2023 Regional News Releases

May 10, 2023

Patrick County Nurse Named Virginia’s Public Health Nurse of the Year

STUART, Va.— Pamela Rorrer, who has spent much of her career as a public health nurse in Patrick County, received this year’s Virginia Department of Public Health Nurse of the Year award. Kyndra Jackson, DNP, MPH, RN-BC, director of public health nursing for the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), made the announcement as part of National Nurses Week. more>>


May 5, 2023

Central Virginia Health District and Horizon Behavioral Health Announce Second Annual Fentanyl Awareness Day

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The safety and well-being of our community are always of utmost importance, which is why Horizon Behavioral Health and the Central Virginia Health District have partnered to recognize the second annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Both agencies have joined together to raise public awareness about an urgent problem: people are dying at alarming rates due to illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF), a potent synthetic opioid. more>>


May 5, 2023

Central Shenandoah Health District Encourages Getting Back to School Immunizations Now

STAUNTON, Va. — The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) is urging all parents or guardians of school-age children to schedule an appointment for immunizations to ensure vaccines are up to date in advance of the start of school in August 2023. more>>


May 1, 2023

Release of the 2023-2027 New Kent County Community Health Improvement Plan

NEW KENT, Va. – The Chickahominy Health District and the New Kent County Steering Committee are pleased to announce the release of the 2023-2027 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). more>>


April 17, 2023

Raccoon Tests Positive for the Rabies Virus

The Chickahominy Health District would like to notify the residents in the area of Pamunkey Road between Mattaponi Road and New Ashcake Road in Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116 that a raccoon has tested positive for the rabies virus. The raccoon no longer poses a threat to the public. more>>


April 14, 2023

Martinsville/Henry County to Advance Policies Supporting Racial Healing and Public Health

MARTINSVILLE, Va.— Martinsville is one of fifteen cities and counties across the United States that has been selected to participate in focused efforts to advance local-level policies supporting racial healing and public health. more>>


April 11, 2023

Cumberland Plateau Health District Lifts Recreational Water Advisory Impacting Portion of Levisa River

LEBANON, Va.— The Virginia Department of Health and Cumberland Plateau Health District has lifted the Recreational Water Advisory for a portion of the Levisa River in Buchanan County. Earlier this year, flooding caused sewage overflows which resulted in repairs being needed to the sewer mains. As a result of the elevated bacteria levels from the sewage overflow, a Recreational Water Advisory was put into effect along the Levisa River from Oakwood downstream to the Kentucky state line in Buchanan County. more>>


April 10, 2023

Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Advises District Residents of Rabid Cat in Fauquier County
Rabid Cat found along Messick Rd, Midland Va.

WARRENTON, Va. — To protect the health of our residents, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District (RRHD) is issuing a notice about a feral cat that has tested positive for rabies along Messick Rd in Midland. The adult male cat had black fur with brown patches on its lower hind legs. The cat also had a white patch of fur around the chest/abdominal area. If you or a pet had contact with a feral cat acting strangely in the vicinity of Messick Road, please contact the Fauquier Co. Health Department at 540.347.6363 or Fauquier Co. Animal Control 540.422.8750. more>>


March 31, 2023

Fox Tests Positive for the Rabies Virus in Chickahominy Health District

ASHLAND, Va — The Chickahominy Health District would like to notify the residents in the areas near Cool Spring Elementary School and Chickahominy Middle School, off Honey Meadows Road in Mechanicsville, that a fox has tested positive for the rabies virus. The fox no longer poses a threat to the public. more>>


March 30, 2023

Rabid Raccoon Confirmed in Portlock Neighborhood

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Chesapeake Health Department recently received a report from Chesapeake Animal Services (CAS) regarding an encounter between a raccoon and two residents. The incident occurred on March 23 near Portlock Rd. in the Homecrest Mobile Home Community. Testing confirmed the raccoon was rabies positive. The residents are currently undergoing post-exposure medical attention. more>>


March 23, 2023

Raccoon in Hampton Tests Positive for the Rabies Virus

(Hampton, VA) – The Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts would like to notify the residents in the Northampton area of Hampton that a raccoon found on March 17, 2023, in the 400 block of Cynthia Drive, has tested positive for the rabies virus. The raccoon was involved in an incident with several dogs, the dogs have been treated and received their rabies booster shots. more>>


March 22, 2023

Raccoon Tests Positive for the Rabies Virus in Mechanicsville

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — The Chickahominy Health District would like to notify the residents in the area of Pinedale Acres Subdivision and Little Florida Road in Mechanicsville that a raccoon has tested positive for the rabies virus. The raccoon no longer poses a threat to the public. more>>


March 12, 2023

Peninsula Health Center Closure; Altered Locations and Service Availability

(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) – Due to the incident which occurred last Thursday, March 9, the Peninsula Health Center (PHC) building, located at 416 J Clyde Morris Blvd. in Newport News will remain closed until further notice. Peninsula Health District’s operations will be altered. more>>


March 10, 2023

Skunk Tests Positive for the Rabies Virus in the City of Salem

SALEM, Va. — The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts would like to notify the residents in the area of Niblick Drive in Salem, that a skunk has tested positive for the rabies virus. The animal was collected on March 4. more>>


March 9, 2023

Suffolk Health Department Rabies Investigation

The Suffolk Health Department received information March 8, that a skunk tested positive for rabies. In this case, a dog fought with a skunk. This incident occurred in the Quaker Drive area of Suffolk. Fortunately, the dog was vaccinated against rabies. The dog will receive a rabies booster and will be under a 45-day confinement period as a precaution. more>>


March 9, 2023

Raccoon Tests Positive for the Rabies Virus in Goochland County

ASHLAND, VA. — The Chickahominy Health District would like to notify the residents in the areas located near the intersection of Cedar Plains Road and Whitehall Road, the intersection of Cedar Plains Road and Sage Road, Rocketts Ridge Subdivision, and Mill Forest Subdivision of Goochland County, that a raccoon has tested positive for the rabies virus. This raccoon is part of a recent cluster of two confirmed positive rabies cases along with one suspected positive rabies case in this area of Goochland County. The animals (confirmed and suspected cases) are deceased. more>>


March 6, 2023

Central Shenandoah Health District Discontinues COVID-19 Hotline

STAUNTON, Va. — The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) will discontinue the use of the COVID-19 hotline on March 30. Over the past year, the CSHD hotline has received nearly 3,000 calls. The hotline was initially implemented in March 2022, has assisted community members in making vaccine and testing appointments, connected them to resources, offered help with referrals and provided cleaning, hygiene and isolation recommendations related to COVID-19.” more>>


March 3, 2023

Skunk Tests Positive for the Rabies Virus in Ashland

ASHLAND, Va. — The Chickahominy Health District would like to notify the residents in the area of Woodstock Heights Subdivision and Cedar Lane in Ashland, Virginia 23005 that a skunk has tested positive for the rabies virus. The skunk is deceased. more>>


February 28, 2023

VDH Issues Recreational Water Advisory in Portion of Levisa River

LEBANON, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health’s Cumberland Plateau Health District recommends that people and pets avoid contact with a portion of the Levisa River in Buchanan County due to an ongoing sewage overflow from sewer mains damaged by recent flooding. Activities to repair the sewer mains are ongoing, weather permitting.  more>>


February 24, 2023

Mount Rogers Health District Confirms Two Cases of Animal Rabies

DUGSPUR, Va. – In order to protect the health of residents and visitors, the Carroll County Health Department is issuing a notice about two skunks that have tested positive for rabies in the Hunters Ridge Road area of Dugspur. more>>


February 22, 2023

VDH Issues Recreational Water Advisory for South Fork of the Powell River Near East Stone Gap Due to Sewage Release
Public Advised to Avoid Contact with Contaminated Water 

WISE, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is issuing a recreational water advisory for the South Fork of the Powell River near East Stone Gap to the Powell River at Big Stone Gap. For the safety of people and pets, VDH is advising that recreational water activities, such as swimming, wading, tubing, and whitewater kayaking (where submersion in the water is likely), should be avoided. more>>


February 18, 2023

Animal Rabies Case Confirmed in the 100 Block of Ottinger Lane in Stafford County

Fredericksburg, VA – On February 17, 2023, the Stafford County Health Department confirmed that an orange and white colored, short hair cat collected on Feb 15, 2023 from the 100 block of Ottinger Lane in Stafford County was positive for rabies. more>>


February 17, 2023

Rabies Case Confirmed in Botetourt County

TROUTVILLE, Va. – Health officials have confirmed the presence of rabies in the area of Mountain Pass Road, Troutville. A skunk was confirmed positive for rabies by the Virginia Department of Health on February 16. more>>


February 14, 2023

Chesterfield Health District & Community Partners Launch Community Health Assessment

CHESTERFIELD, Va. – This year for Valentine’s Day show some love to your community! The Chesterfield Health District is coming together with key community partners — Bon Secours, Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield County Human Services, Immigration Nation LLC., La Casa de Salud, VCU, Waymakers, YMCA, Department of Juvenile Justice, and Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation — to launch the Chesterfield Community Survey on February 14.  The Chesterfield Health District is the local public health arm of the Virginia Department of Health and serves the residents of Chesterfield County, Powhatan County, and the City of Colonial Heights. more>>


February 6, 2023

Norfolk Health Department Offers Free Rapid HIV Testing and Counseling on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

NORFOLK, VA – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day to highlight the progress made to reduce HIV in the Black or African-American communities.  In recognition of this day, the Norfolk Department of Public Health is offering rapid HIV testing and counseling on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 830 Southampton Avenue in Norfolk. This community event will include PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) information and giveaways in addition to the rapid HIV testing and counseling. This event is free and open to all. more>>


February 6, 2023

New River Health District Warns of Door-to-Door Scam

DUBLIN, Va. – The New River Health District is warning area residents to be on alert about an apparent door-to-door scam that may be targeting people in the New River Valley. Local law enforcement officers in Pulaski County have been made aware of people knocking on doors during evening hours in several Dublin neighborhoods. more>>


February 3, 2023

Cat Tests Positive for Rabies in Petersburg City

PETERSBURG, Va.- On Wednesday, February 1, 2023, a 3-year-old grey, male domestic cat tested positive for rabies. The cat is an outdoor domestic cat that is fed by the owner and interacts with other cats. The cat resided in the Ramblewood neighborhood near Kings Road, south of the Dogwood Trace Golf Course in Petersburg, VA 23805. The Petersburg Health Department and Petersburg Animal Control continue to encourage animal owners to confirm that all pet vaccinations, especially rabies, are current. more>>


February 3, 2023

ANIMAL RABIES CASE CONFIRMED IN 400 BLOCK OF WIDEWATER ROAD IN STAFFORD COUNTY

On February 3, 2023, the Stafford County Health Department confirmed that a gray and white colored, tabby cat collected on Jan 30, 2023 from the 400 block of Widewater Road in Stafford County was positive for rabies. more>>


January 26, 2023

Southside Health District Offers Free Flu Vaccine Clinic in Halifax

HALIFAX, Va. – The Southside Health District will conduct a public health exercise offering a free seasonal flu vaccine at a clinic Friday, February 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mary Bethune Complex Gymnasium, 1030 Cowford Road. more>>


January 24, 2022

Pittsylvania-Danville Health District Offers Free Flu Vaccine Clinic in Danville

DANVILLE, Va. – The Pittsylvania-Danville Health District will offer free seasonal flu vaccine at a special clinic on Friday, February 3, from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Ballou Park Recreation Center located at 760 West Main St., Danville. more>>


January 12, 2023

Release of the New Kent County Community Health Assessment Report

NEW KENT, Va. – The Chickahominy Health District and partner agencies are pleased to announce the release of the New Kent County Community Health Assessment (CHA) report. The report can be viewed online at: www.vdh.virginia.gov/chickahominy/community-health-assessment/. This report details population-level health indicators, identified local assets, and health priorities for the county. more>>


January 10, 2023

Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Offers Free Hepatitis A Vaccines to Food Handlers who Live or Work in Culpeper, Orange, or Madison Counties 

(Culpeper, Virginia)  — The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District (RRHD) will be holding a free Hepatitis A vaccination clinic for food handlers who live or work in Culpeper, Orange, or Madison counties. All ages are welcome to attend this clinic, but those under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present. Funding for this clinic is provided by Culpeper Wellness Foundation. more>>


January 10, 2023   

Cat Tests Positive for Rabies Virus in the Central Shenandoah Health District

STAUNTON, Va.— The Central Shenandoah Health District is notifying the public of a rabid stray cat found on the James Madison University campus on December 17, 2022. The cat was brought to the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA prior to being euthanized and tested positive for rabies December 22. more>>


January 6, 2023

Virginia Beach Health Department to Host Free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Wednesday, January 11

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health will host a FREE COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Wednesday, January 11, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at New Light Full Gospel Baptist Church, 5549 Indian River Road. more>>


January 5, 2023

Central Virginia Health District to host Flu & COVID-19 Testing Events January 7, 14, 19 and 25 at the Lynchburg Health Department

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Central Virginia Health District is offering free tests that can detect both COVID-19 and Flu (A+B) with a single specimen collection. With flu and COVID-19 cases still prevalent throughout our area, the health district will host four drive-up testing events this month at the Lynchburg Health Department, 307 Alleghany Ave. more>>