Health Care Organizations Encourage the Public to Get Informed, Make an Emergency Plan During National Preparedness Month

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, Virginia Department of Health, and Regional Healthcare Coalitions Encourage the Public to Prepare for Emergency Situations Including Natural Disasters, Infectious Outbreaks, and Manmade Threats

 

September is National Preparedness Month, an annual observance that serves as a reminder of the importance for families and organizations to develop response plans to prepare for unexpected emergencies or disaster situations.

Emergency situations that have widespread impact can take many forms: natural disasters such as major storms that cause flooding, wind damage, property destruction, or power outages; biological hazards such as infectious disease outbreaks that spread across a population causing serious illness and strain on the health care system; or manmade events including acts of violence or other catastrophes that cause mass injuries and casualties.

During National Preparedness Month, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA), the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and the Commonwealth’s four Regional Healthcare Coalitions urge Virginians to develop plans for emergency situations. A family plan means preparation and discussion ahead of catastrophic events so everyone understands how they will communicate during an emergency and how they will reconnect when danger has passed. It also involves having a family list or form with information including important phone numbers, insurance contacts and other key medical and essential information needed for emergency response, as well as on-hand emergency supplies (water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, and a portable radio to access emergency alerts and warnings, and more). Learn more about building an emergency supply kit here. Emergency plans should contemplate what supplies, information, and documents families will need during shelter-in-place events, situations warranting evacuation to a safer location, or the need to search for loved ones after an emergency. Learn more about preparing at vaemergency.gov/prepare.

“Our experiences from recent years have demonstrated the critical importance of being ready to respond when emergencies happen,” said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “Emergency situations can occur at any time. Virginians across the Commonwealth have witnessed this in the form of major flooding in Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia, a snowstorm that stranded motorists on the interstate in Northern Virginia, and the COVID-19 outbreak beginning in 2020. In each case, those emergencies developed quickly and presented serious health and public safety concerns for people impacted by them. When emergencies happen, hospitals are part of the critical infrastructure engaged in response efforts. Because of this, hospitals and other health care organizations partner with state and federal government agencies to conduct ongoing emergency preparation and planning efforts. Just as these organizations plan for the worst, it is vital for families and private sector firms to also have regularly updated plans that can be activated when an emergency happens.”

“I urge Virginians to take time during National Preparedness Month to assess how prepared they and their families are for coping with disasters and emergencies,” said State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, MD. “Do you have enough water and non-perishable food on hand to last for several days if everything shut down? Do you have your mobile phone set up to receive emergency alerts? If you had to evacuate, where would you go and how would you get there? Have you made plans for your pet if you had to evacuate to a shelter? These are some of the questions we all should be thinking about year-round as disasters come in all forms and can happen anytime. VDH and its Local Health Districts provide oversight of many emergency response functions, including monitoring for disease outbreaks, insuring food and water safety, and mass casualty management.”

This year, the theme of National Preparedness Month is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3.” Its focus is on helping elderly individuals, including those from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events and threats, prepare for emergencies. Additional information and resources about emergency preparation and planning are available through Ready.gov and the Red Cross.

For businesses, Ready.gov recommends conducting a risk assessment to identify potential emergency scenarios as part of the development of an emergency response plan consistent with organizational objectives and focused on protecting staff, visitors, contractors and others on premises if an emergency occurs.

In Virginia, critical public and private sector organizations collaborate to conduct ongoing planning preparation activities to be ready when disaster strikes. This includes VHHA, its member hospitals and health system, and VDH. These organizations partner on the Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Program (VHEMP), an initiative supported with grant funding from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). VHHA and VDH work through VHEMP to address gaps in the health care delivery system regarding the ability to respond to disaster situations. This work is facilitated by a network of four regional healthcare coalitions (the Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition, the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition, the Northern Virginia Emergency Response System, and the Southwest Virginia Healthcare Coalition) that work with health care facilities and response organizations to help prepare for emergency response situations. Each regional healthcare coalition maintains a Regional Healthcare Coordination Center (RHCC) to support response activities during a disaster affecting health care facilities.

The extent of meaningful cooperation between government agencies, health systems, and regional coalitions is reflected in the effectiveness of Virginia’s emergency response apparatus. The Commonwealth has been recognized several times in recent years for its high level of preparation for public health emergencies. That includes the latest report by Trust for America’s Health, Ready or Not 2023: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism, which again places Virginia in the top tier of states for emergency readiness. The report measures state levels of preparedness to respond to a wide range of health emergencies including infectious outbreaks, natural disasters, and manmade events. Previous annual reports from Trust for America’s Health – including those compiled during the lengthy response to the COVID-19 pandemic – also ranked Virginia in the top tier of states in 2022, 2021, and 2020. Virginia has also been ranked among the top states in the National Health Security Preparedness Index (NHPSI) report that evaluates state readiness to respond to public health emergencies.

September is National Preparedness Month and it’s the Perfect Time to Build a Kit, Make a Plan and Sign Up to Be Informed 

You may have heard that it’s important to “Build a kit, Make a plan and Be Informed” before severe weather or another type of emergency happens. 

September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s the perfect time to get prepared for emergencies that could force you to evacuate your home and require you to survive on your own for several days. 

Most of us know how to Stay Informed about the weather and other emergencies by reading or watching news outlets or signing up for alerts. You also can download the FEMA app, and listen to NOAA weather radio.

Building a kit means putting together important documents and items that you may need to survive if your power goes out or you need to evacuate.

But what about making a plan?

An emergency plan for your family means discussing ahead of time how you will communicate during an emergency. It also includes figuring out how to reconnect after the danger has passed. It involves having all the information you will need in one place, such as phone numbers, insurance information and more if you need to evacuate in a hurry or search for loved ones after an emergency. Before filling out the form, ask yourself a few questions: 

  • How will my family/household get emergency alerts and warnings?  
  • How will my family/household get to safe locations before and after emergencies?  
  • How will my family/household get in touch if cell phones, internet, or landlines don’t work?  
  • How will I let loved ones know I am safe?  
  • How will family/household get to a meeting place after the emergency? 

Topics on your form can include:    

  • Household information, including your address and phone number  
  • List of family members, including email addresses and medical information  
  • Information on schools, childcare, caregivers, and workplaces  
  • Emergency contacts  
  • Emergency meeting places where everyone can reconnect  
  • Doctors’ names and numbers  
  • Veterinarian information  
  • Insurance information  
  • List of medications and dosage  
  • Gathering important documents

Having a plan means that everyone will know exactly what to do in an emergency. To learn more about how to be ready for an emergency or disaster, visit the Ready.gov website.    

 

Virginia Department of Health Announces Statewide Outbreak of Meningococcal Disease

(RICHMOND, Va.) — The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is announcing a statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease. Twenty-seven cases of meningococcal disease, caused by the bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis type Y, have been reported in eastern, central, and southwest Virginia since June 2022. This development is three times the expected number of cases during this time period. Most cases are residents of eastern Virginia, where a regional outbreak was first announced in September 2022. The most recent notice to the public was shared in March 2023. Five patients have died from complications associated with this disease. The strain associated with this outbreak is known to be circulating more widely in the United States. Risk to Virginia’s population is low.

Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious illness. It takes close or lengthy contact to spread these bacteria. The bacteria spread from person to person through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (e.g., kissing, coughing or sneezing directly into the face of others, or sharing cups, water bottles, eating utensils, and cigarettes). In general, and while this outbreak continues, VDH recommends:

  • Don’t share personal items (e.g., vapes, lipsticks, toothbrushes).
  • Practice good hand hygiene.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Do not delay seeking care if you experience symptoms of meningococcal disease.
  • Ensure adolescents and teenagers receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) on schedule at 11 or 12 years of age and then a booster dose at 15-16 years of age.
  • Speak to your healthcare provider if you are at increased risk for meningococcal disease to ensure you are up to date on the MenACWY vaccine.

This bacterium can be commonly found in the nose and throat of people without causing disease. Rarely, people can develop serious forms of illness, such as meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) or septicemia (a bloodstream infection). Symptoms can first appear flu-like and may quickly become more severe. Meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics, but quick medical attention is extremely important. You should not delay seeking care if you or a loved one experience the following symptoms: fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to bright light, and possibly a rash.

VDH has not identified a common risk factor; however, genetic sequencing of available specimens has confirmed that the cases are highly genetically related. Most case-patients are Black or African American adults between 30-60 years of age. Twenty-six case-patients were not vaccinated for Neisseria meningitidis type Y.

The meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) can provide protection against Neisseria meningitidis type Y. VDH encourages parents and healthcare providers to make sure that children receive all recommended vaccines. Teenagers should receive their first dose of MenACWY vaccine prior to entering 7th grade, and a booster dose before 12th grade. If you are a part of a group that is at increased risk for meningococcal disease, including people living with HIV, those whose spleen is damaged or removed, people with sickle cell disease, anyone with a rare immune condition called “complement deficiency” or anyone taking a type of drug called a “complement inhibitor,” you should talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you are up to date on the MenACWY vaccine. Contact your local health department if you have questions about your options for accessing the MenACWY vaccine. For additional help contacting your local health department, call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages.

The latest information is available on the VDH meningococcal disease outbreak response website. Data are updated monthly (first Tuesday).

Safe Swimming Also Means Protecting Yourself from Vibrio

If you work or play in the ocean, Chesapeake Bay and the rivers that empty into them, it’s important to learn how to avoid Vibrio. There are about a dozen Vibrio bacteria that can cause illness that can be severe.  

While wound infections are not common in Virginia, it’s good to protect yourself. You can also get sick from Vibrio if you eat raw oysters that have the bacteria.  

Anyone can get sick from Vibrio. People with weakened immune systems and pre-existing conditions are at greater risk for severe illness and even death.  

You can protect yourself by staying out of the water if you have an open wound. If you have a cut or wound that is splashed by salt or brackish water, wash it immediately with soap and clean water. Follow up with an antibiotic ointment and watch for signs of infection.  

If you handle raw shellfish or other items such as fishhooks, crab pots or fish with sharp spines that have been exposed to salt or brackish water, wear protective items such as gloves. Water shoes can protect your feet in areas with shells or creatures such as crabs that can pinch.   

If you eat raw oysters that have the bacteria on them, you could have diarrhea and vomiting. People with pre-existing conditions could have more severe symptoms.   

People who handle fish for a living or as pets in home aquariums also can get sick from Fish-Handler’s disease. Handling shellfish, tropical fish, cleaning aquariums, swimming pools, fishing, catching lobsters, and similar activities with a cut or scrape can allow bacteria to make you sick.  

Almost any creature that lives in salt, fresh or brackish water can spread this disease. Look for fish or other creatures with visible surface lesions and don’t pick them up with bare hands or eat them.   

Cooked fish and other seafood are not believed to cause Fish-Handler’s disease.  

To learn more about Vibrio, Fish-Handler’s disease and healthy and safe swimming, visit the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website.  

VDH also monitors beaches by sampling the water from May to September for the bacteria enterococci. By itself, enterococci won’t harm you. If it’s found in the water at high levels, it could mean that there are also other harmful bacteria that can make you sick. Swimming advisories are issued when the levels are high. To see a list of swimming advisories, visit the VDH Swimming Advisories and Monitored Beaches Map.

Virginia Department of Health Updating COVID-19 Dashboards to Streamline Data Presentation, Conform to CDC Reporting Standards

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) continues to streamline information on its COVID-19 data dashboards to better reflect current COVID-19 trends in the Commonwealth and to align with updated reporting standards of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These changes will take place Tuesday, August 1, 2023; the dashboards will continue to update weekly on Tuesdays. Access to currently available data will be maintained in the Virginia Open Data Portal.

The COVID-19 Summary dashboard aims to serve as a hub of priority metrics that provide an overview of COVID-19 trends and activity in Virginia. The dashboard has been updated as follows:

  • Emergency Department Visits: Updated
    • VDH will use the standard of “diagnosed COVID-19” to align with the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.
  • Cases by Date of Illness (on the summary page): Removed
    • COVID-19 cases are significantly underreported due to at-home tests. VDH will still maintain the individual case dashboard and continue to prioritize the surveillance of severe illnesses.
  • Hospital Admissions: Updated
    • A Hospital Admission Level Indicator that aligns with CDC levels will be added. Hospital Admissions will be updated to use the rate per 100,000 population of new admissions, changing from the number of new admissions.
  • Hospital Beds in Use: Updated
    • Hospital Beds in Use will change from Number of Beds in Use for COVID-19 to Percent of Total Inpatient Beds Occupied by COVID-19 Patients.
    • An Inpatient Bed Occupied Level Indicator, which will be aligned with CDC levels, will be added.
  • Vaccination: Updated
    • This section of the summary dashboard will now display the cumulative total doses administered.
    • The percent of people vaccinated with a primary series will be displayed.
    • The percent of the population with up-to-date vaccinations will replace the number of booster/additional doses administered.
    • Definition of “primary series” and “up to date” are explained on the revised dashboard.
      • Primary series includes persons who received one dose of a single-dose vaccine or two doses with proper intervals of either a mRNA or a protein-based series.
      • Up to date includes persons who have received all recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine per the current CDC definition.
    • The map will be updated to display the percent of the population who are up-to-date to reflect the current CDC definition.
  • Variants: Removed
    • Sample sizes for Virginia isolates are low and not representative. The CDC genomic surveillance report for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 3 is available and includes Virginia data.

Several standalone COVID-19 dashboards will be updated as follows:

  • Vaccine Summary: Updated
    • This dashboard will now display the percent of people vaccinated with a primary series, replacing the measures for count of and percent of people fully vaccinated, which conforms to the CDC standards.
    • The percent of the population with up-to-date vaccination will replace the number of booster/additional doses administered.
    • Definition of “primary series” and “up to date” are explained on the revised dashboard (see above).
    • The map will be updated to display the percent of up-to-date to reflect the current CDC definition.
    • The COVID-19 vaccination administration by day will be removed.
  • Vaccination Demographics: Updated
    • The dashboard will display demographic data populations who have completed their primary series or are up to date on vaccination, a change from the previously display of at least one dose, fully vaccinated, monovalent booster, and bivalent booster.
    • The categories and headers have been simplified for improved clarity and user experience.
    • Age group metrics have been updated, including removal of Ages: 12+ and addition of 6 months+.
  • Emergency Department Visits: Updated
    • A simplified dashboard with prioritized metrics will be displayed.
  • Outbreaks: Removed
    • VDH will communicate mitigation strategies to the public if any concerning COVID-19 outbreak trends were observed.
  • Weekly Health District Case Data: Removed
    • This is being retired to streamline the COVID-19 dashboards.

VDH remains dedicated to preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19, particularly for people at higher risk, and will continue working to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in the state. These dashboard changes are intended to streamline the information that is most helpful in tracking COVID-19 and its impact on Virginia at this point in the pandemic. The VDH COVID-19 dashboards are available here.

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month

In Virginia, August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month.  

Breast milk is the only food that infants need for the first six months of life. It gives them all the nutrition they need along with important protection against diseases. Breastfeeding also benefits the mother by helping to decrease the risk of diseases, including breast and ovarian cancer.  

Babies who are breastfed get sick less often. For moms, that means less time missed from work. 

This year, the theme of World Breastfeeding Week – the first week of August – is “Making a Difference for Working Parents.” Challenges at work can mean that women never breastfeed or stop breastfeeding earlier than is recommended, according to the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. Women with less than 3 months of maternity leave also reported that they stopped breastfeeding earlier than women with 3 or more months of leave.  

The Virginia Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, passed in 2020, requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for lactating workers, including more frequent breaks to express breast milk and access to a private area for that purpose.  

Mothers have been allowed by law to breastfeed in public in Virginia since 2015. A law passed in 2014 required school boards to adopt policies that provide breaks for workers and students and a private place to express breast milk to feed a child until the child reaches the age of one.  

Federal funds are helping to make a difference in Virginia by supporting programs that help improve maternal and infant health, including support for breastfeeding.  Federal funds also have helped to track the progress of the programs, conduct research and provide education.   

Some of the programs include The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program, The Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant, the Healthy Start program, The Healthy Start Doula Supplement, and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. 

To learn more, visit the following websites:  

Breastfeeding Awareness Month – Breastfeeding (virginia.gov) 

Breastfeeding B2WLoving Steps English&SpanishNEW3-2018.indd (virginia.gov) 

Breastfeeding | CDC 

National Breastfeeding Month (usbreastfeeding.org) 

Don’t Get Burned This Summer: Protect Your Skin to Help Avoid Skin Cancer

True or false: the sun can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes.  

If you said true, you’re right! It’s important to think about sun safety no matter how little time you plan to spend outdoors enjoying the sunshine and summer activities.  

Sunscreen is the most talked-about way to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, known as UV rays. Choosing a sunscreen is a matter of preference, but you should choose one that has a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 15 or higher and reapply it after wearing it for two hours or after swimming or using a towel to dry off, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Sunscreen isn’t the only way to protect yourself. Wear a hat that shades your face, ears and the back of your neck. Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts.  

It’s hot outside and although long sleeves, long pants and skirts can protect you from UV rays, it may not be practical to wear those items when it’s hot. Wear a T-shirt or beach cover-up. A wet T-shirt won’t offer as much protection.  

You can check the UV index on your phone’s weather app or online. If the UV index is 3 or higher, it’s especially important to protect your skin.  

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 5 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year. Many of those could be prevented by protecting skin from too much sun exposure and not using indoor tanning devices. 

The cancer society estimates that more than 97,600 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed this year. While people with lighter skin are at higher risk, everyone is considered at-risk for developing some form of skin cancer.  

You should keep an eye on changes in your skin and do a periodic self-check, according to the cancer society. While you may have seen pictures of skin issues that were diagnosed as melanoma, not all skin cancers look alike.  

The society suggests looking for the following signs on your skin:  

  • A new growth that changes or a spot or bump on the skin 
  • A sore that bleeds or doesn’t heal for several weeks 
  • A rough or scaly red patch that might crust or bleed 
  • A wart-like growth 
  • A mole that changes in size, shape or color 
  • A mole with an odd shape, unusual border or areas with different colors 

If you find something unusual on your skin and you have concerns, talk with your healthcare provider who can check it for you.  

Skin cancer can also appear in other ways. To learn more about skin cancer and melanoma, visit the American Cancer Society website to see photos and learn about the signs and symptoms of certain types of skin cancer.  

Finding skin cancer early means your healthcare provider has a better chance of treating it successfully.  

Want to learn more about cancer in Virginia? Visit the Virginia Department of Health Virginia Cancer Registry and the Virginia Cancer Action Coalition’s website. 

Here’s How to Deal With Those Biting Mosquitoes This Summer

What’s worse than a mosquito that bites, leaving you with a terribly itchy welt on your skin?  

A mosquito that bites you more than once.  

If you’re a “mosquito magnet,” you may already have been bitten this summer. The more it rains, the more rain water collects in places where mosquitoes breed.  And the more mosquitoes bite humans, the greater the chance for diseases to spread.  

Mosquitoes spread diseases, including Malaria, West Nile virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  

What’s a summer-loving Virginian to do?  

There are several ways you can protect yourself and still have fun outdoors this summer.  

Insect Repellent 

Make sure your bug spray is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and contains one of the following:  

  • DEET 
  • Picaridin 
  • IR3535 
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) 
  • Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
  • 2-undecanone 

Clothing 

Wear long-sleeves and long pants to keep mosquitoes from biting you.  

Inside Your Home 

If you don’t have air conditioning that allows you to keep your windows closed, make sure window screens don’t have any holes.  

Outside Your Home 

Get rid of standing water around your home in places such as flower pots, buckets or gutters. Mosquito dunks can be used in places where water can’t be drained.  

Learn more about mosquitoes and other summer pests, such as ticks on the Virginia Department of Health website https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-epidemiology/bugs-human-health/