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CDPH News Releases 2018​

​CDPH Issues Penalties to Seven Hospitals

December 6, 2018 – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued seven penalties today to seven California hospitals along with fines totaling $374,975 after investigations found the facilities’ noncompliance with licensing requirements caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.

​Cleaning Up Wildfire Ash Safely: CDPH Recommends Ways to Avoid Potential Health Hazards

​​November 15, 2018 - California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today advised residents of recent burn areas to use caution in cleaning up ash from wildfires.

​CDPH Recommends Stay Indoors and Reduce Outdoor Activity To Avoid Wildfire Smoke Inhalation

November 12, 2018 - California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today advised residents where wildfires have been burning, along with people in the smoke's path, to stay indoors and reduce outdoor activity.

​CDPH Warns Consumers about Risks of Wearing Decorative Contact Lenses

October 24, 2018 - California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today warned consumers about the risks associated with wearing decorative contact lenses.

​CDPH Encourages Consumers to Participate in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

October 23, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that consumers who have prescription drugs that are no longer needed or are expired can safely dispose of them on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Saturday, October 27.

​Fight Flu this Season by Getting Immunized

October 10, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) urges Californians to get the influenza (flu) vaccine to protect your health during the upcoming flu season.

California’s Adolescent Birth Rate Continues to Decline

September 24, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced that California's adolescent birth rate (ABR) continues to decline.

​CDPH Confirms First Two Human West Nile Virus Deaths of 2018

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today two confirmed deaths in California due to West Nile virus (WNV). 

​Get your Student Ready for School with Immunizations

August 24, 2018 - As students return to school, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) urges parents and guardians to ensure immunizations are on their back-to-school checklist.

​Valley Fever Cases Continued to Increase in California in 2017

August 16, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today the highest annual number of new Valley Fever cases on record in California was reported in 2017.   

​Influenza A (H1N2v) Virus found in Two People Following Exposure to an Infected Pig​

August 9, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), in collaboration with the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has confirmed variant influenza A (H1N2v) infections in two persons.

​Cleaning Up Wildfire Ash Safely

August 7, 2018 – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning people to be especially careful when cleaning up ash left by wildfires.

​First Confirmed Whooping Cough Death in a California Infant Since 2016

July 17, 2018 – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today Pertussis, better known as whooping cough, claimed the life of a San Bernardino County infant. This is the first confirmed infant death from the disease since 2016, when two deaths occurred.

​CDPH Fines Facility in Tulare County in Death of Resident

July 12, 2018 – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that Redwood Springs Healthcare Center, a skilled nursing facility in Tulare County, has received a Class "AA" citation, the most severe penalty under State law, and a $100,000 fine from the State of California.

​CDPH Reminds Californians about Safe Food Handling During Summer Season

June 28, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reminding Californians about the importance of safe food handling to prevent foodborne illness while enjoying picnics, barbecues and other outdoor activities during the summer season.

​CDPH Releases Annual End of Life Option Act Report

June 22, 2018 – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today released the 2017 End of Life Option Act (Act) Annual Report. The Act, which became law June 9, 2016, allows qualified individuals diagnosed with a terminal disease to obtain and self-administer aid-in-dying drugs.

​CDPH Confirms First Human West Nile Virus Illnesses of 2018

June 15, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today the first confirmed illnesses in California due to West Nile virus (WNV).

​Pool Safety… Don’t Let a Dip End Up in a Trip to The Emergency Room

May 24, 2018 - With summer approaching and as people head to swimming pools to cool off, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)) reminds people to avoid putting too much chlorine in their pools.

​Reported Sexually Transmitted Diseases Reach a New High in California

May 14, 2018 – A record number of Californians were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in 2017, according to a new report released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). More than 300,000 cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and early syphilis were reported: a 45 percent increase compared to five years ago.

​California Releases Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Findings (2002-2007)

April 26, 2018 - Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) and Public Health Institute (PHI) announced the release of the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review, a comprehensive statewide examination of maternal deaths from 2002-2007.

​CDPH Encourages Consumers to Participate in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

April 26, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that consumers who have prescription drugs that are no longer needed or are expired can safely dispose of them on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Saturday, April 28.

​New Campaign Targets Tobacco Industry's Deceptive Marketing to Youth 
April 24, 2018 - In an effort to combat the tobacco industry’s latest marketing strategies aimed at getting youth hooked on nicotine, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today launched a new “Flavors Hook Kids” campaign.

​CDPH Issues Penalties to Nine Hospitals

April 19, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued 11 penalties today to nine California hospitals along with fines totaling $791,662 after investigations found the facilities' noncompliance with licensing requirements caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.

​CDPH Fines Facility in Los Angeles County in Death of Resident
January 30, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that Royalwood
Care Center, a skilled nursing facility in Torrance, Los Angeles County, has received a Class “AA” citation,
the most severe penalty under state law, and a $100,000 fine from the State of California.

​CDPH Fines a Facility in Los Angeles County in Death of Resident
January 18, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that St. John of God Retirement and Care Center, a skilled nursing facility in Los Angeles County, has received a Class “AA” citation, the most severe penalty under State law, and a $100,000 fine from the State of California.
​Influenza Cases are Increasing in California Health Officials Encourage Californians to Get Vaccinated
January 9, 2018 - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced that flu activity in California is widespread and at levels usually seen at the peak of the influenza season. Health officials encourage Californians to get vaccinated.
January is National Radon Action Month - CDPH Offers Free Radon Test Kits 
January 3, 2018 - January is National Radon Action Month and the cold winter months are the best time to test for this odorless and colorless gas. 
Other News Releases
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