FOR ORANGE COUNTY CLINICIANS
APRIL 15, 2026
Celebrating Public Health – Ready. Set. Action!
Last week, our Public Health Services team celebrated National Public Health Week and the everyday work that protects our communities. With the FIFA World Cup coming to Southern California in 2026 and expected increases in visitors, now is a good time for the health care community to begin preparing for higher patient volumes. Thank you to everyone across the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) and our County of Orange (County) partners who continue to support this mission public health is truly a shared effort.
As part of our ongoing work, Dr. CK will provide the State of Health in Orange County on May 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.mm, where key trends and critical initiatives will be shared.
April is a month rich with important observances across public health. This includes National Child Abuse Prevention Month, recognizing the importance of communities and families working together to support and strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment. If you know or suspect that a child is being harmed, the Orange County Child Abuse Hotline (800) 207-4464 is available 24/7.
In addition, April highlights other important health observances, including National Alcohol Awareness Month, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Awareness Month, encouraging testing, prevention, and open conversations about sexual health, National Infant Immunization Week and Adolescent Immunization Action Week, promoting routine vaccination and protection for infants and youth.
These observances remind us how interconnected our work is and how each of us plays a role in strengthening community health. With the FIFA World Cup around the corner, it is a good time for everyone to review plans for rise in visitors from around the world.
We are grateful for your dedication and partnership. Thank you for all you do to help move public health forward in Orange County.
Warm regards, Drs. Regina Chinsio-Kwong (CK), Almaas Shaikh, and Anissa Davis
PRESS RELEASES/NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
National/Federal Updates
• The President’s Recommended Budget was recently published by the White House, with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) offering an overview of the major public health and preparedness initiatives.
• Microplastics has been in the media lately-and the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is supporting a new Systemic Targeting of MicroPlastics (STOMP) program to study microplastic impacts on human health. Learn more at STOMP | ARPA-H
• The American Academy of Family Physicians updated its adult immunization schedules for 2026.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released 2025 provisional tuberculosis data. US tuberculosis (TB) cases rose from 2021-2024 after decades of decline, but slightly decreased in 2025, with disease continuing to disproportionately affect non-US-born populations.
State Updates
• The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released its 2025 Intersex Data Collection and Display Guidance- which outlines standardized practices for collection and display of intersex across data systems and forms. The report includes relevant California laws and regulatory guidance.
Reports
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is collecting stories related to vaccines to better understand public and medical community perspectives on their role, burden experienced by clinicians, and challenges within the evolving vaccine landscape. Clinicians are encouraged to share their viewpoints and experiences at the following link Tell Us Your Vaccine Stories.
• CDC reports that Kava use in the US has resurged since 2011, with poison center reports increasing and now primarily involving adult men.
• CDC reports that vaccination coverage among US children by age 24 months remained largely stable for those born in 2021-2022 compared to earlier cohorts, though declines were observed for influenza, Hepatitis B birth dose, rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines.
Medetomidine in the US Illegal Fentanyl Supply Increasing Risk for Overdose and Severe Withdrawal Syndrome (CAHAN) – April 2, 2026
• The CDC, in conjunction with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), issued this Health Advisory to notify public health professionals, clinicians, laboratorians, and people at risk for overdose about increasing reports from US jurisdictions detecting medetomidine in the illegal drug supply and a severe withdrawal syndrome due to medetomidine exposure. Reported effects include marked bradycardia, hypotension and sedation. Clinicians should consider medetomidine in suspected opioid overdoses with prolonged sedation unresponsive to opioid overdose reversal medication administration, consult a toxicologist or poison control at 1-800-222-1222, and report unusual cases to the HCA by contacting our Health Referral Line at 1-800-564- 8448.
California Combats Persistently High Nicotine Vape Addiction Among Young Adults with New Statewide Campaign - April 1, 2026
• The CDPH launched “Not Your Lab Rat,” a bold statewide campaign designed to educate young adults about the dangers of modern nicotine products, prevent initiation, and motivate quitting among California’s highest-risk population for nicotine addiction.
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICABLE DISEASE UPDATES
Influenza
Seasonal influenza activity continues to decrease in most areas of the country. Influenza A activity is low across all regions while trends in influenza B activity vary by region. Influenza test positivity in Southern California is moderate, and hospital admission rates are low. In Orange County, test positivity for flu has dropped from 7.5% to 5.7% and hospitalizations have decreased as well.
CDC has released interim vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates for the 2025-26 influenza season. Among children and adolescent, VE was 38%-41% against influenza-associated hospitalization. Among adults 18 years of age and older, VE was 22-34% against influenza-associated outpatient visits and 30% against influenza-associated hospitalizations.
A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee voted to endorse the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation for viral strains to include in the 2026-2027 seasonal flu vaccine. The formulation will include all new strains, including the subclade K strain, which caused most flu infections during the 2025-26 season. The final decision will be made by FDA Commissioner Martin Makary, MD, MPH.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV activity nationally is elevated but has peaked in many regions of the country. RSV test positivity is moderate and hospital admission rates are low in Southern California. In Orange County, RSV activity remains elevated, but test positivity is decreasing, and hospitalization rates are increasing. Activity of RSV remains elevated, but the virus is past its peak.
COVID-19
COVID-19 activity remains low in Southern California.
COVID-19 continues to evolve. The latest variant, BA.3.2 (nicknamed “Cicada”) is a descendant of Omicron that’s been circulating globally. Cicada first appeared in 2024, went dormant for a while, and has now resurfaced
Nationally, 11% of cases are BA 3.2. COVID cases are not increasing in California, for now. BA.3.2 has approximately 70–75 changes in its spike protein compared to the strains used in last fall’s vaccine. That’s a concern because the spike protein helps the virus enter cells, and our existing antibodies won’t fight it as well. So, it seems to cause infection more easily if we’re exposed, but the vaccine will still protect against severe illness. So far, there’s no sign that symptoms differ in any meaningful way from prior variants. There’S a chance it can infect children more easily, but this effect is subtle, and we need more data to know. (Source: YLE)
A report on COVID vaccine effectiveness was supposed to be published on March 19 in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report but Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health (NIH) director and acting CDC director, delayed its publication. The report found that last fall, those who received a 2025-2026 COVID booster were half as likely to visit the emergency room or be hospitalized for COVID compared to those who did not receive a booster. Dr. Bhattacharya cited concerns with the study’s methodology according to the New York Times, he insisted on a randomized controlled trial instead of an observational study. However, observational study designs like this one are routinely performed and widely accepted as appropriate methodology for vaccine effectiveness, as annual randomized controlled trials for seasonal vaccines are typically not feasible.
Click here for data on Respiratory Virus activity in Orange County
Measles
As of April 9, 2026, 1,714 confirmed* measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026, an increase of 43 cases from last week. The increase is much smaller than the 96 case jump the previous week, and more than half of the new cases are in Utah. 1,704 measles cases were reported by 33 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. A total of 10 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the US. There have been 17 new outbreaks** reported in 2026, and 94% of confirmed cases (1,609 of 1,714) are outbreak-associated (377 from outbreaks starting in 2026 and 1,232 from outbreaks that started in 2025). (Source: CDC)
The outbreak in South Carolina has slowed, with the last case reported in mid March. If no further cases are reported by April 26, the outbreak will be declared over.
Utah has become the US epicenter of measles transmission. The current outbreak began in June 2025. Utah’s cases accounted for more than half of the nation’s new weekly cases recently. Many public places have been exposure sites, including universities, schools, grocery stores and medical facilities. As of April 7, 386 cases have been reported in 2026 in Utah, and 583 cases since the outbreak began June 2025.
As of April 13, there have been 39 confirmed measles cases reported in California. There is an ongoing outbreak in Sacramento/Placer counties. 95% of California cases are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, and 2 have been hospitalized. 85% of cases have been reported among those under 20 years of age.
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) continues to recommend that everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated against measles be vaccinated. People who are planning to travel should see their doctor beforehand to ensure they are up to date on their measles vaccination. Babies and children may need measles vaccination earlier than usual before travel. View for more information about measles at ochealthinfo.com/measles and find CDPH communication toolkits here .
Mexico’s measles cases have been declining for several weeks. As of April 10, there have been 9,149 confirmed cases reported in Mexico, and 9 deaths. A large vaccination campaign is ongoing.
Impact of Vaccine Lawsuit American
Academy of Pediatrics v Kennedy and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP)
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s changes to the US childhood immunization schedule in a ruling on March 16,2026. US District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy said the changes made by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to the childhood immunization schedule likely violated federal law, as did Kennedy’s reconstitution of a federal advisory board that makes recommendations on clinical use of vaccines.
The preliminary injunction comes as a result of a lawsuit filed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other leading medical groups against HHS.
The ruling temporarily blocks all decisions made by ACIP from June 2025 to present, including recommendations regarding the hepatitis B birth dose, COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant people, and the vaccine schedule changes of universally recommending 11 vaccines instead of the previous 17. The ruling also puts Kennedy’s ACIP appointments on hold.
In his decision, Murphy concluded that Kennedy's ACIP panel violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act and repeatedly pointed to the panel's charter, which required that its members have expertise in the use and research of vaccines and immunization practices.
Later, HHS led by Kennedy, published a renewal of the charter that broadens the list of expertise of who can serve on ACIP. A previous version of the charter stipulated that panel members should be knowledgeable about immunization practices and public health and have expertise using vaccines in clinical practice or preventive medicine or have expertise in vaccine research, or in vaccine efficacy and safety. Revisions to member qualifications included shifting from “expertise” to “knowledge” and adding additional fields, including recovery from serious vaccine injury, and updates to the committee’s mission with increased emphasis on vaccine safety. The new charter appears to broaden the types of specialists for membership, listing examples of specialists in toxicology and biostatistics. The American Public Health Association (APHA) press release noted that more than 130 organizations expressed concern over the CDC's ACIP charter. In a CIDRAP Op-Ed, Jess Steier, DrPh, offers a perspective that the court ruling against restructured ACIP creates a false sense of victory as larger threats loom with the expansion of the vaccine injury table.
Links to articles addressing recent activity around ACIP and potential implications:
American Public Health Association - ACIP Concerns from 130 Organizations
CIDRAP Op-Ed: Don’t be distracted ACIP was Never the Only Play
New York Times Vaccine Committee Ruling
Politico RFK Jr Amends Guidelines for Key Vaccine Panel
NACCHO Immunization Schedule Changes - Resource Guide for Local Public Health
APHA Federal Judge Blocks Immunization Schedule Changes
Bird Flu (H5N1)
A young male sea lion found deceased at Morro Strand State Beach tested positive for avian influenza (H5N1), also known as bird flu, marking the first confirmed case in a marine mammal in San Luis Obispo County, which is south of the main outbreak response area in San Mateo County. Juvenile sea lions are known to forage along the central California coast traveling as far south as the primary sea lion breeding colonies on the Channel Islands. Researchers are continuing to monitor marine mammal populations all along the coast. The sea lion, estimated to be 1 to 2 years old, was tested on March 16.
In February, a strain of the virus was detected at Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County, which were the first confirmed cases of bird flu in California marine mammals, and the first time it has been detected in northern elephant seals.
The risk to the general public is low. The public should not approach or touch distressed or dead marine mammals and keep your pets away. For sightings of dead or distressed marine mammals in California, call the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Regional Standing Hotline at (866) 767-6114.
PREPAREDNESS
Building Readiness Before It’s Needed: EMS Preparedness Highlights
Preparedness happens long before a crisis. Across the OC Health Care Agency, our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division continues to engage in the training, coordination, and planning needed to keep Orange County ready for emergencies of every scale. Recent efforts reflect the complexity of today’s threats and the strength of our multi-agency partnerships.
One major focus this spring has been participating in a statewide health care cyberattack drill, testing how systems respond when digital infrastructure is compromised. These exercises allow us to assess communication pathways, reinforce continuity-of-operations plans, and strengthen the rapid decision-making required in a real cyber event.
EMS has also completed a biohazard response training drill, designed to sharpen operational readiness for high-risk biological threats. Scenarios like these ensure responders remain confident in isolation protocols, patient movement, and interagency coordination under high-stakes conditions.
Teams have been preparing for the surge in regional activity that will come with three major events arriving in Southern California the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the Olympics. These international gatherings bring unique logistical and public health challenges, and the planning underway now helps ensure we have the right capacity, communication structures, and emergency plans in place well ahead of time.
Across each of these efforts, what stands out most is the people. Preparedness is built by dedicated partners clinicians, emergency managers, responders, planners working across disciplines and agencies, aligning decisions under pressure, and strengthening the systems our community depends on.
Disaster preparedness is never perfect and never truly complete. But it is intentional. And that intentional, sustained work is exactly how readiness is built.
Everyone is encouraged to take steps to stay safe and prepared for emergencies- at home, at the workplace, and in the community. This includes where to find reliable information, reviewing plans for responding to local incidents. Preparedness should cover situations such as extreme heat, power outages, wildfires, wildfire smoke, safety and security threats- including cyberattacks, suspicious activity, or incidents that may disrupt services.
Resources for Further Preparedness Information
• OC: Register for AlertOC and ReadyOC
• California: Ready California
• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): www.Ready.gov
• HHS: Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Emergency Preparedness & Response | HHS.gov
• CDC: Emergency Preparedness & Response: Emergency Preparedness and Response | CDC
• California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES): Emergency Planning & Preparedness Planning & Preparedness | California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE UPDATES
Orange County Community Health Improvement Plan
The Orange County Community Health Improvement Plan (OC CHIP) is making strong progress, thanks to the efforts of six dedicated workgroups focused on key health priorities: Mental Health, Substance Use, Diabetes/Obesity, Housing & Homelessness, Care Navigation, and Economic Disparities.
Examples of recent activities:
• OC CHIP Workgroups continue to make strategic pivots across a number of activities to address broad changes in funding conditions.
• The Substance Use Workgroup held evidence - based and evidence - informed prevention sessions to nearly 6,000 elementary, middle and high school students across the county.
• The Care Navigation Workgroup held conversations regarding the development or adaptation of needs assessment approaches to better understand gaps in community health knowledge and access to resources.
• The Economic Disparities Workgroup continues to assess programs that support financial empowerment, job training, skill development, and childcare.
• Get Involved! To join a workgroup or learn more, email occhip@ochca.com . View the full plan here: OC Health Improvement Plan | Orange County California - Health Care Agency.
OC Health Care Agency WIC Update
The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program has updated its operating hours. All HCA WIC sites are now open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Providers are encouraged to share this update with patients who may benefit from expanded weekday access. Clinic locations and operating hours can be found here.
WIC has also introduced an updated Food Package that offers families greater flexibility and improved food options. Enhancements include increased fruit and vegetable benefits, expanded whole grain selections, and the addition of more culturally preferred foods. New whole grain options now include whole wheat bagels and English muffins. Families may also select fruit-flavored yogurt, and broader protein options are available, including canned fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines. Additional choices have been added to the fruit and vegetable benefits, including fresh herbs. The updated food package also allows families to purchase a wider range of fresh, frozen, canned, and dried produce. To learn more about these changes, please visit the WIC My Family website at Your WIC Foods. Participants can also use their California WIC App to shop for new foods, track their benefits, and scan items in-store to confirm WIC eligibility.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE UPDATES
Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH)
New data brief on maternal mental health screening in California
• The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Center for Health Equity recently released a new data brief, Maternal mental health screening in California: progress and opportunities, which provides information about screening for depression and anxiety symptoms during and after pregnancy in California. The brief utilizes data from the 2020-2024 Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA), which is an annual population-based survey of California residents with a recent live birth.
Key findings reported in the MIHA Brief:
• Over one-third of women experience depression or anxiety symptoms during or after pregnancy.
• People giving birth in California who have depression or anxiety symptoms are three times more likely to receive mental health care if they are screened than if they are not screened.
• Only two-thirds of California women are screened for depression or anxiety symptoms both during and after pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends everyone receiving well woman, pre-pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum care be screened for depression and anxiety using standardized validated instruments. Screening for perinatal depression and anxiety should occur at the initial prenatal visit, later in pregnancy and at postpartum visits.
In addition, national estimates suggest that 5-10% of pregnant persons are affected by substance use, including alcohol, and co-occurrence of mental health issues and substance use is common. ACOG recommends screening for substance use be done at the first prenatal visit in partnership with the pregnant person. It is essential that screening be universal since screening based only on certain risk factors can lead to missed cases and add to stereotyping and stigma.
See the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health and Substance Use Provider Toolkit for tools and resources for mental health and substance use screening, including the OC Perinatal Mental Health Screening and Care Pathway and the OC Perinatal Substance Use Screening and Care Pathway.
Shifting from Reporting Families to Supporting Families
In alignment with supporting Child Abuse Prevention, the HCA is joining in California's Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting (MRCS) efforts. More information is highlighted in the next section.
Perinatal Mental Health Screening and Care Pathway
PARTNER AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA)
National Child Abuse Prevention Month Awareness related resources
Shifting from Reporting Families to Supporting Families- and the We CAN Coalition of OC
The HCA and Social Services Agency (SSA) have both been involved in supporting families over the past few years. This includes our involvement in the WE CAN (Working to End Child Abuse and Neglect) Coalition which has four active taskforces: OC SCAN team (a multidisciplinary Countywide Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect team), a Training and Education Taskforce that produces the Orange County Annual Maltreatment Conference as well as the Prevention Taskforce and the Family Support Taskforce (FSTF). The FSTF leads the countywide Family Wellness Initiative to support families impacted by perinatal substance use.
The Prevention Taskforce will now lead the County’s Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting Initiative and will host an open invitation virtual kick-off meeting on May 13, 2026 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
“Mandated reporting to community supporting is a movement to shift the focus of mandated reporter responsibilities from primarily reporting suspected child abuse to actively supporting families within their communities, aiming to provide resources and interventions before situations escalate to the need for child welfare involvement.”
This event marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to strengthen our community’s response and support systems, and your involvement will be invaluable. Interested stakeholders can email arlene.miranda@ssa.ocgov.com to be added to the distribution list for the taskforce.
Upcoming 7th Annual Child Abuse & Maltreatment Conference May 6-7 in Anaheim
The 7th Annual Child Abuse & Maltreatment Conference presented by Rady Children’s Health of Orange County in collaboration with the WE CAN Coalition is now open for registration. This essential event brings together professionals to strengthen their ability to identify, investigate, and address child maltreatment concerns. Through expert-led sessions, attendees will gain insights into recognizing signs of abuse, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and supporting vulnerable children. The Conference will be held May 6-7, 2026 at the Westin Anaheim Resort. Registration is at Summary - 7th Annual Child Abuse & Maltreatment Conference.
For additional information, please contact Sara Marchese, OC SSA Medical Director at sara.marchese@ssa.ocgov.com
OBSERVANCE TOPICS
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month a time to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol use and potential misuse. Please see materials to help raise community awareness on understanding of how individuals struggle with alcohol use and offers resources and support.
April 11-17, 2026 Black Maternal Health Week
Black mothers and birthing people continue to experience some of the highest rates of pregnancy-related health complications in the US. Improving outcomes requires all of us to support meaningful access to respectful, safe, and high-quality care. This week, the Orange County Perinatal Council met to highlight local programs and resources designed to strengthen Black maternal and infant health. We encourage our community and partners to learn more about these efforts and how to support positive health outcomes for all families. Click here for more information.
April 12-18, 2026 is STI Awareness Week
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Awareness Week provides an opportunity to raise awareness about sexually transmitted infections and focuses on reducing STI-related stigma, fear, and discrimination and ensure people have the tools and knowledge for prevention, testing, and treatment. Click here for a list of other organizations, than the HCA, that offer free or low-cost testing for STI and HIV.
April 13-19, 2026 is California Mosquito Awareness Week
Mosquitoes can easily fly over fences and across property lines from one house to another throughout Orange County to spread sickness and disease. Please help spread the word to your friends, neighbors and coworkers to dump and drain standing water wherever they might find it because it takes all of us united to defeat the mosquito scourge. Together we fight! Visit website for tips and tricks to take to keep you and your family safe from mosquitoes.
April 29, 2026 is National Fentanyl
Awareness Day
National Fentanyl Awareness Day was founded by parents who had lost loved ones to the drug overdose crisis. The aim of the observance is to raise awareness about the alarming number of deaths caused by illegally made fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. Visit Fentanyl is Forever to learn more and how to obtain Naloxone.
OBSERVANCE TOPICS
April 6-10, 2026 is Adolescent Immunization Action Week
April 20-27, 2026 is Infant Immunization Week
Both awareness weeks provide an opportunity to reemphasize the importance of vaccines to protect moms to be, infants, children and youth.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
• Before the introduction of RSV immunizations, RSV was the leading cause of hospitalization for infants, causing bronchiolitis and pneumonia in severe cases.
• 50,000 to 80,000 children younger than 5 were hospitalized each year because of RSV.
• Infants are at increased risk for severe illness from RSV.
• Use one of two immunization options to protect babies:
• An RSV vaccine given to the mother during pregnancy
• An RSV antibody given to infants
Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough
• Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated infants younger than 12 months of age have the highest risk for severe complications and death. About a third of infants with pertussis will need to be hospitalized.
• Infants younger than 1 year who contract pertussis are at risk of developing pneumonia, seizures and other complications.
• Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine is recommended at 2, 4 and 6 months, with boosters at 15-18 months and 4-6 years. A tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) booster is recommended at 11-12 years.
• Administering Tdap during each pregnancy helps protect infants during the time when they're most vulnerable. Optimal timing is between 27- and 36-weeks gestation, preferably during the earlier part of this period. Vaccination during each pregnancy is important for transferring the greatest number of protective antibodies to each infant.
Adolescent Immunization Schedule from American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Adolescent Immunization campaign toolkit from CDPH that contains tools and templates to promote adolescent immunization.
Infant Immunization Schedule from American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
SAFETY ALERTS/RECALLS/OUTBREAKS/ FOODBOURNE ILLNESS
Product Alerts /Recalls
On April 2, 2026, Raw Farm reluctantly recalled Cheddar Cheese products as the CDC, FDA, and public health officials continue investigating a multistate outbreak of E. Coli linked to Raw Farm Cheddar Cheese. So far, there have been 9 cases and 3 hospitalizations across 3 States (CA, TX, FL) with over half of the illnesses in children under age 5.
The CDC recommends to avoid eating affected cheeses while investigation is ongoing, wash items and surfaces that may have been touched by affected cheeses using hot soapy water or dishwasher. Seek care for diarrhea, fever, vomiting, or signs of dehydration.
TRAINING & WEBINAR OPPORTUNITIES
Local Conferences
Rady's CHOC: Irvine California: Pediatric & Lifespan Data Science Conference
Wednesday April 29, 2026, 8 a.m. - Thursday, April 30, 2026 12 noon
Hyatt Regency, Irvine
Home Page - 3rd Annual Pediatric and Lifespan Data Science Conference. Online registration by Cvent
Rady's CHOC and We CAN Coalition: 7th Annual Child Abuse & Maltreatment Conference
Wednesday May 6-7, 2026
Westin Anaheim Resort
Summary - 7th Annual Child Abuse & Maltreatment Conference
OC Health Care Agency State of the Address (Flyer below)
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. given by OC County Health Officer. Registration Required. Register here: State of Public Health in Orange County 2026
General Webinars
• April 22 at 10 a.m. UC Center for Climate, Health and Equity Planetary Health in Action
• April 29 at 12 p.m. From the Field to the Clinic: Recognizing Pesticide-Related Illness in Children
• April 29 at 2 p.m. CDPH Public Health Strategies for Firearm Violence Prevention in California
• May 5 at 10 a.m. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Modernizing and Strengthening Data for STI Prevention
• May 12 at 12 noon Change Lab Solutions Policymaking to Advance Health & Racial Equity
Vaccine Webinars and Resources
• CDPH Immunization Branch Monthly Updates for Provider Webinar- Next scheduled March 20, 2026 9 a.m. -10 a.m. and April 24, 2026 9 a.m. -10 a.m. Link: https://eziz.org/provider-ed/webinars/
Provider Advisory List
Clinicians, receive immediate notification of communicable disease related alerts. Sign up at this link: Provider Advisory Email Advisory.
Monthly Health Officer Clinician Newsletter
Subscribe to receive the County Health Officer newsletter by entering your email here: Health Officer Newsletter - Subscribe
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