Health

Multi-state salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry

The Washington State Department of Health is working with local and federal public health partners to investigate 11 identified cases of salmonella linked to backyard poultry in Pierce, Kitsap, Snohomish, Lincoln, King, Yakima and Lewis counties. This is part of a nationwide outbreak that has sickened 219 people in 38 states. In Washington, two people…

State Department of Health confirms paralytic shellfish poisoning illness

The Washington State Department of Health and Snohomish County Health District have identified a confirmed case of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in a Snohomish County resident. The individual experienced tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, and extremities after consuming butter clams that were recreationally harvested in Island County. The butter clams harvested by the…

State officials caution against touching sick or dead wild birds

The Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are asking the public to avoid contact with wild birds, especially sick or dead wild birds or their young. An outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is impacting wild birds including Canada geese, snow geese, bald eagles, and…

Community invited to share health care perspectives during Verdant focus group May 23

The Verdant Health Commission is inviting the community to attend a virtual focus group Monday, May 23, to assist Verdant’s efforts to increase health care accessfor all South Snohomish County residents. The meeting will run from noon-1:30 p.m. via Zoom. Residents are encouraged to participate in the focus group to provide their perspective. There is…

Verdant Community Wellness Center celebrates grand reopening

The Verdant Health Commission hosted a grand reopening of the Verdant Community Wellness Center in Lynnwood on Friday. Closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the wellness center is now open for public use. From wellness booths to mascots handing out balloons, the reopening contained something for the whole family. The Verdant team…

Verdant Community Wellness Center to hold grand reopening event May 13

After being closed to the public for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Verdant Community Wellness Center in Lynnwood will hold a grand reopening from 3-6 p.m. Friday, May 13. Residents are invited to rediscover the classes, programs and resources available at the center. During the grand reopening, participants will enjoy…

Fecal pollution restricts shellfish harvest in Snohomish and other counties

The Washington State Department of Health has completed the annual water quality evaluation of the state’s commercial shellfish growing areas. Unfortunately, the department said, high fecal bacteria levels will lead to harvest restrictions in four of Washington’s 115 shellfish growing areas. An additional 19 areas currently meet water quality standards but are threatened with classification…

Verdant Health Commission launches community survey

The Verdant Health Commission is seeking responses to a brief community survey to better understand the overall health and health care needs of South Snohomish County residents. The survey, posted on www.verdanthealth.org, will be available in multiple languages from May 2 through May 31 to ensure that a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences are…

Reminder: Blood donation drive coming to Edmonds Waterfront Center

  The Edmonds Waterfront Center is partnering with Bloodworks Northwest to host a blood drive on April 14, 15, 18 or 19. All types are urgently needed, but Type O is especially in demand. All blood donations are by appointment only. Those who can’t make it to this event can schedule an appointment here to donate at…

Department of Health issues advisory regarding sturgeon in lower Columbia River

The Washington State Department of Health has issued a health advisory for consumption of sturgeon from the lower Columbia River. The advisory extends from the mouth of Columbia (see A on map below) upriver to the Bonneville Dam (see B on map). The advisory, in accordance with findings from the Oregon Health Authority, recommends limiting…

Health advisory issued for norovirus-like illnesses linked to raw oysters

Officials at the Washington State Department of Health advise Washington residents to not serve or eat raw oysters harvested from an area of British Columbia (BC), Canada until further notice. Eighteen Washington residents have reported norovirus-like illness after eating BC oysters from harvest area BC 14-8 since March 7. Individuals who order raw oysters from…

Verdant awards over $1.5 million to local nonprofits  

Verdant Health Board of Commissioners recently approved more than $1.54 million in grants to 14 local nonprofit organizations in support of community health through its recent competitive application process.   The following grants were approved:    American Heart Association – Stop the Silent Killer: Hypertension in South Snohomish County – $66,997   Boys and Girls Club of Snohomish…

Mobile Mammovan will be visiting Aurora Marketplace parking lot in March, April

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance’s mobile Mammovan is scheduled to be parked in front of the Edmonds Aurora Marketplace Safeway store on three upcoming dates: Monday, March 26 Saturday, April 9 Monday, April 25 Patients must book appointments in advance by calling 206-606-7800. The Aurora Marketplace Safeway is located at 23632 Highway 99 in Edmonds.

City of Edmonds earns Well City Award

The City of Edmonds will be receiving a 2022 Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Well City Award at this week’s AWC’s Healthy Worksite Summit. In achieving Well City Award status, the City of Edmonds has earned a 2% discount on all AWC Trust medical insurance premiums in 2023. To earn the award, the city had to…

Volunteers of America Western Washington hosting blood drive in March

Volunteers of American Western Washington is hosting a month-long virtual blood drive in March. Here’s how you can participate: – Schedule an appointment to donate at any Bloodworks Northwest location through March 31. – On the day of your donation, mention Volunteers of America or share the donor code VOA when you’re registering at your…

Justin Reeder celebrates 25 years at Edmonds Vitamins and Herbs

Justin Reeder likes to help people. It got her into the health food industry 40 years ago in Seattle, and 25 years ago she opened her own store in downtown Edmonds. “My native philosophy is that we are all here to love and support one another. So that’s what I do,” she said. When she…

State Department of Health launches science contest for high school students

The Washington State Department of Health’s Washington Tracking Network (WTN) is launching the inaugural Washington Tracking Network Youth Science Contest. The WTN Youth Science Contest provides an opportunity for high school students across Washington to develop their science and communication skills while working with health and environmental data from their own communities. Participants can choose…

Some powdered infant formula recalled due to possible bacterial contamination

Abbott Nutrition announced late on Thursday, Feb. 17, that it is voluntarily recalling infant powdered formula produced at their Sturgis facility in Michigan. This includes Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare brand formula. The recall comes after four consumer complaints about infant illnesses related to cronobacter sakazakii and salmonella bacteria. In all four cases, infants were hospitalized…

Verdant Health Commission appoints Dr. Jim Distelhorst as board president  

The Verdant Health Commission Board of Commissioners had elected Dr. Jim Distelhorst as Public Hospital District 2’s president.   As a retired family physician. Distelhorst brings an extensive background in health care delivery and community service. In addition to practicing medicine, his professional experience includes teaching residents as a director of two-family medicine residencies, and working as a medical administrator at Valley Medical Center…

Reminder: Verdant hosting grant funding Q & A session Jan. 24

Community groups and organizations interested in applying for funding from the Verdant Health Commission in 2022 are invited to participate in a virtual question-and-answer session on Monday, Jan 24 from noon-1 p.m. on Zoom.  This optional Q&A session is open to the public to learn more about Verdant’s priority areas for funding, the application process and to ask questions. To join the session, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86504406205. Dial-in number for audio is (253)…

Brackett’s Landing beaches in Edmonds reopened

Brackett’s Landing North and South beaches have been reopened to the public for recreational water activities. Due to heavy rainfall in recent days that caused above normal flow at the wastewater treatment plant, the Snohomish Health District had temporarily restricted recreational water activities in the Brackett’s Landing beach areas out of an abundance of caution….

State asks public for feedback on reducing harmful chemicals in consumer products

The Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Department of Ecology are asking residents, businesses, organizations and other stakeholders for their input about keeping communities and the environment safer from toxic chemicals in consumer products. Public feedback on the actions it supports to reduce harmful chemicals in those products will be used to…

As a precaution, Edmonds’ Brackett’s Landing closed to swimming and diving

Due to heavy rainfall causing above-normal flow at Edmonds’ wastewater treatment plant, the Snohomish Health District has restricted recreational water activities in the Brackett’s Landing beach areas until further notice “out of an abundance of caution.” The Snohomish Health District has posted closure notices for both Brackett’s Landing North and South, including the Edmonds Underwater…