July 16, 2024
City Councils Proclaim Stroke Smart Waynesboro
and Stroke Smart Staunton
Waynesboro and Staunton join the Stroke Smart Virginia initiative, partnering with public health officials for life-saving stroke education efforts
(Staunton, Va.) – The City of Waynesboro and the City of Staunton in partnership with the Central Shenandoah EMS Council and the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), recently committed to supporting stroke education through the Stroke Smart Virginia initiative. Stroke Smart Virginia is a public health initiative to reduce pre-hospital delays and increase timely stroke treatment through simple education and actions. more>>
July 2, 2024
Virginia Department of Health Closes Investigation of Lake Anna Area Memorial Day Outbreak
Latest Water Testing Did Not Detect Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports that the most recent testing of water samples collected from Lake Anna did not detect the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157. Additional fecal bacteria results for the water samples did not show levels that typically rise to public health concern. VDH would like to remind the public that the upper section of North Anna Branch of Lake Anna in Louisa County remains under a swimming advisory due to harmful algal blooms (HABs) not related to this STEC outbreak. more>>
June 21, 2024
Virginia Department of Health Provides Update about the Lake Anna Area Outbreak Associated with Memorial Day Weekend
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is providing an update on the outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in people who were in the Lake Anna area around Memorial Day weekend. The number of STEC cases (25) has not changed. more>>
June 21, 2024
Swimming Advisory Issued for Upper North Anna Branch of Lake Anna in Louisa County due to Harmful Algae Bloom
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is issuing a swimming advisory for the Upper section of the North Anna Branch of Lake Anna in Louisa County. This section of the lake is experiencing a harmful algae bloom (HAB). The public is advised to avoid contact with this specific area of the lake until algae concentrations return to acceptable levels. more>>
June 17, 2024
Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records Announces Customer Services Benchmark Achievements
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Vital Records (OVR) is a one-stop shop for any number of personal records requests, including birth and death certificates, name amendments, and marriage and divorce records. The Office of Vital Records was created by the 1912 Acts of Assembly and on June 14, 2024, celebrated 112 years of serving Virginia. Today, more Virginians can access the Office’s services from the comfort of their own homes seven days a week, 24 hours a day. more>>
June 14, 2024
Virginia Department of Health Provides Update about the Lake Anna Area Outbreak Associated with Memorial Day Weekend
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is providing an update on the outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in people who were in the Lake Anna area on and after the Memorial Day weekend. To date, 25 STEC probable and confirmed cases have been reported to VDH: 21 in Virginia residents from the Central, Northern, and Northwest regions of the state and four in residents of other states. Most cases (76%) have occurred in children younger than 18 years of age. Severe STEC infections can progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can be particularly serious. To date, five HUS cases have been reported to VDH, all in children who required hospitalization. more>>
March 25, 2024
Virginia Department of Health is Seeing an Increase in Reported Mpox Cases
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is closely monitoring a recent increase in mpox cases in Virginia. Since January 1, 2024, 12 mpox cases have been reported to VDH from the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Northwest health regions; of these, four patients required hospitalization, six were co-infected with HIV, and none had been previously vaccinated. For comparison, there were 12 reported mpox cases in all of 2023, and all were from the Northern Health Region. more>>
March 22, 2024
2024 County Health Rankings Report Areas of Improvement in Virginia
Report highlights county health factors and measures
RICHMOND, Va. – Earlier this week, the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R), a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, released data highlighting health factors and measures for counties in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) remains dedicated to its vision of Virginia becoming the healthiest state in the nation, as the data points towards areas of development and opportunities for improvement. more>>
February 6, 2024
Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records Announces Top Baby Names of 2023, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data
RICHMOND, Va. – What to name the newest member of the family? It can be a nerve-wracking decision for new parents. Something out of scripture? A favorite singer or film star? A sports player or a Disney character? Virginia parents are choosing diverse names for their newborns. Today, the Office of Vital Records in the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) unveils its lists of Top 15 baby names for children born in the Commonwealth in 2023, perhaps providing some inspiration for stressed-out parents-to-be. more>>
January 13, 2024
VIRGINIA HEALTH OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL MEASLES EXPOSURES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
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 in a person who traveled through Northern Virginia when returning from international travel. Out of an abundance of caution, VDH is informing people who were at various locations, including Dulles International Airport on January 3, 2024, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 4, 2024, that they may have been exposed. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights. more>>