Posted on: November 20, 2023
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) biotoxin levels have dropped in shellfish in areas of southern Whatcom County. Based on most recent sample results, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has lifted the closure for beaches from Chuckanut Bay s...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: November 3, 2023
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) biotoxin levels have dropped in shellfish in some portions of southern Whatcom County. Beaches in Portage Bay, Chuckanut Bay, and all of Larrabee State Park remain closed to the harvest of butter and varnish clams only....
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: October 25, 2023
The Whatcom County Council has approved a lease with State Street Creamery, LLC, to operate Bellingham’s severe winter shelter (SWS) at the company’s 810 N. State Street property for the 2023-2024 winter season. The lease agreement starts Nov. 1, and the ...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: October 18, 2023
The East Whatcom Regional Resource Center (EWRRC) kitchen will soon be commercially licensed, thanks to support from the County Council. The kitchen, which currently only has a limited use permit, was allocated $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: October 6, 2023
Multiple healthcare facilities in the region have joined together voluntarily to prioritize the health and safety of patients and employees by voluntarily adopting masking requirements for employees and patients when emergency department visits or hospita...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: October 5, 2023
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) biotoxin levels have dropped in shellfish on northern Whatcom County beaches. In response, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) lifted the recreational biotoxin closure for all species from Gooseberry Point n...
Read more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: October 2, 2023
BELLINGHAM, WA – Recent water sampling at Silver Lake detected microcystins, a toxin produced by algae, at levels that may be harmful to people and pets. Toxin levels are above the maximum safe level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. ...
Read more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: September 29, 2023
Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) will be hosting vaccination clinics this fall, where children and eligible adults can receive several vaccines including COVID-19, Flu, Mpox and routinely-recommended childhood immunizations. There is n...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: September 7, 2023
We’re seeing an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations locally and nationwide, but thankfully our numbers remain near the lowest levels in the last three years. Fall is typically when we see an increase in the ‘big three’ respiratory viruses - COVID-19, fl...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: September 1, 2023
It’s fall in the northwest - the days are shorter, kids are back in school, and respiratory virus season is coming. The good news going into this season is that we have new and updated vaccines against COVID-19, flu, and RSV that could make this winter a ...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: August 18, 2023
A shift in wind direction is forecasted to bring wildfire smoke from fires burning in Canada and other areas of Washington to our area this weekend. This will be the first significant smoke event of the summer for our community, so if you haven’...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: August 14, 2023
The National Weather Service has extended the active heat advisory. The heat advisory will remain in effect through 11 PM this evening (8/16). Hot conditions with temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees are expected. Heat will increase the risk of heat-...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: August 10, 2023
Whatcom County will recognize International Overdose Awareness Day with an event on Wednesday, Aug. 30, noon to 6pm on the Lee Memorial Park lawn behind the Bellingham Public Library (210 Central Avenue).
Staff from Whatcom County Health and Comm...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: August 3, 2023
High biotoxin levels have closed north Whatcom County beaches to shellfish harvesting. The recent closure of north county beaches is due to an increase in Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) biotoxin in the most recent samples. In response, the Washingto...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: August 2, 2023
***UPDATE (August 2 at 1:42)***
The Whatcom County Health Department would like to retract the information sent at Below regarding shellfish harvest upgrade in northern Whatcom County. New information indicates a possible rise in the plankton that harbors ...
Read on
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: July 31, 2023
After four years of outreach and community engagement, the Whatcom County Council has adopted a Food System Plan to strengthen Whatcom’s local farms, markets, and food banks. With over 100 action items, the plan prescribes a number of steps the County can...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: July 10, 2023
Whatcom County Health and Community Services is a sponsor of several upcoming All Hands Whatcom opioid education events, and we invite you to sign up and participate with us. The next event is An Evening with Sam Quinones on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 6 pm at Belli...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: June 28, 2023
As we celebrate Independence Day with friends and family, staying safe is a priority alongside having fun. Here are a few safety tips for your upcoming outdoor barbecue, water play, or fireworks experience:
Food-Borne Illnesses
If you’re on grill ...
Read more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: June 26, 2023
Where to get vaccinated. Children 6 months and older, adolescents, teens and adults can get vaccinated for COVID-19 at most places you would go for a flu vaccine, like grocery stores, pharmacies and health care clinics. Grocery stores and pharmac...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: June 12, 2023
Since 2020, Whatcom County data has shown a doubling of people older than 60 experiencing homelessness. Seniors are also more likely to live on fixed incomes that limit their housing options, combined with chronic health conditions and associated medical ...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: May 3, 2023
Unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) biotoxin have prompted the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to close recreational harvest for all species of shellfish throughout Whatcom County.
The Whatcom County Health Department...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: May 3, 2023
The end of the Federal Public Health Emergency Order on May 11 will change how COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccination services are paid for and how much they cost. Costs for these services will become more like coverage for other illnesses where what...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: May 2, 2023
Second Annual Event at East Whatcom Regional Resource Center a Collaboration of Local Health Organizations, Nonprofits, and Community Members
On Saturday, May 20, the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center will transform into a healthcare center, offering c...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: March 30, 2023
Every year the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks every county in the nation based on how they compare to others within the same state. The recently released 2023 County Health Rankings (CHR) have ranked Whatcom County 11th out of the 39 counties in Was...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: March 23, 2023
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a public safety alert warning Americans about the dangers of a drug called Xylazine. Other counties in Washington State are seeing this drug in their communities, and we think xylazine is likely...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: March 9, 2023
Earlier this week we provided the Whatcom County Council with an update on our housing and shelter programs. We also want to provide you, our community, with this information. Our department supports a broad range of programs that help people who are unho...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: March 2, 2023
Update March 8, 2023:
No toxin was detected in sample results from algae tested at Padden Creek.
Original Text Below, Published on 3/2/2023
The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) are responding to ...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: March 1, 2023
We want to understand your feelings and experiences around vaccines, and we have created a survey for you to share your opinions with us. This survey is open to anyone in Whatcom County who is 18 or older. It is completely anonymous and takes about five m...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: February 15, 2023
In early December we saw alarmingly high increases in viral respiratory illnesses, especially flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. November and December combined surges of these viruses led to the highest numbers of daily emergency departm...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: February 3, 2023
On Tuesday, January 31, Whatcom County Health Department announced a name change to Whatcom County Health and Community Services. This change better reflects the department’s duties and responsibilities.
With the launch of the Response ...
Learn more
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: January 18, 2023
Bellingham has a new program that will send a behavioral health specialist and a public health nurse to respond to specific non-violent behavioral health 911 calls. The Alternative Response Team (ART) is an innovative program based out of the Whatcom Coun...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: December 22, 2022
With the very cold weather we have seen in the last week, we want to thank our nonprofit partners who have operated severe winter overnight shelters and day-use warming facilities for our unhoused neighbors - Road2Home and Ferndale Community Services.&...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: December 9, 2022
Communities across our state and around the U.S. are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19. As health officers and healthcare leaders working to improve the ...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News
Posted on: November 29, 2022
The Healthy Children’s Initiative (Proposition 5), to establish a dedicated fund to support young children and their families, was approved today. Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) will be the administrator of that fund. WCHD is committed ...
Read on...
Health - Public Health News