Physicians

Physicians Corner: Current Provider Information

The Physician's Corner is where you will find the most current information that the Westchester County Department of Health would like to communicate to health care providers. Be sure to review the CDC Breaking News in addition to what is listed below. For information about disease reporting and additional resources for your practice, use the menu links on the left to access those pages.

Information For Health Care Providers

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)

May 31, 2023: NYSDOH Health Advisory: ACUTE FLACCID MYELITIS
AFM Investigation, CDC
November 19, 2018: NYS Health Advisory, Accute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)

Avian Influenza

March 7, 2025: Public Health Alert: H5 Avian Flu Clinical Guidance, Testing & Treatment

February 3, 2025: Health Advisory: Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients

Latest NYS guidance, visit Avian Influnza Guidance for Clinicians

Botulinum Toxin

April 24, 2024: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Adverse effects linked to counterfeit or mishandled botulinum toxin injections.

COVID-19

Be sure to review CDC Breaking News in addition to what is listed below.

Latest NYS guidance, visit Novel Coronavirus Information for Providers
Latest CDC guidance, visit Healthcare Provider Guidance on Novel Coronavirus

WCDH Public Health Updates:

NEW February 20, 2024: Health Advisory: COVID-19 Antiviral Treatment Underutilization and Changes in how to Access Medications with Commercialization of Oral Anti-Virals
- Liverpool COVID-19 Drug Interaction Checker
- Similar Rebound with or without Paxlovid
February 27, 2023: Prescribe COVID-19 Therapeutics To Prevent Severe Disease, Hospitalization & Death (WCDH)
January 4, 2022: NYSDOH Interim Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance
September 27, 2021: Health Advisory: Booster dosing of Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines after an initial 2-dose Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA vaccine series (NYSDOH)
July 8, 2021: Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy in BIPOC Communities — Toward Trustworthiness, Partnership, and Reciprocity (The New England Journal of Medicine)
May 13, 2021: COVID Antigen test FAQs (NYSDOH)
December 21, 2020: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Quarantine Duration

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (CDC)
January 19, 2022: MMWR article: COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations by COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Previous COVID-19 Diagnosis - California and New York, May - November 2021

High Advisory Message from CDC
April 13, 2021: Important message from CDC regarding Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

High Risk Sports

Attention Physicians Treating Patients with COVID-19

Physicians and health care facilities interested in treating patients with convalescent plasma should visit the New York Blood Center Website.This product is ordered like other blood products.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has published recommendations related to seven investigational interventions and convalescent plasma treatment that could potentially benefit COVID-19 positive patients. For more information about these interventions, as well as registries for patients to receive treatments that are not yet FDA approved, view the Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19.
Physicians who wish to gain access or learn more about investigative trials for COVID-19 can visit the National Institute of Health Clinical Trials Website.

Reporting Form for COVID-19

COVID-19 Reporting Fillable Form (WCDOH)

January 2022 - Quarantine and Isolation Protocols:

July 10, 2020: WCDH Public Health Update: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Patient Testing Isolation/Quarantine Guidance & Flyers - Point of Care Testing Reporting Requirements
June 10, 2020: Routine Immunization Guidance during the COVID-19 Pandemic (WCDOH)
May 31, 2020: NYSDOH Updated Interim Guidance: Protocol for COVID-19 Testing Applicable to All Health Care Providers and Local Health Departments
May 30, 2020: NYSDOH Symptom-Based Strategy to Discontinue Home Isolation for Persons with COVID-19
May 13, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Temporally Associated With COVID-19 Interim Case Definition In New York State
May 7, 2020: WCDOH Public Health Update: COVID-19 Revised Isolation Guidance and Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory (Kawasaki-Like, Toxic Shock-Like) Syndrome
April 30, 2020: WCDOH Public Health Update: COVID-19 Serology Testing
April 30, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Reporting Requirements for All Laboratory Results for SARS-CoV-2, Including all Molecular, Antigen, and Serological Tests (including “Rapid” Tests) and Ensuring Complete Reporting of Patient Demographics
April 27, 2020: WCDH Public Health Update: 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Antibody/Serology Testing -Updated Guidance
April 19, 2020: NYSDOH, Health Advisory: Discontinuation of Isolation for Patients with COVID-19 Who Are Hospitalized or in Nursing Homes, Adult Care Homes, or Other Congregate Settings with Vulnerable Residents.
April 2, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Options when Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is in Short Supply or Not Available.
April 1, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Update on Specimen Collection and Handling to Allow Nasal Swab AND Saliva Specimen as Acceptable Alternative Specimen Collection
March 20, 2020: WCHD Public Health Update - COVID-19, Healthcare Workers and Lap Testing - Updated Gudance.
March 17, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Update on Specimen Collection Guidance to Collect Nasopharyngeal Swab Only.
March 16, 2020: WCHD Health Commissioner, Sherlita Amler, MD., letter to Providers and Self-Quarantine Guidelines.
March 5, 2020: WCDOH Public Health Alert: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) CDC Updated Guidance, Patient Questionnaire
Feb. 29, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Identification and Testing of COVID-19 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs)
Feb 14, 2020: Public Health Update: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID10) Notify Westchester County DOH of Possible Cases
Feb. 3, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Update and Interim Guidance on the Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
Flowchart to Identify and Assess 2019 Novel Coronavirus (CDC)
Jan. 31, 2019: CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus Updated Clinical Guidance and PUI Definition:
- Information for Healthcare Professionals
Jan. 17, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Interim Guidance for Healthcare Providers and Facilities in New York State on the Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Ebola

NYS Health Advisory: Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (Sudan ebolavirus) in Central Uganda 10-7-22

Immediately notify the Westchester County Department of Health (914) 813-5000, 24 hours, 7 days a week, of any such individuals.
Isolate patients who report a travel history to an Ebola-affected country and who are exhibiting Ebola symptoms in a private room with a private bathroom and use PPE as per the most current CDC and NYSDOH guidance;
Routinely obtain country-specific travel information to Ebola affected areas in the 21 days before illness onset for any patient presenting with fever or other symptoms consistent with Ebola and ensure that this is communicated to all relevant staff;
Interim Guidance for Emergency Services For Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (CDC)
Temperature monitoring log (WCDOH)
Patient Care and Ebola (WCDOH)

Heat Related Illness/Guidance

July 2023: NYSDOH Information for Health Care Providers: Excessive Heat/High Heat Guidance & Reminders

Guidance for Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Adult Care Facilities, Homecare Agencies, Hospice and Diagnostic and Treatment Centers

Hepatitis

April 19, 2022: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Severe Hepatitis of Unkown Etiology in Children
World Hepatitis Day 2021 letter (NYSDOH)

Hepatitis A

July 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Outbreak of Hepaptitis A Virus (HAV) infections among persons who use drugs and persons experiencing homelessness.

Immunizations

April 4, 2023: National Adolescent Immunization Action Week, April 3-7, 2023, Commissioner Amler MD letter (WCDOH)
April 20, 2021: National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) Provider Letter (WCDOH)
July 31, 2020: National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) Provider Letter (WCDOH)
June 10, 2020: Routine Immunization Guidance during the COVID-19 Pandemic (WCDOH)
April 22, 2020: Commissioner's Letter to Health Care Providers Regarding the Importance of Timely Childhood Vaccination During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Aug. 28, 2019: Current CDC Vaccine Information Statements

Infant Safe Sleep

Sleep-Related Infant Deaths (National CFRP)

Influenza

December 2020: National Influenza Vaccination Week Provider letter (WCDOH)
Jan. 3, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Update on Influenza Prevention, Surveillance and Control
Dec. 2019: Commissioner, Sherlita Amler letter to Physicians, Medical Directors and Office Managers, re: National Influenza Vaccination Week.
Dec. 5, 2019: Health Advisory: NYSDOH Health Commissioner Declares Influenza Prevalent in the State
Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System - IVATS. This is a resource for healthcare settings looking to purchase influenza vaccine.
NYSDOH: Health Advisory: Influenza Surveillance and Reporting Requirements, 2019-2020

Insect Borne Diseases

Mosquito and Tick-borne Illnesses

June 13, 2025: Health Advisory: Testing and Reporting of Mosquito and Tick-Borne Illnesses
July 20, 2020: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Testing and Reporting of Mosquito and Tick-borne Illnesses

Powassan Virus

July 19, 2017 New York State Health Advisory: Powassan Virus

Zika Virus

Visit the CDC Zika Virus Homepage for Health Care Providers

Jan. 24, 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Zika Virus Update
Aug. 26, 2016: FDA Issues Revised Guidance on Zika Blood Tests in the United States
Aug. 23, 2016: When to test for Zika (pdf - 1 page) (CDC)
Aug.19, 2016: CDC Health Advisory - CDC Expands Guidance for Travel and Testing of Pregnant Women, Women of Reproductive Age, and Their Partners for Zika Virus Infection Related to Mosquito-borne Zika Virus Transmission in Miami-Dade, Florida.
July 25, 2016: MMWR: Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure - United States, July 2016
May 20, 2016: MMWR: Possible Zika Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women — United States and Territories, May 2016
April 1, 2016: MMWR: Update: Interim Guidance for Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus — United States, 2016 (CDC)
March 11, 2016: NYSDOH letter regarding Zika virus and naloxone
March 10, 2016 NYSDOH Health Advisory: Expansion of Zika virus testing to pregnant women who had unprotected sex with a partner who traveled to an area with active mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus.
Feb. 27, 2016 CDC MMWR: Transmission of Zika Virus through Sexual Contact with Travelers to Areas of Ongoing Transmission - Continental United States, 2016
Feb. 27, 2016 CDC MMWR: Zika Virus Infection Among U.S. Pregnant Travelers - August 2015 - Febuary 2016
Feb. 19, 2016 CDC MMWR: Update - Interim Guidelines for Health Care Providers Caring for Infants and Children with Possible Zika Virus Infection - United States, Feb. 2016
Feb. 18, 2016 NYSDOH Information on Zika Virus Testing (outside of NYC)
Jan. 19, 2016 CDC MMWR: Interim Guidelines for pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak in the United States

Lead Poisoning

January 5, 2024: CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity: Update on High Blood Lead Levels in Children Consuming Recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches and Potential Chromium Exposure
November 22, 2023: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Recalled Applesauce Pouches Potentially Linked to Elevated Blood Lead Levels (EBLL) in Children.
Effective Oct.1, 2019, the New York Public Health Law pertaining to the threshold that constitutes an elevated blood lead level will be decreased.

Legionellosis

July 2025: Health Advisory: Legionellosis
July 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Legionellosis

Malaria

June 26, 2023: CDC Health Advisory: Locally Acquired Malaria Cases Identified in the United States

Measles

Please see Measles under A-Z for additional information
May 9, 2025:NYSDOH Provider Measles Updated Case & Vaccine Recommendations
Measles Vaccination Information (CDC)
Mind The Gap: A Handbook of Clinical Signs in Black and Brown Skin
April 2, 2025: NYS Measles Travel Advisory for All New Yorkers
March 7, 2025: CDC Health Advisory: Expanding Measles Outbreak in the United States and Guidance for the Upcoming Travel Season
February 26, 2025: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Activity in the United States and Canada
March 26, 2024: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Case in New York State
February 27, 2024: WCDOH Public Health Update: Multiple U.S. Measles Cases in Unvaccinated Persons Without International Travel
February 15, 2024: Updated Health Advisory - Be Vigilant for Measles Cases
January 31, 2024: Health Advisory - Be Vigilant for Measles Cases
January 25, 2024 - CDC clinician Outreach and Communication Activity: Stay Alert for Measles Cases
Nov. 2019: NYSDOH Informational Message: Updated Measles Outbreak Control Guidelines
June 14, 2019: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Vaccination Recommendations For Adults
April 30, 2019: Public Health Update: Measles Risk Assessment, Lab Testing, & Infection Control
April 30, 2019: Measles Risk Assessment Poster (WCHD)
April 18, 2019: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Movement Restrictions
April 18, 2019: NYSDOH Interim Guidance: Measles Protection
April 11, 2019: Public Health Update: Measles confirmed in eight unvaccinated Westchester County children. Health Department offering free vaccination clinics.
Dec. 11, 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Exposures in NYS
October 15, 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Exposures in NY State and New Jersey: October 4, 2018 to October 11, 2018.
May 7, 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Exposure in NYS, April 26 to May 2.
April 24, 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Exposures in NYS, April 15 to 17.
March 2018: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Measles Exposure in NYS, March 18th, 19th, and 20th.
July 31, 2015: Public Health Update: Measles First Fatality since 2003, 4 NYC Cases, and Dramatic Increase in Cases
- Complete information on MMR vaccine recommendations
- 2019 Immunization Schedules
- The NYSDOH Measles Fact Sheet
- Destination specific travel immunization information is available on the CDC’sTravelers’Health website.
  - For additional information on measles outbreak control measures, clinical presentationand diagnostic tests please refer to the CDC website.
  - CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks
  - Measles photo

MERS CoV

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

CDC homepage for MERS-CoV for Healthcare Professionals..
June 17, 2015 -- Public Health Update: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) now in Korea and continuing in the Arabian Peninsula. View the public health update, guidelines and information.

Mpox

NYSDOH Mpox for Providers - Includes information and resources on reporting, testing, treatment, vaccination and infection control.

May 11, 2023: MPOX Updates & NYSDOH 5-1-23 MPOX Health Advisory

October 17, 2022: Eligibility for MVP (Jynneos) vaccination has expanded to anyone at risk of exposure. View the new expanded criteria (CDC).

October 7, 2022: Components of the U.S. National Mpox Vaccination Strategy Used in the U.S. Mpox Outbreak (CDC)

August 31, 2022: TPOXX Availability and Pre-emptive Use

TPOXX is now available for you/your patients through the Westchester Medical Center. The WMC phone number for additional information and to make referrals to WMC is 914-326-2060.
NYSDOH is discouraging single TPOXX orders for individual patients as per past procedures but would like all providers/patients referred to one of the NYSDOH centers offering this service.
NYSDOH also permits the “pre-emptive” use of TPOXX, patients at high risk for mpox from whom specimens have been collecting but results for which are pending. Pre-emptive TPOXX also is available through Westchester Medical Center per above procedures.

August 8, 2022: Mpox Lab Testing Procedures (WCDOH)

July 25, 2022: Health Advisory: Mpox Cases in Healthcare Delivery Settings (NYSDOH)

July 22, 2022: Mpox Stay-at-Home Guidance for Healthcare Workers (NYSDOH)

Webinar Mpox Health Care Provider Updates (NYS and NYC):
July 14, 2022
12:00 - 12:30 pm
Powerpoint Presentation (ny.gov)
Background, Current Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Prevention, Vaccination, Useful Resources

July 8, 2022: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Mpox cases not associated with travel to areas where monkeypox is enzootic

June 29, 2022: WCDOH Public Health Alert: Mpox Risk Assessment, PPE, and Testing

June 17, 2022: NYSDOH and CDC Health Advisory: Mpox Outbreak, United States

May 20, 2022: NYSDOH Health Advisory: Mpox cases not associated with travel to areas where Mpox is Enzootic.

Norovirus