic testing is limited or nonexistent in the commercial sector. Zika virus testing was a recent example of this. Since commercial testing for Zika is now widely available in clinical reference laboratories, IBL is no longer accepting specimens for routine Zika testing. Specimens should be sent to the health care facility’s commercial laboratory. Full HAN Message

Reporting Acute Flaccid Myelitis

November 7, 2016
In 2014, the United States saw an unexpected increase in the number of reports of children experiencing neurologic illness with presentations similar to acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). The syndrome was named acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) to better distinguish it from other forms of AFP.  Full HAN Message

Zika Virus Advisory for Health Care Providers

August 23, 2016
Please consider Zika virus infection when evaluating symptomatic patients or pregnant women with recent travel to affected areas. Full HAN Message

Gonorrhea and Syphilis Update

August 2, 2016
Gonorrhea and syphilis rates remain high across the Treasure Valley. CDHD urges providers to continue to assess risk, discuss risk reduction strategies, and test patients for STDs including gonorrhea and syphilis. Full HAN Message

Plague Advisory for Health Care Providers

May 27, 2016
Plague (Yersinia pestis) Likely to Confirm in Ground Squirrels Outside of Boise; Central District Health Department Asks Providers to be Alert for Cases through June. Full HAN Message

Central District Health Department (CDHD) Recommends Providers Screen for Syphilis

February 16, 2016
Syphilis continues to be a concern in our communities. In 2015 and 2016, 70 primary and secondary cases related to this latest outbreak were reported to CDHD and Southwest District Health. Full HAN Message

Zika Virus Advisory for Health Care Providers

January 20, 2016
Please consider Zika virus infection when evaluating patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms after travel to affected areas, including Puerto Rico and multiple countries in the Americas south of the United States.
Full HAN Message

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Idaho Health Alert Network

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Past HAN Messages

2015

10-20-15 Raw Milk, Enteric Advisory for Health Care Providers

08-26-15 Central District Health Department Recommends Providers Review Updated STD Treatment Guidelines

06-12-15 Salmonella Outbreak in Treasure Valley; Central District Health Department Asks Providers to Test Patients with Diarrheal Illness

05-22-15 Plague (Yersinia pestis) Confirmed in Ground Squirrels South of Boise; Central District Health Department Asks Providers to be Alert for Cases through June

01-14-15 Mumps Advisory for Health Care Providers