Your Reliable Source Bulletin: July 24, 2023

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Syphilis isn't extinct! 

Syphilis is sharply increasing in Pierce County, the state and the nation. We need to do something about it!  You may see our ad campaign on YouTube, TikTok, or a billboard. The message is simple: If you're 45 or younger and have sex, you need to get tested for syphilis.  The ads offer a great opportunity to talk to anyone—including kids, in ways that make sense for their age—about health. Look for an ad near you or read our Your Reliable Source Blog for the latest on syphilis rates and what we're doing to stop the spread.

Tell us about air quality and idling in Tacoma. 

Do you have thoughts about air quality or idling issues?  Let us know about air quality and idling in Tacoma, and we'll enter you into a raffle for a $50 gift card.  This voluntary survey only takes a couple of minutes to complete. We appreciate your time and feedback!

We are working with DOH to investigate a cluster of foodborne listeriosis cases.

We are working with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services to investigate 5 cases of the foodborne illness listeriosis in Western Washington. 

All 5 patients were hospitalized and 3 died. All the cases were in patients with weakened immune systems in their 60s or 70s.

The most common way people get listeriosis is by eating food contaminated with Listeria. 

Read our news release to find ways to protect yourself from listeriosis, and what people most at risk of infection should avoid. 

First case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington 

A Pierce County man was diagnosed July 13 with colonization due to Candida auris (C. auris), a multidrug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections. This is believed to be the first locally acquired case in Washington.

Read about who Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says is most at risk in our news release. 

Woman recovering from rare tickborne disease.

A Puyallup woman in her 40s was diagnosed in June with a tickborne disease called anaplasmosis. She was hospitalized and is recovering at home.

Tickborne diseases are rare in Washington, but they do occur. Read more about how to prevent tick bites in our news release.