COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-COV-2, coronavirus discovered in 2019. The virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Symptoms of COVID-19 vary from person-to-person. Adults 65 and older and people of any age with underlying health conditions (immunocompromised) are at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. 

COVID-19 Team at Sutter County Public Health focuses on management and prevention of COVID-19 though various infection control measures, especially in high-risk settings such as Skilled Nursing Facilities and other congregate settings. 

See our COVID-19 Information page for more information.

Some diseases (including COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV) spread through the air. This happens when people infected with a virus breathe it out. Other people in the room or nearby can then breathe in the virus and become infected.  

The quality of the air inside a building can affect how much a virus builds up indoors. Improving indoor air quality can help lower the amount of virus in the room. Diluting, mixing, and filtering the air are three ways you can improve indoor air quality.

Read the full CDPH Occupational Health - Indoor Air Quality Webpage Summary

Dilute, Mix, and Filter the Air

• Dilute: Draw fresh air in 
  Use a Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) system or bring in outside air by opening windows and doors when weather permits. 

• Mix: Move the air flow 
  Move around the air inside a room with fans (ceiling, wall-mounted, or portable), and/or through the vents in your HVAC system.  

• Filter: Clean the air  
  Clean the air by trapping germs through HVAC system filters (MERV 13 rating and higher) and portable air cleaners with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.  

The infographic below shows two scenarios to enhance indoor air quality by diluting, mixing, and filtering the air. Learn more at: CDPH Occupational Health Branch Improving Indoor Air Quality at Work

Monkeypox (MPX*) is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the MPX virus which is related to the smallpox virus. While generally less severe and much less contagious than smallpox, MPX can be a serious illness. It spreads from infected humans, animals, and materials contaminated with the virus but primarily through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact with people who have MPX symptoms, such as rash and sores.

For more information visit the Monkeypox (MPX) page. Additional resources:

• CDPH MPX website.
• CDPH MPX Q&A
• CDPH MPX Community Resources

*California is currently using the MPX (pronounced Mpox) abbreviation for monkeypox until the World Health Organization renames the virus/disease.

Pets are family; hence, it is important to be aware of potential risks of having a pet (i.e. transmission of zoonotic diseases - infectious diseases shared between people and animals). It is important to share and communicate safety around pets with family, especially, children.

Here are some resources to keep you and your family safe:

• Sutter County Public Health Dog Bites & Prevention Infographic
• CDPH Pet Owners and Pet Health
• CDPH Disease Prevention and Resources for Kids:
  • Don't Let the Dog Bite Coloring Activity
  • Don't Let the Dog Bite Coloring Activity - Spanish

Additional Resources:

• California Department of Public Health Veterinary Homepage
• CDC Healthy Pet, Healthy People
• CDC Pet Safety in Emergencies

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.

Visit the CDC website here for more information.

Check out this informative video below:

STDs don’t always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms, so it is possible to have an infection and not know it. That is why it is important to get tested if you are having sex. If you are diagnosed with an STD, know that all can be treated with medicine and most can be cured entirely.

• CDC STD Information Page
• CDC STD Prevention webpage
• CDC STD Facts Brochures

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacteria usually attacks the lungs, but it can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria will become sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.

• CDC Tuberculosis webpage

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus. The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Learn more about the ABCs of the Virus.

• CDC Viral Hepatitis webpage

• Use Safe Water
• Wash Your Hands (Spanish)
• Kill Germs with Bleach (Spanish)
• How to Make Water Safe During Emergency (Spanish)
• Preventing Diarrheal Illness After a Disaster (Spanish)

It is West Nile Virus (WNV) season in Sutter County. Check out useful sources of information about WNV for you and your family:

• Sutter-Yuba Mosquito Vector Control District
• CDC’s West Nile Virus webpage
• California Department of Public Health’s WNV webpage

Zika is a disease caused by the Zika Virus, which is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (yellow fever mosquitoes) or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes (Asian tiger mosquitoes). These mosquitoes are not native to California. However, since 2011 they have been detected in several California counties. An Aedes mosquito can only transmit Zika virus after it bites a person who has this virus in their blood.

• Learn more about the Zika Virus

 Zika Virus in Two Minutes

• Spanish Version

Additional Resources

• California Department of Public Health - Zika
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Zika

Additional Resources

• California Department of Public Health Communicable Disease Division
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Prescription Drop Off Locations