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CDPH Warns Californians About the Dangers of Xylazine

In response to the increase of xylazine in the illegal drug supply in the U.S., the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued a letter to healthcare facilities and providers outlining the risks and warning signs of exposure, as well as patient care recommendations. Click HERE for the full article link. On April 12, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration designated fentanyl adulterated or associated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the U.S. Xylazine is an FDA approved veterinary sedative but is not approved for use in humans. Xylazine can be found ...

Fossil Fuel Pollution and Climate Chance Web Event from NEJM

Event: Fossil Fuel Pollution and Climate Change Date: November 16, 2023  Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM   As the burning of fossil fuels continues to cause health hazards like air pollution, it is also the primary driver of the climate crisis. The health care sector has a responsibility to urgently respond to the accelerating impacts of record temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels that are contributing to a full-fledged public health crisis across the globe. This new reality prompts crucial questions for clinicians and health care leaders as to how to ...

SCCMA EHC Member Publishes on Climate Change and the Risks to Pregnant Persons and their Offspring

SCCMA Environmental Health Committee Member, Santosh Pandipati, MD, FACOG was recently asked to bring together a panel to author a lead article for a special issue of Seminars in Perinatology dedicated to climate change impacts on women and pregnancy. To download article, please click HERE.  Climate change: Overview of risks to pregnant persons and their offspring  Santosh Pandipati, Melanie Leong, Rupa Basu, David Abel, Sarena Hayer, Jeanne Conry Climate change is one of the greatest challenges confronting humanity. Pregnant persons, their unborn children, and offspring are particularly vulnerable, as evidenced by adverse perinatal ...

HEALTH UPDATE: Resource for patients seeking continued opioid or benzodiazepine therapy

HEALTH UPDATE from the Santa Clara Public Health Department, September 15, 2023 To: All Healthcare Providers From: Sarah Rudman, MD, MPH Deputy Public Health Officer And Akanksha Vaidya, MD, MPH Assistant Public Health Officer The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department recently learned of a large number of patients prescribed long-term opioid or benzodiazepine therapy who have lost access to their usual prescriber or are likely to lose access in the near future. When a patient treated with opioids or benzodiazepines suddenly loses access to prescribed medication, they are at risk of severe withdrawal and may seek illicit ...

HEALTH ADVISORY: Outbreak of Aeromonas skin infections associated with athletic event in Sonoma County

On August 24, 2023, Sonoma County issued a Health Alert and Media Advisory regarding a Tough Mudder Endurance event that took place on August 19-20, 2023 in Sonoma, CA. Multiple event participants reportedly developed symptoms of rash, sometimes accompanied by fever, myalgias, nausea/vomiting or respiratory symptoms, often 24 hours after exposure to mud at the event. Culture results implicate a pan-sensitive Aeromonas species. Aeromonas species are Gram-negative rods that can cause a range of serious infections. Prompt evaluation of any symptomatic patients is strongly recommended, and empiric antibiotic treatment, ...