Health Officer Clinician Newsletter - July 2025 by County of Orange Health Care Agency

Health Officer Monthly Newsletter for Orange County Clinicians

July 2025

July 16, 2025

Regina Chinsio-Kwong, DO Orange County Health Officer

I am updating this newsletter while attending one of the largest national public health conferences that is occurring here in Anaheim this week. Despite the many challenges we all face in the medical and public health field, there are many here trying to focus on the opportunities during these uncertain times. A few themes that are arising include: the importance of listening, hearing all perspectives, to lean into hearing and understanding the points of view and needs of the community, and to work together to find solutions despite limited resources. Additionally, several from our OC Health Care Agency (HCA) team are presenting to share their experiences with others. Learn more here: National Association of County and City Health Officials - NACCHO360.

Keeping up to date with local, state, national and world decisions and events that can have an impact on the health of our community, can be dizzying. However, sharing experiences and best practices with like-minded public health leaders from across the country is one way our staff is dealing with the uncertainty.

We hope that you too can take the time to surround yourself with your support system! Take the time to care for yourselves, your family, friends, and community by filling your cup and checking in and remaining connected with those closest to you!

1. National Actions

A. President Trump signed H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4, 2025 Potential impacts resulting from this bill are still being assessed. Several organizations have published articles highlighting potential impacts to health

- Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) – Projected Health System and Economic Impacts of 2025 Medicaid Policy Proposals | JAMA Health Forum | JAMA Network (July 16, 2025)

- Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) – Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF

- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials One Big Beautiful Bill Act Summary The summary highlights major changes to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other safety net programs. It also outlines provisions such as new work requirements, cost-sharing, eligibility restrictions, and the potential loss of coverage for millions.

B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

July – CDC H5N1 emergency bird flu response deactivated to regular program activity and merges bird flu and influenza updates

Learn more at CDC Ends Bird Flu Emergency and Bird Flu Summary.

Additional Links and resources

CDPH Resources

- Human Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Quicksheet

- Bird Flu Toolkit

- CDPH Avian Influenza A Infection Control for Healthcare Providers

- First cases of human Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in California & Preparation for Respiratory Virus Season (COVID-19, Influenza and RSV)

- Raw Milk and Raw Dairy Products

Additional Website links

- California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Animal Health - Avian Influenza

- CDC H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation | Bird Flu | CDC

Click on the image to access bird flu social media toolkit.

C. June 25-26, 2025 – CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) held a meeting with newly appointed ACIP members. The ACIP Committee members:

- Approved clesrovimab – a monoclonal antibody for infants whose mothers are not protected by maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination

- Approved updated vaccines for children program resolution for prevention of RSV.

- Reaffirmed recommendation for routine annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged six months who do not have contraindications.

- Recommends children 18 years and younger, pregnant women and all adults receive seasonal influenza vaccines only in single-dose formulations that are free of thimerosol as a preservative.

On July 7, 2025, a group of medical organizations – including the American Public Health Association (APHA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Physicians (ACP), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA), Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), and a pregnant physician, filed a lawsuit against Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and other health leaders in the Trump Administration over the decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines to healthy children and pregnant women.

2. Public Health – Communicable Disease Control Division (CDCD) Updates

Measles

Measles cases identified across the US continue to rise. As of July 8, 2025, a total of 1,288 confirmed* measles cases were reported across the nation. There is no local transmission of measles occurring in Orange County.

The Orange County Register recently reported on Southern California’s situation (see link below)> The overall vaccination rate in the community is unknown. But vaccination rates are high among kindergarten and school-age children, which has likely prevented large outbreaks in the region.

With many travelling this summer and families preparing for the fall school season, it is a good time to review the importance of vaccinations for additional protection and the importance of seeking appropriate medical care if symptoms arise.

4. Alerts/Recalls – Product Recalls related to Excess Lead Levels

SPPTTY Kids 14- and 18-inch Bicycles

Sold on Walmart.com from August-December 2024

Recall Date: July 10, 2025

Hazard:

Multiple components of the children’s bicycles, in addition to the black paint on the bicycle pumps, contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban, posing a lead poisoning hazard to children. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

Link: SPPTTY Kids Bicycles Recalled Due to Risk of Death or Injury from Lead Poisoning

Boyro Baby Walkers

Sold on Amazon August-December 2024

Recall Date: June 26, 2025

Hazard:

Brake pads contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban in children’s products. In addition, risk for serious injury and death due to fall hazard.

Link: Boyro Baby Walkers Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death to Children from Fall Hazard; Violations of the Federal Standard for Infant Walkers and Lead Content Ban

The CDPH and the Consumer Product Safety Commission Recommend Providers

- Advise patients/families to:

o Immediately discontinue use of the recalled items.

o Contact the businesses for a refund. Please note consumers will need to provide a picture of the disassembled product in order to receive a refund.

- Test children for lead exposure if children used the recalled product.

Please help share this information with your families and clients and contact the Orange County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) at (714) 567-6220 if you have any questions or concerns.

For additional information and resources, please refer to the OC CLPPP website at: https://ochealthinfo.com/lead and CDPH website at: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch.

5. Foodborne Illness - Multistate Outbreaks

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts | Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Date Brand Name(s)

Product Description Product Type

7/14/2025 Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif

7/13/2025 LLK TRADING INC. Needle mushroom

7/11/2025 Peeters and Aunt Mid’s Fresh sliced and Cremini sliced mushrooms

7/9/2025 Wei-Chuan Dried Black Fungus Slice

Website Links:

Recall Reason Description

Food & Beverages, Foodborne Illness

Food & Beverages

Food & Beverages, Foodborne Illness

CDC Current Outbreak List | Outbreaks | CDC

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts | FDA

Company Name

Salmonella World Market

Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes

Potential Foodborne Illness - Listeria monocytogenes

LLK TRADING INC.

Wiet Peeters Farm Products Limited

Salmonella Natureen International Inc.

Recalls & Public Health Alerts | Food Safety and Inspection Service

US Outbreaks:

June 2025

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Meals - Listeria

Pistachio Cream - Salmonella

6. International Travel Health Notices

July 2025

Level 1 - Oropouche in the Americas

June 2025

Level 2 - Chikungunya in Bolivia

Level 1 - Global Dengue

Level 2 - Global Polio

Level 2 - Chikungunya in the Region of the Indian Ocean

7. Public Health Related Observances

Clean Beaches Week was July 1-7

Did you know that Heal the Bay recently released their Annual Beach Report Card Honor roll and Orange County is tops with 34 Orange County beaches receiving an A+ rating? Find out more here. These findings were consistent with local findings noted on our recent Water Quality Report that was recently published earlier this year! For all who visit our beaches, stay up to date with alerts at www.ocbeachinfo.com.

Firework Safety Month

This year’s July 4th celebrations unfortunately brought along building fires, brush fires, multiple injuries, and even fatalities related to illegal firework use. It is an unfortunate reminder of the dangers of fireworks. While July 4th has already passed, fireworks are still being set off in communities across the county. Multiple organizations across the county partnered to increase awareness. If you have unused fireworks or flares, contact local police, the sheriff or fire departments to find out how to safely dispose fireworks.

Upcoming Awareness Months in August

National Health Center Week August 3-9, 2025

Orange County has more than 30 community health centers and clinics. All play a vital role in providing comprehensive, affordable, high-quality care to the most vulnerable in our community. During the uncertain times we are all facing, it is important to recognize and support them as so many across our community are reliant on their services.

Learn more at Health Center Week and The Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers.

National Immunization Awareness Month

Due to ongoing measles cases noted around the globe as well as the rise of other vaccine preventable diseases, and many factors leading to vaccine disinformation and hesitancy, it is even more important now to sharpen your skills on communicating with patients and the community to consider getting vaccinated.

A recent poll conducted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the De Beaumont Foundation found that that most Americans support the safety of vaccines! When talking to patients, families and communities, focus on leading with empathy, emphasize the broader evidence, and focus on facts.

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is also National Breastfeeding Month. This year’s theme is “Forward Together” – which centers the unity and solidarity of all the organizations and advocates committed to advancing policy, systems, and environmental change in improving access to human milk. In Orange County, our mothers are doing well initiating breastfeeding, with 95% of infants born in the hospital in 2022 receiving any breast milk in the first few days of life prior to hospital discharge.

However, we have a lot of work to do supporting breastfeeding mothers after they leave the hospital with any breastfeeding rates dropping to 75% by 3 months postpartum. Exclusive breastfeeding rates were even lower at only 26% by 3 months postpartum.

Clinicians can Support Breastfeeding Mothers by:

• Giving mothers the support they need to breastfeed their babies

• Ensuring all health professionals caring for women and children receive education and training on benefits of human milk and supporting breastfeeding. (See below for information on a skills day opportunity for your staff.)

• Providing accurate and evidence-based information about breastfeeding and human milk to all pregnant persons, mothers and/or caregivers that is based on current nationally recognized guidelines.

• Providing clinical services that promote and support breastfeeding for the mother-baby dyad as the norm for infant feeding and nutrition.

• Establishing, providing, and maintaining a breastfeeding-friendly clinic environment.

• See 9 Steps to Breastfeeding-Friendly Clinics - California WIC Association

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is partnering with the community on a number of upcoming National Breastfeeding Month events. Call (714) 347-4512 for more information.

• August 1st is Breastfeeding Skills day – Free to OC providers. You do need to preregister with the HCA’s Nicki Westbrook at nwestbrook@ochca.com

• August 8th Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Open House in Santa Ana

• August 13th Planned Parenthood WIC World Breastfeeding Month Celebration

• August 15th WIC Open House Buena Park

• August 22nd WIC Open House Westminster

• August 27th CalOptima Health and HCA WIC Breastfeeding Resource Fair

• August 29th WIC Open House Anaheim

8. Orange County Community Health Improvement Plan Updates

The Orange County Community Health Improvement Plan (OC CHIP) is well underway, with dedicated efforts from each of the six workgroups aligned with our county’s priority areas: Mental Health, Substance Use, Diabetes/Obesity, Housing and Homelessness, Care Navigation, and Economic Disparities.

These collaborative teams – comprising of public health professionals, health care providers, community-based organizations, and residents – are actively advancing strategies to address root causes of health inequities and improve population health outcomes.

As members of the medical community, your continued engagement, data sharing, and frontline insight are critical to ensuring that our collective work translates into meaningful, sustainable change for all Orange County residents.

To find out more or to participate in a workgroup, email us at occhip@ochca.com. To access the OC CHIP plan please visit: OC Health Improvement Plan | Orange County California - Health Care Agency.

9. Training and Webinar Opportunities

• July 14-18: The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) 360 Bright Lights, Bold Ideas: Shaping the Future of Public Health Practice conference is being held at the Anaheim Convention Center. Learn more here.

• July 24 at 10 a.m.: The American Public Health Association – Free Continuing Medical Education (CME) Opportunity - Extreme Heat & Health: Clinical and Public Health Strategies for Prevention and Action

• August 14-16: California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (Garden Grove). Program highlights: Trends in emerging substance use, interactive panels and team-based learning. Earn up to 23.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Link: 2025 CSAM Conference Brochure

• September 19-21: The American Academy of Pediatrics Orange County Chapter is holding their 41st Annual Advances in Pediatrics Conference at the Irvine Marriot Hotel. Find out more here.

Previously Recorded Webinars/Podcasts

• Frameworks How to Counter Public Health Myths and Elevate Science Now Recorded December 2024. Presentation slides are available here.

• California Medical Association (CMA)

From Capitol Hill to CA: Policy Trends Shaping Healthcare in 2025-2026

Recorded June 2025

Virtual Grand Rounds: Tickborne Disease

Recorded July 2025

Southern California Wildfire Response- What Clinicians Need to Know

Recorded from January 2025

• National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education (NETEC) Podcast: Transmission Interrupted: https://netec.org/podcast/ Special Pathogen Preparedness: Strengthening Response with Drills and Exercises

Recorded July 2025

• Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Offers daily news headlines, and newsletters for specific communicable disease topics Podcast: Osterholm Update

Dr. Michael Osterholm discusses the latest infectious disease developments. Link: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/osterholm-update

National Association Webinar Webpages

• American Public Health Association (APHA) APHA Webinars

• California Medical Association (CMS) Recorded Webinars Virtual Grand Rounds (cmadocs.org)

• National Foundation for Infectious Disease (NFID) Webinars NFID Webinars

• Infectious Disease Society of America Public Health Page Infectious Disease Society

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