Most staff and community partners are aware that Kimberly Scott has announced her retirement and will have went out on leave prior to her retirement date prior to this newsletter being distributed. Her official retirement announcement is included in this month’s edition.

While the director position for HIV Care Services is being recruited, please note that the following staff will be covering:

• • Allison Green, Senior Program Advisor to Ryan White Part B (RWPB) will be the Acting Director for HIV Care Services. She can be reached at allison.green@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-864-8065
  • Jonathan Albright, Grants Manager for RWBPB will serve as acting Program Director and Primary Investigator for RWPB. He can be reached at jonathan.albright@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-380-6445.
  • As always, please continue to contact Kimberly Eley, Assistant Director for Medication Access, for any VA MAP needs. She can be reached at kimberly.eley@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-864-8018.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified a new recombinant mpox virus in English in December 2025 in an individual who had recently traveled to Asia. Genomic sequencing of the virus showed that the mpox genome contained elements of both clade Ib and clade IIb mpox.

This development is not surprising given that viruses evolve and highlights the importance of continued genomic surveillance.

Read the full statement from UKHSA.

A notice from the CDC went out to public health laboratories updating guidance for monkeypox virus testing protocol. People who have been exposed to mpox or who are at risk of exposure should receive the mpox vaccine.

In Virginia, 36 mpox cases were reported in 2025, compared to 27 in 2024, and 12 in 2023. Visit the VDH mpox website for data and other resources.

Personnel Announcements

VDH is hosting a town hall for the general public and those with vested interest in HIV care and treatment services to discuss the impact of HIV in their communities. This includes people with lived experiences, community advocates, medical and non-medical care providers, etc.

The town hall will be held virtually on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a call-in option for those without computer access. To register for the town hall, please sign up through REDCap.

For more information, questions, or if you need help registering, please contact Ashley Yocum, Care Services Planner, at ashley.yocum@vdh.virginia.gov or (804) 864-7621.

The state contract with Global Protection has still not been resolved. However, VDH can fulfill condom orders for agencies based on current supply. DDP's current condom inventory is actively changing. Due to this, DDP has removed the order form from the community partners’ webpage and asks that you email the Disease Prevention Hotline at hiv-stdhotline@vdh.virginia.gov for the most updated form.

As a reminder, community-based organizations and local health districts are eligible to participate in the DDP Condom Distribution Program. Organizations that participate in the program may order up to 100,000 condoms each year. Agencies with multiple locations/sites may be approved to order more.

Please contact the Disease Prevention Hotline if you are interested in becoming a distribution site, for the most current order form, or for general questions about the program, at hiv-stdhotline@vdh.virginia.gov.

Each year DDP sends out DDP Security and Confidentiality Policies and Procedures for all staff and agencies that handle, use, enter, or analyze DDP confidential paper records, electronic records, or data. DDP staff have an internal process to acknowledge these policies and procedures.

Non-DDP staff have a separate process. Non-DDP staff include external contractors, service providers, and data recipients. The non-DDP staff policies and procedures can be found on the community partners webpage.

These policies and procedures have been sent to non-DDP responsible parties as of December 10, 2025. Anyone who received these policies should review them and complete the REDCap verification form by December 31, 2025. All other non-DDP staff should sign the Verification of Receipt form by December 31, 2025, and retain the forms on site for review by your DDP contract monitor at your annual site visit.

For questions regarding the process for non-DDP staff to complete this REDCap form, or if you believe you received the document by mistake, please contact Brianna Carey, HIV Counseling, Testing, & Referral Program Coordinator, at brianna.carey@vdh.virginia.gov.

Note: if you are a DDP staff member and have not received an email requesting that you review the policies and procedures, please contact Christina Martone, HIV Network Detection and Response Program Coordinator, at christina.martone@vdh.virginia.gov.

The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) has released their Policy Aid: Innovations in Syphilis Policy Playbook. As one solution to the increased need for solutions to syphilis and congenital syphilis cases, NCSD released this document. It examines six syphilis prevention policy strategies that were implemented by health departments across the U.S. Key implementation steps and considerations for replication and adaptation are included in the document. Results, lessons learned, and other considerations are also included.

View the full PDF from NCSD to learn more. For questions related to the policy aid, contact NCSD’s policy team at policyteam@NCSDDC.org.

The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) is offering a training, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases in Urgent Care Centers. CEUs are available and the training is being offered at no cost during November.

Recognizing that more patients are turning to urgent care centers for treatment of potential STIs, NCSD organized this training. The course will educate providers to identify and treat the most commonly encountered sexually transmitted infections in the urgent care setting. At course completion, .5 ANCC credits are earned.

Share this opportunity with any providers in your network who work in urgent care and other providers who may be interested.

Providers should visit the NCSD Learning Center to register for the course. They must have an account to register. Creating an account in the NCSD Learning Center is free if they do not already have one.

The STD/HIV Prevention Training Center, John Hopkins Medicine is offering a “3 Day STI Overview”. The 3-day course runs December 9 through December 11, 2025, and is available to all health care providers and health care workers in the District of Columbia and the states of Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Topics covered in the course include:

• • STI surveillance data
  • Taking a sexual history/patient communication
  • STI screening guidelines
  • The role of disease intervention specialists
  • Vaginitis
  • Status neutral care
  • GC/CT/Mgen
  • HPV/HSV/mpox
  • Syphilis
  • Viral hepatitis
  • And more!

Credit is available for the course. For more information, or to register, visit the training center’s website.

In response to increases in syphilis among pregnant women and congenital syphilis cases, the National STD Curriculum (NSTCD) released additional resources. The NSTCD is a free educational website from the University of Washington STD Prevention Center. New resources include:

• • A National STD Curriculum Lesson
  • Question Bank Topic Reviews

Visit www.std.uw.edu for additional educational resources from NSTCD.

DIS (Disease Intervention Specialist) Recognition Day was Friday, October 3. This special day is observed nationally each year to promote the special work that our DIS do within our communities. The National Coalition for STD Directors, VDH, and DDP had blog postings for the occasion and promoted or shared posts and graphics on social media.

Read more about the special work that Virginia DIS do on our blog posting. While DIS Recognition Day may have passed, we thank our Virginia DIS for their hard work and dedication every day!

The Resource Connections website is being relaunched with a fresh new look and a new name — The RC: Resource Connections — on the Connect 211 platform! Along with the updated design, the site will feature a new logo and URL.

What to Expect During the Transition:

• • Automatic Redirect: For a limited time, the original URL will automatically redirect to the new one, giving you time to get familiar with the updated address.
  • Seamless Content Migration: All existing information from the original platform will be transferred to Connect 211.
  • Funded Agency Access Restored in early 2026: If you are a funded agency, you’ll be able to update your profile and other relevant information once that functionality is restored in early 2026.

The DDP team is working diligently to ensure a smooth and timely transition with minimal disruption to your access to the valuable resources listed in The RC: Resource Connections directory.

Stay tuned — more details will be shared as they become available, and DDP will announce the official relaunch date soon!

DoxyPEP will now be offered as an "opt-out" service for appropriate PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) clients at local health departments across the state. Roll out of the initiative will happen over the next several months at select sites.

DoxyPEP is the use of doxycycline to prevent syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea after a potential exposure. It is a single dose of 200mg taken within 24-72 hours of unprotected sex and is highly effective in reducing bacterial STIs. The Centers for Disease Control recommends it for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and transgender women with a history of at least one bacterial STI in the last 12 months.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 542 women of color living with HIV in Miami-Dade County between June 2021 and March 2022. It found that patient-centered, culturally sensitive care, especially provider behaviors such as respect, listening, involvement in decision-making, and spending adequate time with patients, is key to promoting antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression. The study population, enrolled in Ryan White Program clinics with strong support systems, had a high viral suppression rate (~91%), much higher than the national average.

The findings highlight that small interpersonal actions, when supported by robust systems that address barriers, can greatly impact clinical outcomes. Different racial and ethnic groups emphasized different aspects of the patient-provider relationship, underscoring the importance of culturally tailored care rather than one-size-fits-all approach. This study confirms that compassionate and respectful care, the often overlooked “soft” skills of clinical practice, are critical to long-term ART success in women of color with HIV.

Patient involvement in decision-making was especially important for some groups, reflecting the diversity within racial and ethnic populations. Overall, this research reminds us that culturally informed care that acknowledges these nuances is essential for effective HIV treatment.

Find more information about this review and the primary authors of this study at the BodyPro.com or by contacting Safere Diawara at safere.diawara@vdh.virginia.gov.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 84 studies (2000–2020) examined HIV-related mortality in children and young adolescents (ages 0–15) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). The analysis found that mortality risk is highest in the early period after ART initiation and is strongly influenced by age and immune status at the start of treatment, particularly low CD4 counts.

While ART is essential, it is not always sufficient to prevent early deaths. Early diagnosis, rapid treatment initiation, prophylaxis, management of opportunistic infections, and strong inpatient and outpatient support during the first weeks to months of care are critical. These factors help explain why early deaths persist even as overall pediatric HIV mortality declines.

The findings reaffirm that delayed treatment leads to poorer outcomes and highlights the urgent global need to strengthen early pediatric HIV diagnosis and care. Although key interventions are known, achieving equitable outcomes will require addressing persistent health system and social barriers that hinder timely access and sustained care for children living with HIV worldwide.

For more information on this review or about the authors of this study, visit the BodyPro.com or contact Safere Diawara at safere.diawara@vdh.virginia.gov.

The HIV Epidemiology Profile Updates for 2024 have been added to the DDP Data and Reports page.

Updates are available for:

• • People with HIV
  • New HIV Diagnoses

Contact Lauren Maxwell with any questions about the new updates at L.maxwell@vdh.virginia.gov.

Bulk condom orders are currently on hold while the Department of General Services negotiates with Global Protection to renew its contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia. This situation has extended beyond initial expectations, resulting in temporary shortages of several brands, including non-latex condom options, lubricant, and Trojan Magnum condoms.

DDP is optimistic about resuming orders from Global Protection soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to place your order with hiv-stdhotline@vdh.virginia.gov using the updated VDH Condom Order form, which is available on our website. This form will be continuously updated to reflect our inventory. We hope to clear out our current stock during this hold, streamlining future orders directly through Global Protection.  Therefore, there is no current hard limit on condom orders. However, orders may be adjusted depending on inventory.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this period, and we will keep you updated as the situation changes. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to the Disease Prevention Hotline at hiv-stdhotline@vdh.virginia.gov.

The HIV and Hepatitis Testing Team Administrative Portal is DDP’s central resource for agencies to manage HIV and Hepatitis testing needs. Community-based organizations, local health departments, and health centers can use the portal to:

• • Request:
    • Testing supplies (such as HIV and HCV test kits and/or controls)
    • CTR forms
    • Tyvek envelopes
    • Technical assistance
  • Report problems with test kits or controls
  • Notify DDP about expiring or test kit controls
  • And more!

To access the Administrative Portal, visit: https://redcap.vdh.virginia.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=MYEJ39XTY9. The link to the portal is also available on the DDP Community Partners page under the General Partner Agency Resources expandable tab.

Updated guidelines for nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) for HIV were released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 8.

Notable changes, highlights and considerations include:

• • Preferred regimen options for those ≥ 12 years old
    • Biktarvy (bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide), a single tablet of three antiretroviral medications OR
    • Dolutegravir PLUS tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or tenofovir alafenamide PLUS emtricitabine or lamivudine
      • This includes the previously preferred regimen of dolutegravir (Tivicay) PLUS emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada).
  • Timing of nPEP
    • There is greater emphasis on the urgency to start nPEP as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of exposure, and up to 72 hours.
  • Follow up testing is no longer recommended at 6 months
    • After baseline testing is done, repeat testing is recommended at 4-6 weeks and at 3 months.
  • HIV testing – add HIV-1 RNA testing to HIV Ag/Ab testing
    • At 3 months follow up visit
    • At baseline and 4-6 weeks follow up visit if the exposed person has been on long-acting injectable PrEP in the last 12 months.
  • Exposed person
    • If the exposed person was taking and adhering to PrEP, they may not need nPEP.
    • If the exposed person has ongoing indications, make a transition plan to start PrEP when they complete their nPEP regimen at 4 weeks.
  • Source person
    • If the source person has HIV with an undetectable viral load (< 200 copies/ml for at least 6 months), they will not transmit HIV sexually, so nPEP may not be needed.
    • If the source person does not know their HIV status and agrees to testing, if their HIV test comes back negative, the exposed person can stop taking nPEP.

The CDC previously released nPEP guidelines in 2016 and 2005. For more details, please refer to the CDC Recommendations, 2025.

Jenny Calhoun, HIV/STI Nurse Consultant, is revising the VDH guidelines for nPEP to incorporate these updates. If you have any questions, please contact Jenny at jenny.calhoun@vdh.virginia.gov or (804) 910-7000.

National HIV Testing Day is June 27, 2025.  While always stress the importance of HIV testing and knowing your status to Virginians.  However, our collective voices are even louder around this day.  We must stress the importance that HIV testing is an important part of their general health and well-being.

There are more ways than ever to get tested for HIV.  Our clients can do this through a healthcare provider if they have one, or access HIV testing through services that we provide.

Why It’s Important

The number of new HIV diagnoses were stable or declining for years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Since 2020, the number of HIV diagnoses and rate (per 100,000) rose annually.  Certain areas of Virginia and some groups of people are more impacted by HIV; the VDH website has information that explains some of these differences.

Visit the VDH HIV dashboard for more info.

National HIV Testing Day Event

Some VDH-funded community agencies are partnering with Walgreens and Greater Than HIV across the nation.  These agencies are offering free HIV testing on HIV Testing Day.  There are 9 agencies participating in Virginia.  These agencies will provide testing at 12 Walgreens locations across the state.  Visit www.greaterthan.org/walgreens for participating locations near you.

Some agencies/locations will also offer rapid syphilis and hepatitis C testing.

If you are a participating community agency and have questions or need help with this effort, please contact KFF at community@kff.org.

HIV Testing Resources

For HIV testing resources for your agency, visit the VDH Comms Hub.  There will be toolkit resources added soon specific to National HIV Testing Day 2025.  These will include social media postings and graphics.

If you need additional resources that are not on the VDH Comms Hub, please contact Chris Barnett, Public Relations Coordinator, at christopher.barnett@vdh.virginia.gov.

With great sadness, DDP shares the heartbreaking news that Chip Payette passed away unexpectedly, on Monday, April 28.  Prior to his passing, Chip had returned to the STD Prevention and Surveillance team after retiring from VDH.  He worked with providers on syphilis reactive lab results.

Before retiring, Chip had worked at VDH for many years.  He was a Disease Intervention Specialist in Charlottesville during the early years of the HIV epidemic, on the forefront of the public health response.  He dealt with the devastation that the early years of HIV caused.  He then served as the Northwest Regional Supervisor before taking on the role of Trainer in the Central Office for DDP.

His colleagues often described him as one of the kindest and most wonderful people that they had ever met.  He cared about his work, the patients he worked with, and making a real difference in public health in Virginia throughout his career.

Chip will be missed, and his legacy will be long remembered by all that he worked with.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offered free printed materials to their partners and the public through a Publications Warehouse for many years. The demand for printed materials has declined and a focus on electronic materials has increased. As a result, CDC is ending this service and closing their warehouse.

The last day to place orders for printed materials from the CDC Publications Warehouse is September 2, 2025.

Place an order on their website before the deadline.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released four national HIV surveillance reports at the end of April:

• • HIV Surveillance Report: Diagnoses, Deaths, and Prevalence of HIV in the United States and 6 Territories and Freely Associated States, 2023
  • HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report: Monitoring Selected HIV Prevention and Care Objectives by Using Surveillance Data, 2023
  • HIV Surveillance Slide Set (Under HIV data resources): HIV Disease, Stage 3 (AIDS) 2023
  • HIV Surveillance Slide Set (Under HIV data resources): HIV Mortality, 2023

Click on the title of each to view the full report. Each page will give important updates or notes, if any about the reports.

HIV & Hepatitis Prevention (HHP) would like to thank the 87 participants and presenters who attended the 2025 HHP Summit last month. The event in Richmond brought people from across the state together to share inspiration and best practices for three essential prevention services:

• comprehensive harm reduction,
• HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, and
• status-neutral service navigation.

Ninety-eight percent of participants rated the summit as either good or excellent. Additionally, at least seven attendees indicated that the event prompted them to consider adding one of these services to their organization’s offerings.

With adult and congenital syphilis rates rising both in the U.S. and in Virginia, syphilis screening is more crucial than ever.  A pre- and post- implementation study was conducted to determine if implementation of an opt-out laboratory-based and rapid syphilis point-of-care testing program in an emergency department (ED) would improve the detection and treatment of syphilis during pregnancy in a high-prevalence region. 

The study found that such a program for pregnant patients visiting an ED increased syphilis screenings from 2% to 56.4%.  The program detected syphilis that might have otherwise been missed. 

Read more about the study on stdjournal.com. 

As a next step, local health department clinicians should consider advocating for the expansion of opt-out and rapid point of care testing protocols across emergency departments, particularly in areas where syphilis is high.  Private sector clinicians, including those in urgent care and outpatient settings, should evaluate opportunities to incorporate similar testing strategies to improve early detection and intervention for syphilis during pregnancy.  Cross-sector collaboration will be key to scaling these efforts effectively.