Washington public health updates
Visit these trusted resources for the information you need to keep yourself, your family, and your community safer.
Table of Contents
On this page:
- Environmental advisories
- Latest Washington advisories
- Federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) Updates
Weather and Natural DisastersWildfire Safety
Summer safety
Latest Washington health advisories
These public health advisories are affecting Washington right now.
Learn more
Learn more
See the Washington Department of Health emergency website for more information.
CDC updates
Recent updates provided and maintained by the CDC Newsroom*:
- Case count doubles and recalls expand in Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit products
- CDC and FDA Expedite the Availability of Additional Doses of New RSV Immunization for Infants
- Global measles threat continues to grow as another year passes with millions of children unvaccinated
- More Than One in Three Americans are at Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes, but Changing the Outcome is Possible
- Biden-Harris Administration Agencies Sign Interagency Agreement to Address Wildfire Risk and Protect Communities from Smoke
Wildfire smoke safety
The dangers of outdoor smoke
Outdoor smoke contains very small particles and gases, including carbon monoxide. These particles can get into your eyes and lungs where they can cause health problems.
The main sources of outdoor smoke in Washington are:
- Wildfires
- Wood stoves, pellet stoves, and fireplaces
- Agricultural burning
- Prescribed fires (used to manage forests)
Poor air quality can irritate and damage lungs, especially for people who have congestive heart failure, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other heart or breathing conditions. Exposure can also cause a fast heart rate, chest pain, trouble breathing, and asthma attacks.
People with heart or respiratory conditions, children, and the elderly are most at risk for poor air quality from wildfire smoke. However, smoky air can affect you even if you’re not in a high-risk group, causing sore throat, headaches, runny nose, and fatigue.
What you can do about wildfire smoke
When smoke arrives it’s important to reduce exposure by staying up to date on the forecast and air quality index, limiting time outside, closing windows and doors, and keeping indoor air as clean as possible.
After several days smoke can enter homes and buildings through leaky gaps in windows and doors. Having a way to filter indoor air will benefit your health.
It’s key to buy supplies in advance because they often sell out quickly when it’s smoky out.
Filter indoor air by using a:
- DIY box fan filter
- HVAC system with MERV 13 filter
- HEPA portable air cleaner
Smoke safety resources
You can stay updated on wildfires, air quality, the forecast, and health information on the WA Smoke Blog.
For more information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, visit the DOH’s Smoke from Fires webpage.
Learn some steps you can take to stay healthy when the air quality is low on CHPW Connections.
Questions?
Call our Customer Care team at 1-800-440-1561 (TTY: 711)
Sources: CDC, FDA, CNN, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, EthnoMed, Greater Than COVID, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mayo Clinic, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Immigration Law Center, National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants, Northwest Justice Project, WA Department of Health, WA State Coronavirus Response, Yale Medicine
*CDC Updates RSS feed provided and maintained by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (usage guidelines and disclaimer).
CHPW joins health care providers across the state in our commitment to supporting COVID-19 vaccination.
