VACCINE FOR TWEENS:The
Pfizer vaccine is OK for 12- to 15-year-olds, along with the existing authorization for 16+. But that’s not the final say – a
CDC advisory committee has a review next, and then the Western States review group, in which our state participates, would take a look. City vaccination efforts would welcome the tweens and younger teens as soon as those approvals are in, we’re told.
SPEAKING OF THE CITY … new details for the pop-up clinic Saturday morning in The Junction, including an incentive to be among the first ones there.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the
May 11, 2021 at 8:06 am
Bats are known to be one of the most common animal drivers or rabies. (Seattle King County Public Health)
Warm weather in King County is often a welcome sight for many. Even so, it comes with one downside, with seasonal concerns over rabid bats already beginning to ramp up.
Seattle-King County Public Health reported Monday that officials have identified the first bat to test positive for rabies in 2021. The animal was found by a Sammamish resident in their yard, who approached it wearing gloves to pick it up and move it.
The bat then “became aggressive and bit the resident multiple times.” After Public Health was notified, the bat was apprehended, later testing positive for rabies. The resident that was bit promptly began post-exposure treatment to protect them against the disease.
The Area Council held its regular monthly meeting virtually on
Monday, May 3. Major topics discussed were: (1) Countywide Planning Policies Update; (2) Cedar Hills Regional Landfill Community Meeting; and (3) School Siting Briefing Paper.
Our Guest Speakers were: (1) Nicole Sanders, Program Manager in the King County Department of Local Services Permitting Division and (2) Rory O’Rourke, Health and Environmental Investigator in the Environmental Health Services Division of Public Health – Seattle & King County.
The following is shown in order of the items addressed on the meeting Agenda.
Tahoma School District (TSD) Update
TSD Board member and Area Council committee member, Val Paganelli, provided an update. Tahoma
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: The weekly briefing by Secretary of Health
Dr. Umair Shah and other officials happened this morning. Watch the briefing here.
VACCINATION SITUATION: It was a major topic during the state briefing – in which a new helpline was introduced,
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN VACCINATED YET … You can still go to city sites including the West Seattle hub (2801 SW Thistle) without an appointment, but if you’d rather guarantee your spot, go here.
GOT INFO? Email us at
westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at
206-293-6302 – thank you!
By Jory Lange
Seven children in Seattle and King County have developed E. coli O157 infections in a suspected E. coli outbreak. Seattle & King County Public Health is investigating a new cluster of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections. E. coli cases were reported between April 22 and May 1. All of the children affected in the Seattle E. coli outbreak have been under 14 years old. Three were under 5 years old. Six children were hospitalized. One child developed a type of kidney injury called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). A second child may also have developed HUS.
Seattle
Image/skeeze
Seattle & King County Public Health are interviewing the children’s parents to identify any restaurants, foods, or other potential sources of infection they may have had in common. A common source of infection has not yet been identified. Seattle & King County Public Health is also working with the Washington State Department of Health to conduct additional testing to help