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Should I get a flu shot?

Cold and flu Season

More people living homeless and people who inject drugs are being diagnosed with HIV in north Seattle. Please test for HIV regularly.

Wound Infections: Alert for people living homeless

Get care for wound infections. Group A strep is a germ that is spreading in King County. It can cause "strep throat" and skin infections, and also severe infections, including "flesh-eating" bacterial infections. People living homeless and those who inject drugs are at higher risk.

Shigella causes diarrhea, fever and stomach pain and can be spread through tiny, invisible bits of poop (stool) that people touch and then accidentally ingest. Learn how to avoid getting and spreading it.

If you're a homeless service provider, encourage clients to prevent from getting Group A Strep by getting prompt treatment for skin infections, wounds and illnesses.

People with the flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Flu viruses are spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. If you are a shelter provider, learn tips on how to prevent the spread of flu by increasing the distance between people, separating clients with symptoms of flu and clean and disinfect surfaces.

Wildfire activity and weather patterns vary from year to year, making it a challenge to predict the likelihood of experiencing wildfire smoke events in any given year. However, for three of the past four years, wildfire smoke in our region has exposed people to unhealthy levels of particulate air pollution for prolonged periods of time.

When it's hot, the number of people in King County who have serious health problems like heart attacks, stroke, and kidney failure rises with the temperature.

Who is at higher risk

If you are in one of these groups, take extra precautions to stay cool, drink water, and take breaks from the heat:

  • Older adults (65 and older)
  • Young children
  • People with chronic health conditions or mental illness
  • Athletes who exercise outdoors
  • Outdoor workers
  • People living unsheltered or homeless

Learn more from our Hot Weather preparedness page

Do you think you may have a spider bite? Learn what to do if you get bitten, its symptoms and how to clean and prevent spiders if camping outdoors.

Do you spend time in wooded or grassy areas? Ticks do. Ticks can carry several types of diseases. Most of these diseases are uncommon in the Northwest, but if you become ill after being bitten by a tick, see a health care professional!

Visit our Environmental Health resources for homeless service providers page for resources on cleaning, sanitation, air quality and environmental conditions.

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