Diagnosis and Management of Influenza

Health care providers need to be prepared for the possibility of another severe influenza season in Los Angeles County this winter. This article reviews key points about influenza diagnosis, management, and reporting  READ MORE

Taking Action on Climate Change: Steps for Health Care Providers

There are many opportunities for clinicians to use their expert knowledge and professional influence to slow climate change and protect their patients’ health. This article discusses how the health care sector contributes to climate change and suggests steps that clinicians can take on a clinical, institutional, policy, and personal level to slow climate change. READ MORE

From the Los Angeles Health Alert Network (LAHAN)

• Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM): Suspected cases of AFM have increased nationally and are being monitored in California. LAHAN
• Typhus Outbreaks: Outbreaks of endemic flea-borne typhus have been identified in downtown LA and the Willowbrook area of South LA, with clusters expected throughout LA County. LAHAN
• Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE): The first human case of SLE in LA County since 1997 has been reported. LAHAN

Other Updates

• Employment: Associate Medical Director of Prevention Services, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control. View this and other positions with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
• Webinar: “How to Talk About Vaccines.”  November 27, 2018, noon. Paul Offit, MD, FAAP, will discuss communication strategies and answer difficult vaccine questions commonly asked in clinical and community settings. Registration

Resources For Providers and Patients

Updated LA Quits tobacco cessation website, which includes information on vaping and marijuana. New patient education materials: flea-born typhus, “cover your cough,” and handwashing. New Substance Abuse Service Helpline brochure. VIEW LIST

Rx for Prevention, 2018
November-December;8(6).

Published: November 13, 2018