Disease and illness

How hantavirus spreads and what to do if exposed.

Where to get vaccinated, vaccine safety, and info for parents. 

Animal bites are a public health concern because of the potential for transmission of rabies, a viral infection of the nervous system and brain of humans and other mammals that is almost always fatal. Infection can be prevented by administering rabies immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccine doses.

Backyard poultry have become increasingly popular in recent years as interest in locally produced food, including eggs, has grown. Many local municipalities allow a limited number of domestic fowl on residential properties. Before getting a backyard flock, it is important to understand issues related to legal aspects, husbandry and health, and diseases that can be spread by poultry to people.

A flyer addressing common misconceptions of the BCG vaccine and outlining what is needed for follow-up care if a TB blood test is positive.

Information on biosolids and recycling in King County.

The Health Alert Network (HAN) is the CDC’s primary method of sharing cleared information about urgent public health incidents. Public Health – Seattle & King County shares select HAN alerts to raise awareness and provide guidance on how to report suspected or confirmed cases.

The Health Alert Network (HAN) is the CDC’s primary method of sharing cleared information about urgent public health incidents. Public Health – Seattle & King County shares select HAN alerts to raise awareness and provide guidance on how to report suspected or confirmed cases.

The Health Alert Network (HAN) is the CDC’s primary method of sharing cleared information about urgent public health incidents. Public Health – Seattle & King County shares select HAN alerts to raise awareness and provide guidance on how to report suspected or confirmed cases.

Condoms and other barriers, when used regularly and correctly, greatly reduce the risk of getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Consumers get involved in many ways. Some fill out surveys and comment cards so they can stay anonymous. Others join agency advisory boards or the HIV/AIDS Planning Council where they attend regular meetings and make decisions about what types of services available in the community.

Living through the COVID-19 pandemic means dealing with a new and sometimes confusing vocabulary. Here is a guide to some of the most common words and phrases you might come across.

Please use and share these materials to help spread the word about COVID‑19 vaccination and encourage people in your community to get vaccinated.

Information about current vaccine options, in-home vaccination, recommendations for immunocompromised people, and the cost of vaccine.

Learn how the different types of flu can affect you, and what you can do about them.

In Washington state, health care professionals, health care facilities, laboratories, veterinarians, food service establishments, child day care facilities, and schools are legally required to notify public health authorities at their local health jurisdiction of suspected or confirmed cases of selected diseases or conditions. These are referred to as notifiable conditions.

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) refers to treating the sex partners of persons with a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) without requiring that the partner first undergo a medical evaluation. In most instances, this involves giving a patient medication to give to their sex partners, or patient delivered partner therapy (PDPT).

Assuring that the sex and needle sharing partners of persons with HIV/STI receive the medical care they need is a shared responsibility between medical providers and Public Health. Medical providers should always advise their patients to notify their potentially exposed partners and should attempt to promote partner notification and treatment, even among patients who will receive Public Health partner services.

This site links you to the information necessary to respond to transmission of respiratory viruses in residential care settings. Residential care settings include assisted living facilities, adult family homes, supported living facilities and enhanced services facilities.

Harm reduction tips and guidelines for users and those who support them. Short URL: kingcounty.gov/harm-reduction

Healthcare providers can use the following resources to prepare for and response to cases of COVID-19 in their facility and protect the health of clients, patients, and staff.

Information and resources about how to prevent the spread of hepatitis B to infants and family members. 

Facts, testing resources, and treatment and cure guidance Short URL: kingcounty.gov/hcv

For Men who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender and Non-Binary (TG/NB) Persons Who Have Sex with Men

Information and resources to prevent and treat HIV/STIs.

Learn about HIV science, testing, prevention, and treatment. Note: Videos shown do not imply endorsement by Public Health.

These reports include data tables, figures, and feature articles describing the local and state-wide epidemiology of HIV and AIDS in King County and Washington state.

The purpose of this site is to provide you with the information necessary to respond to COVID-19 transmission at your facility.

Some diseases can be passed from horses to people, especially through contact with horse manure when people clean stalls, groom horses, or pick up their feet. It is important to thoroughly wash hands after contact with horses or manure. Horses are susceptible to West Nile Virus infection, but do not spread it to people. ➔ See infection control plan for horse facilities (281 KB).

Most people with COVID-19 have milder illness and are able to recover at home without medical care. Follow these steps if you or someone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19. 

Raccoons establish community latrines—sites where they repeatedly deposit fresh feces (droppings or scat) on top of old feces in a particular area in their environment. Raccoon latrines consist of piles of raccoon feces of different ages. Fresh raccoon feces are tubular in shape, with blunt ends, and about the same diameter as a nickel or dime. Generally, fresh raccoon feces are dark in color, but it depends on what the animal was eating. Seeds or nut shells may be seen in the feces. As feces age, they weather and decompose. Old feces may look like dried leaves or debris.

Information on this page explains ways to improve indoor air in our homes, businesses, schools, and other places where people gather indoors.

You can greatly decrease the risk of disease entering your flock and persisting in soil, droppings and debris by following 6 basic backyard biosecurity tips recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Interim CDC recommendations to protect infants from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the 2023–2024 respiratory virus season

Measles is very contagious. It can spread easily in children and adults who have not had a measles vaccination or previously had measles. One case of measles in a childcare facility or school setting can be serious and disruptive. It is important for childcare facilities and schools to prepare for measles and know how to respond to measles.

Short URL: kingcounty.gov/hiv/mmp

Short URL: kingcounty.gov/NHBS

Information and resources to prevent HIV with PEP.

In the City of Seattle, it is legal to keep one miniature potbellied pigs per household provided that it weighs 150 pounds or less and is spayed or neutered. It is important to thoroughly wash hands after contact with pigs or their fecal material to avoid infection with diseases that can be spread via fecal-oral contact.

Information and resources to prevent HIV with PrEP.

Tips for handling ready-to-eat produce to prevent E. coli infection.

Raccoons have adapted to urban life and are commonly seen or encountered in parks, neighborhoods or yards. Raccoons may carry diseases that can be spread to people (zoonoses) and pets, including raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris), leptospirosis, and rabies. They can also cause serious scratch and bite injuries to people and pets.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reportable by health care providers and institutions (not laboratories) in order to define the prevalence of disease locally, and to provide data necessary to obtain and allocate resources for HCV prevention activities. Public Health will classify cases as confirmed, probable or possible based on the following criteria.

Reports on COVID-19 data trends and topics published by Public Health staff.

Reptiles (turtles, snakes, anoles, iguanas, geckos, and chameleons) and amphibians (frogs, salamanders, newts, toads) frequently carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestines. Even though the reptile usually doesn't appear ill, the infection can spread to people. Illness is most severe in young children and people with weakened immune systems. Reptiles and Salmonella, CDC Reptile rules, PDF, WA State Dept. of Health Salmonellosis

Essential information and resources for healthcare providers to prevent, diagnose, and manage HIV, STIs, and HCV.

This page shows respiratory virus data for King County, WA. For additional data on COVID‑19, visit COVID‑19 data.

There are disease concerns with both wild (rats, mice) and pet (rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs) rodents and rabbits. They can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella. Wild rodents also may cause considerable property damage by chewing through wiring in homes, car engines, and other places. Diseases from rodents, CDC Rat prevention Bird Feeders and Rats: What You Need to Know (372 KB) Bird feeders can attract unwanted rats and sick birds at crowded feeders can spread disease among other birds. Learn how to maintain your feeder to prevent these issues.

Information and resources on COVID-19 for schools and childcare programs.

The Seattle Transitional Grant Area Planning Council prioritizes and allocates Ryan White Part A funding for services in King, Island and Snohomish counties.

The purpose of this site is to provide you with the information necessary to respond to COVID-19 transmission at your facility. This guidance applies if one or more cases are identified at your facility, regardless of your outbreak status. See outbreak definitions below.

The CDC revised recommended STI treatment guidelines in 2021. For complete treatment guidelines, please view Summary of CDC STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021. You may also consult with one of our providers of the day at 206-744-3590.

Much of the information provided below refers to specific Revised Code of Washington (RCW) or Washington Administrative Code (WAC) language.

A monthly review of real-time syphilis data. Short URL: kingcounty.gov/syphilis

Addressing the needs of patients with complex medical and social needs. Short URL: kingcounty.gov/max-clinic

A flyer sharing who is at higher risk of inactive TB and the differences between inactive and active TB.

Reports of tick-borne disease in Washington state are relatively few in comparison to some areas of the United States. Though tick-borne disease may not be common, the severity of these diseases generates public concern and questions.

Urgent need to increase immunization coverage for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and use of authorized/approved therapeutics in the setting of increased respiratory disease activity during the 2023 – 2024 winter season.

A cartoon coloring sheet answering the question: What is TB?

Information on this page will help you understand if you need to isolate and what steps to take. 

Information and resources for HIV, STI, and HCV testing Short URL: kingcounty.gov/hiv/testing