Thurston County, Washington

Thurston County has hired a new health officer to serve in the County’s Public Health & Social Services Department (PHSS). Dr. Barbra Villona will serve as the County’s lead medical authority on communicable disease response, health advisories, and key public health policy decisions.

High levels of the biotoxin that produces diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) were detected in shellfish at unsafe levels, prompting closure of recreational shellfish harvesting for all species in Budd Inlet. Warning signs will be posted at public beaches at Burfoot County Park.

Thurston County's ambulance service, Medic One, has become the first accredited ambulance ultrasound program in the United States. All eight of its Medic One ambulance units now have ultrasound imaging equipment installed, and 80 of its paramedics successfully completed the rigorous training requirements of the Clinical Ultrasound Accreditation Program. Learn more.