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RICHMOND, Va. — Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that Elaine Perry, M.D., former director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) and Central Region health director, is the new Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services. She succeeds Susan Fischer Davis, M.D., who is retiring after more than four years in the role. A board-certified preventive medicine physician, Dr. Perry has served as RHHD director since July 2022. In October 2024, she expanded her leadership responsibilities by also serving as Central Region health director.

Dr. Perry brings decades of experience in clinical medicine, public health leadership, pharmaceutical safety, and epidemiology to her role. Her career began in the United States Navy, where she served five years on active duty as the senior medical officer at two clinics in Maine. Following her military service, she accepted the position of health director for the Peninsula Health District in Newport News.

A native of upstate New York, Dr. Perry earned a Bachelor of Science in biology, with honors in microbiology, from Penn State University. She attended Dartmouth Medical School and Brown Medical School, graduating with academic distinction. She completed a pediatrics internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth before completing a residency in preventive medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she also earned a master’s degree in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine.

Throughout her tenure at VDH, Dr. Perry has led efforts to strengthen public health infrastructure, advance disease prevention initiatives, and improve the health of communities across Central Virginia.

Dr. Perry assumed her new role as Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services on June 25.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 25, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health Expands Measles Outbreak Area to include Cumberland County
Virginia Health Officials Urge Residents and Visitors to Assess their Immunity

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is geographically expanding the Buckingham County measles outbreak to include Cumberland County. All residents and visitors to these counties should take additional steps to ensure they are protected against measles. In addition to routine vaccination recommendations for children and adults, people who live in or visit Buckingham County, Cumberland County, or surrounding areas should talk with their healthcare provider about additional outbreak vaccination recommendations.

“Piedmont Health District continues to be grateful for the care with which the community has approached this measles outbreak,” said Piedmont Health District Director Maria Almond. “As this outbreak expands to Cumberland County, I ask for the community’s help to stop measles from gaining further ground by ensuring you are vaccinated.”

The outbreak area is expanding at this time because there is recent evidence of community transmission of measles in Cumberland County. No specific public exposure locations have been identified at this time. However, during this ongoing outbreak, Cumberland County residents and visitors are at a higher risk of exposure to measles.

As of June 25, Piedmont Health District is reporting 106 outbreak-associated measles cases and VDH is reporting a total of 129 measles cases statewide in 2026.

Measles is highly contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. Children younger than 12 months of age and others who are not vaccinated are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to someone with measles.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones:

• Get Vaccinated: The best way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective. If you or a loved one are not up to date with routine MMR vaccinations, contact a healthcare provider or your local health department to schedule a vaccine appointment today. People who live in or visit the Buckingham and Cumberland County area should talk with their healthcare provider about outbreak vaccination recommendations. These recommendations include considering an early MMR dose for infants older than six months of age to provide protection while measles is circulating in the community.
• Check Your Vaccination Status: To check your vaccination status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal. If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected.
• Avoid large gatherings in the outbreak area if you are not vaccinated against measles or are experiencing symptoms of measles. Attendance at large, crowded events can increase your risk of exposure if you are unvaccinated.
• If you think you might have measles, stay home and call a healthcare provider or your local health department right away. If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead to notify them. This call will help protect other patients and staff.

For updates on the outbreak, please visit the VDH measles dashboard. Updates will be posted Tuesdays and Thursdays around noon.

For more information about measles, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/. For additional questions, contact VDH’s Call Center at 877-829-4682 (Option 2), The VDH Call Center is available Monday–Friday (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of a confirmed case of measles that traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport Wednesday, June 17. The person traveled internationally and is an out-of-state resident. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights.

Listed below are the dates, times, and location of the potential exposure site in Virginia:

• Dulles International Airport (IAD): Concourse C, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB), and in the baggage claim area between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 17.

Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website. Additional exposure sites have been identified in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure site at the date and times listed should:

• Report your exposure to VDH by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
• Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
  • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
  • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
• If you are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, you should contact your healthcare provider or call your local health department promptly to discuss any questions you might have. People who are not immune to measles may qualify for post-exposure treatments. A small timeframe exists for these protective post-exposure treatments to be effective.
• Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
  • If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
  • The most likely time you would become sick would be between June 24 and July 8.
  • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

To date in 2026, Virginia has reported 129 cases of measles; 106 of these have been associated with an on-going measles outbreak in Buckingham County.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/. For additional questions, contact VDH’s Call Center at 877-829-4682 (Option 2 then Option 3 “Other”), The VDH Call Center is available Monday–Friday (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is closely monitoring the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. We are in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Effective May 21, the Department of State announced that all U.S. bound American Citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for enhanced screening.  Dulles International Airport is located in Dulles, VA. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply enhanced public health screening at Dulles Airport in response to the Ebola outbreak. 

VDH has experience in conducting symptom monitoring in travelers returning from countries affected by Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) outbreaks, including Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus Disease. After a Virginia traveler has been through the federal airport screening protocols, when Virginia receives travelers from outbreak-affected areas, similar to prior VHF responses, VDH conducts exposure risk assessments of these individuals, and conducts symptom monitoring in accordance with appropriate public health guidance. VDH will monitor these individuals for 21 days after their last potential exposure risk.  

To protect the privacy and safety of people under monitoring, VDH will not publicly share any details about these individuals.   

VDH will continue coordinating with travelers, local health departments, state and regional healthcare partners, and federal agencies, and will maintain all appropriate public health measures. At this time, the risk to the general public remains very low. 

Learn more: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/surveillance-and-investigation/ebola/   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 21, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health Launches Measles Dashboard Amid Uptick in Measles Cases, Outbreak

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is launching a new measles dashboard. This dashboard shows key information to help Virginians see measles trends, understand the impact, and know their risk of exposure as measles cases increase nationally and across the Commonwealth.

“It’s important for Virginians to know what is happening in their communities in real time,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb. “This dashboard is our commitment to being as transparent as possible about the impact of measles across the Commonwealth. When people have clear, accessible information, they can make informed decisions to protect themselves and their families.”

The dashboard shows how many measles cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been reported. You can also see case numbers by age, health district, and other key factors. Updates will be posted Tuesdays and Thursdays around noon.

To date in 2026, VDH has reported 40 cases of measles. Of those cases, 17 are related to an outbreak in Buckingham County. A measles outbreak is defined as three or more related cases among members of different households. The number of cases this year has quickly outpaced the five reported cases from last year.

Measles activity in the U.S., including Virginia, is rising due to increased travel-related exposures, both international and domestic, and declining national vaccination rates. Children younger than 12 months of age and others who are not vaccinated are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to someone with measles.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best protection against measles. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. If you or a loved one are not up-to-date with routine MMR vaccines, contact your healthcare provider or call your local health department to schedule a vaccine appointment today. People who live in or visit the Buckingham County area should talk with their healthcare provider about outbreak vaccine recommendations. This includes considering an early MMR dose for infants older than six months to provide protection while measles is circulating in the community.

Measles is highly contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination or previous infection with measles. Approximately 95% of kindergarteners in Virginia are fully vaccinated against measles. However, some communities within Virginia may have lower vaccination rates, making them more at risk to measles outbreaks. Fortunately, an increasing number of people are seeking to confirm their MMR vaccine status following Virginia measles exposure events.

For more information about measles, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/. For additional questions, contact VDH’s Call Center at 877-829-4682 (Option 2 then Option 3 “Other”), The VDH Call Center is available Monday–Friday (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Hepatitis Coalition Join Together for Hepatitis Awareness Month to Combat Viral Hepatitis
Learn About Viral Hepatitis Testing, Vaccination, and Treatment 

(RICHMOND, Va.) — The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has joined with the Virginia Hepatitis Coalition (VHC) this May to highlight hepatitis and the danger it poses to the public. May is the annual observance of Hepatitis Awareness Month, nationally; May 19 is National Hepatitis Testing Day in the United States. Both organizations are recommitting their efforts to spread awareness of and education about viral hepatitis to the public.   

Hepatitis is an infection of the liver. When it is goes untreated, it can lead to serious complications including liver cancer and even death. While there are multiple types of viral hepatitis, the most common in the United States, and Virginia, are hepatitis A, B, and C.  Case counts are higher for hepatitis B and C, with cases of hepatitis A normally only occurring in high-risk populations and outbreaks. 

In 2024, Virginia had more than 1,500 new cases of hepatitis B.  The most effective way to protect yourself from both hepatitis A and B is a safe and effective vaccine.   

There were also more than 4,000 new hepatitis C cases in 2024.  There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.  

“Hepatitis C is curable through a course of oral medications for 8 to 12 weeks,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb.  “We have the tools to cure this disease and prolong life, but only if people know their status.” 

One lifetime hepatitis C test is recommended for all adults to know their status. Testing for viral hepatitis is available at community clinics, private providers, and at all local health departments. 

VDH and VHC will be sharing personal stories of Virginians who have been cured of hepatitis C and how this has positively impacted their lives.  Follow the VDH social media platforms and share these stories to amplify their message. 

“Viral hepatitis thrives in the shadows, but it doesn’t have to. With testing, treatment, and the right partnerships, we can bring it into the light and eliminate hepatitis C in Virginia,” said Terry Kemp-Knick, DrPH, BSN-BC, Co-Chair of the Virginia Hepatitis Coalition. 

To learn more about viral hepatitis: 

• Call the Disease Prevention Hotline at (800) 533-4148. 

• Visit the VDH viral hepatitis webpage. 

• Visit the CDC viral hepatitis webpage. 

• Find a local health department near you to get tested for viral hepatitis or to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. 

• Access hepatitis C treatment across Virginia, visit Virginia HEPC or connect to care at CureMyHepC. 

The Virginia Hepatitis Coalition (VHC) is a network of clinicians, service providers, community partners, and individuals living with or affected by viral hepatitis, working together to advance effective policies, reduce stigma, and expand access to prevention, testing, and treatment.  The coalition provides treatment resources for people with viral hepatitis and offers training and technical assistance to service providers. Visit their website to access services or get involved. 

Viral hepatitis doesn’t have to be a deadly disease. With testing and follow-up treatment, it can be defeated. Let’s all work together to combat viral hepatitis this Hepatitis Awareness Month. 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 15, 2026 

VDH Media Contact: Cheryle Rodriguez cheryle.rodriguez@vdh.virginia.gov 
DBHDS Media Contact: Lauren Cunningham, lauren.cunningham@dbhds.virginia.gov

Virginia Launches “Beyond the Blues” Campaign to Raise Awareness of Perinatal and Postpartum Depression 
Campaign helps Virginians recognize emotional changes earlier, reduce stigma and connect parents and families to support.  

(RICHMOND, Va.) — In honor of Maternal Mental Health Month in May, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), in partnership with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), announced the launch of Beyond the Blues, a statewide public awareness campaign designed to help Virginians better understand perinatal & postpartum depression and maternal mental health.  

The General Assembly allocated $553,200 for the campaign and development on an online resource hub. It was created to help parents, families, healthcare providers and communities recognize that maternal mental health struggles are common, treatable and often show up in ways people may not expect. Symptoms can include physical aches and pains, feelings such as anxiety, numbness, rage, fear, sadness, or simply “not feeling like themselves.” These experiences can happen before pregnancy, during pregnancy, after birth or long after a baby arrives. 

“Maternal mental health determines a parent’s ability to care for their family and themselves,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa. “When we support parents through programs like Beyond the Blues, we create more stability for children and help prevent challenges from becoming emergencies. 

Seventy-five percent of women affected by postpartum depression and maternal mental health issues do not get the help they need. Recognizing the symptoms can be part of the challenge. The campaign is designed to help make those early signs easier to recognize and talk about. It also emphasizes community responsibility and how partners, family members, friends, faith leaders, healthcare providers, neighbors and local organizations can provide support.   

“Support often begins with the people closest to a parent,” said Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb. “You don’t have to be an expert to help. If you notice something, you can ask, listen without judgment, and help them take that next step.”   

“As we all work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, conversation and connection is key,” said DBHDS Commissioner Daryl Washington, LCSW. “Starting that conversation with a friend or loved one experiencing mental health challenges during pregnancy or after birth can make an important difference in their lives and help assure them that they are not alone in this journey.”  

Beyond the Blues campaign materials will encourage parents to seek support and equip community networks with plain-language tools for starting conversations. Healthcare providers and community messengers will also be encouraged to use compassionate, nonjudgmental language and offer clear next steps for help. An online resource hub is available to make maternal mental health information more accessible for parents, community partners, local health districts and trusted organizations. Focus areas include: 

• Current information on perinatal and postpartum depression and other maternal mental health conditions 

• Directing people to Postpartum Support Virginia, which provides a directory of mental health providers specializing in perinatal care and offers care coordination services 

• Information on support groups and other state and national resources  

• Shareable materials and a Beyond the Blues awareness campaign toolkit for partners 

• An opportunity to share your experience with postpartum depression or other mental health issues during pregnancy or the postpartum period 

For more information and resources, visit vdh.virginia.gov/beyond-the-blues.  

About the Virginia Department of Health 

The Virginia Department of Health protects the health and promotes the well-being of all people in Virginia. VDH works with communities, healthcare partners and public health leaders across the Commonwealth to prevent disease, promote healthy environments and ensure access to information and services that support healthier lives.  

About the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services 

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) seeks to promote dignity, choice, recovery, and the highest possible level of participation in work, relationships, and all aspects of community life for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities or substance-use disorders. DBHDS operates 12 state hospitals and centers and partners with 40 locally run community services boards and thousands of private providers statewide. For more information, please visit www.dbhds.virginia.gov, and find DBHDS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube 

As of May 7, 2026, please see the Virginia Department of Health’s statement:

• The Virginia Department of Health is monitoring this situation closely and has been in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• To date, one Virginia traveler who was on the MV Hondius disembarked the ship and has returned home. This person is currently in good health and is under public health monitoring. To protect the privacy of this person, no further details will be shared about this individual.
• Our understanding is that fewer than 30 U.S. Citizens were on board the ship. A small number (<5) of other potentially exposed Virginians might be identified in the days ahead.
• We will maintain communication with travelers, local health departments, and federal partners, and will continue to implement recommended public health actions. Generally speaking, we believe the risk to the general public to be low.

Learn more: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/hantavirus/

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State Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb sat down with CNN to share some important information about hantavirus. Check out the interview below: