Communicable Disease > Disease in the News

Last Updated Friday, March 12, 2010 10:13 AM

MRSA is a serious illness that can become life-threatening if left untreated, but can be managed. Please access these materials to learn more information regarding MRSA. Special thanks to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for the development of many of these materials. Their website can be accessed at http://www.tpchd.org.

Living with MRSA - Available in two formats: Booklet or Packet

MRSA in the Workplace

MRSA for Athletes

For more information on Avian Influenza, please visit our Emergency Preparedness section of this website.

The state Department of Health is warning residents that excessive amounts of lead have been found in candy and handmade pottery from Mexico. People should avoid eating imported candy that contains tamarind or chili and should avoid storing or cooking food in traditional, handmade pottery from Mexico...

Press Release (6/29/05) - English

Press Release (6/29/05) - Spanish

Many people confuse Influenza with a 24-hour stomach virus. In fact, influenza is a disease of the respiratory tract causing congestion, cough, fever, body aches, headache, etc

It can often put a healthy person in bed for more than a week and can be very dangerous for the very young, very old, or those with respiratory diseases such as asthma.

It is recommended that you protect yourself with a vaccine for the flu. One alternative is to use the FluMist nasal vaccine.Many insurance companies have recently announced that they will cover the

cost of the FluMist nasal vaccine. Please check with your insurance company to see if they will cover the cost.

For additional questions about the flu vaccine, please check our Flu Shots Page or contact our Communicable Disease Nurse Line at (509) 249-6541.

For data on Influenza and RSV screening tests in Yakima County, please click here.