Tag: syphilis

Central Shenandoah Health District to Host Free Monthly STI Test & Go Clinics

Posted on by lindascarborough

May 22, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

Central Shenandoah Health District to Host Free Monthly STI Test & Go Clinics

LEXINGTON, Va. – The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) is announcing new free monthly Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing in the Lexington/Buena Vista area starting this May. These pop-up clinics are being offered in partnership with the Rockbridge Recovery Group Center (RRGC) in Buena Vista and Rockbridge Area Community Services (RACS) in Lexington.

These Test & Go clinics are intended to provide convenient access to healthcare within our community and are available to the public. CSHD’s newly refurbished mobile unit will be used to provide STI testing free of cost to participants. No insurance, identification, or payment is required. These clinics will be offered on a first-come first-served basis with no appointment needed.

The clinic will offer testing for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, & Syphilis. Patients who need treatment will be connected to healthcare providers for follow up care.

“Test & Go clinics are a great resource for any individual who is sexually active and needs access to STI testing,” says Allison Baroco MD, infectious diseases physician and interim health director for the Central Shenandoah Health District. “Rates of STIs have increased significantly in the past several years in Virginia and nationally, so it is more important than ever to know your status. Those with positive test results will be connected to counseling on treatment.”

The clinic schedule is listed below:

  • May 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, at Rockbridge Area Community Services, 241 Greenhouse Rd., Lexington, VA 24450
  • June 18, 3:30 – 5:30 pm, at the Rockbridge Recovery Group Center, at 119 E. 28th St., Buena Vista, VA 24416.
  • Every third Thursday of the month beginning in July, 3:30 – 5:30 pm, at the Rockbridge Recovery Group Center, at 119 E. 28th St., Buena Vista, VA 24416.

Routine STI testing and treatment is available at the Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro Health Department locations. Appointments for routine testing and treatment are required. Call your local health department to make an appointment.

More information about Test & Go clinics and routine STI testing and treatment can be found on the Central Shenandoah Health District website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/central-shenandoah/health-services/sexually-transmitted-infections/.

For more information, you may call (540) 463-3185, or email cshdinfo@vdh.virginia.gov. For the latest schedule, check out our Facebook page @CentralShenandoahHealthDistrict.

Hampton Roads Health Systems and Public Health Launch Coordinated Effort to Stop Syphilis

April 25, 2025
Media Contact: Kathy Lamm, (757) 236-0529
Kathy.Lamm@vdh.virginia.gov

Hampton Roads Health Systems and Public Health Launch Coordinated Effort to Stop Syphilis
Public awareness campaign launches on Tuesday, April 29, at Webb Center on ODU campus

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – In a united front against a growing public health concern, all major health care systems in the Hampton Roads region have joined forces with public health officials to launch powerful regional “Stop Syphilis” public awareness campaign.

Members of the media are invited to a pre-event news conference on Tuesday, April 29, at 9:00 AM. Dr. Susan Girois, Health Director for the Norfolk Department of Public Health, will be available for questions. Please RSVP to Kathy Lamm at Kathy.lamm@vdh.virginia.gov or by phone at 757-236-0529.

The urgency of this initiative stems from the concerning rise in syphilis cases, particularly affecting newborns. Last year alone, 36 babies in Virginia were born with syphilis, with half of those cases in the Eastern Region. Health officials emphasize that even one case is unacceptable given the readily available cure.

To address this critical issue, the Eastern Region Stop Syphilis Public Awareness Campaign will officially launch with a public event on Tuesday, April 29, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Webb Center on the Old Dominion University (ODU) campus.

The primary goal of this campaign is to educate the public about the alarming prevalence of syphilis in Hampton Roads and empower individuals with a vital message: Get tested. Get treated. Stop syphilis.

“Every baby born with syphilis is a preventable tragedy,” stated Dr. Susan Girois, Director of the Norfolk Department of Public Health. “Our collective goal is to significantly reduce new syphilis infections across our region and ultimately eliminate congenital syphilis entirely.”

The Regional Stop Syphilis Initiative represents a robust collaboration among the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), area hospitals, universities, and community partners. Over the past year, this collaborative initiative has utilized a multi-faceted approach to make significant strides by streamlining clinical and referral processes, standardizing testing procedures, and clarifying the roles of healthcare providers and the VDH. These efforts have already led to improvements in testing and treatment accessibility.

“Collaboration is absolutely essential to achieve our goal,” added Dr. Girois. “We deeply appreciate our partnership with the hospitals, universities, and the broader community in tackling this critical public health challenge. By working together, we can effectively raise awareness, provide crucial resources and ensure that everyone has access to the necessary testing and treatment to safeguard the health of our region.”

The upcoming public awareness campaign marks a crucial next step in this collaborative effort. The launch event on April 29 is free and open to the public, but tickets are required and are still available at Eastern Virginia Syphilis Taskforce Resources – Norfolk Health Department.

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Central Shenandoah Health District Announces Continued Walk-In STI Testing Clinics

May 23, 2024
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, Rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) Announces Continued Walk-In STI Testing at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department

STAUNTON, Va. — After multiple successful STI Test & Go Clinics hosted by Central Shenandoah Health District this spring, CSHD is going to be continuing these Test & Go Clinics throughout the summer of 2024.

Beginning June 18, the Central Shenandoah Health District will offer Test & Go clinics at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department every third Tuesday of the month and are currently scheduled through to August of 2024. Test & Go clinics offer after-hours walk-in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) once a month. Individuals can receive free testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV at these clinics. Testing is available to everyone at no cost. Patients can expect to be in and out of the clinic in 15 minutes or less.

Dates and times for the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department Test & Go Clinics are below:

  • June 18, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • July 16, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • August 20, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Walk-in appointments are available on a first-come-first-served basis. The earlier the arrival, the better the chance a patient will secure a testing spot. Patients will be accepted until 6 p.m. or until 10 testing spots are taken, whichever comes first. Individuals are encouraged to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to secure a testing spot.  Individuals who receive a positive test result will be contacted by health department staff to get connected to treatment options.

“The Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department Test & Go clinics are a great resource for any individual who is sexually active and needs access to Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing,” says Allison Baroco MD, infectious diseases physician and health director for the Central Shenandoah Health District. “Rates of STIs have increased significantly in the past several years in Virginia and nationally, so it is more important than ever to know your status. Those with positive test results will be provided counseling on treatment and our professionals can assist with scheduling this treatment at your local health department in a confidential setting.”

Routine STI testing and treatment is available at the Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro Health Department locations. Appointments for routine testing and treatment are required. Call your local health department to make an appointment.

More information about Test & Go clinics and routine STI testing and treatment can be found on the Central Shenandoah Health District website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/central-shenandoah/health-services/sexually-transmitted-infections/.

Central Shenandoah Health District Announces New Walk-In STI Testing at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department

February 14, 2024
Media Contact: Linda Scarborough, Western Region PIO
linda.scarborough@vdh.virginia.gov

Central Shenandoah Health District Announces New Walk-In STI Testing at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department

(Staunton, Va.) — Beginning February 20, the Central Shenandoah Health District will offer Test & Go clinics at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department every third Tuesday of the month. Test & Go clinics offer after-hours walk-in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) once a month. Individuals can receive free testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV at these clinics. Testing is available to everyone at no cost. Patients can expect to be in and out of the clinic in 15 minutes or less.

Dates and times for the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department Test & Go Clinics are below:

  • February 20, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • March 19, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • April 16, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • May 21, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Walk-in appointments are available on a first-come-first-served basis. The earlier the arrival, the better the chance a patient will secure a testing spot. Patients will be accepted until 6 p.m. or until 10 testing spots are taken, whichever comes first. Individuals are encouraged to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to secure a testing spot. Individuals who receive a positive test result will be contacted by health department staff to get connected to treatment options.

“The Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department Test & Go clinics are a great resource for any individual who is sexually active and needs access to STI testing,” says Elaine Perry, acting health director for the Central Shenandoah Health District. “Rates of STIs have increased significantly in the past several years in Virginia and nationally, so it is more important than ever to know your status.” It is recommended that anyone who has been exposed to an STI or has symptoms seek STI testing.

Routine STI testing and treatment is available at the Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro Health Department locations. Appointments for routine testing and treatment are required. Call your local health department to make an appointment.

More information about Test & Go clinics and routine STI testing and treatment can be found on the Central Shenandoah Health District website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/central-shenandoah/health-services/sexually-transmitted-infections/.

Virginia Department of Health Announces New Syphilis Webpage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 28, 2023
Media Contact:  Logan Anderson, PIO, logan.anderson@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health Announces New Syphilis Webpage

RICHMOND, Va. – Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announces the unveiling of a new syphilis webpage, including a data dashboard tracking the number of reported syphilis cases, to help bring attention to the rising number of cases in Virginia.

Reported total early syphilis (TES) cases in Virginia increased 14% from 2018 to 2022. To date in 2023, syphilis case reports are 21% higher than for the equivalent period in 2022. Most TES cases are diagnosed among men (84% in 2022); however, cases among women are on the rise (70% increase from 2018-2022). Syphilis diagnoses among persons who misuse substances (such as opioids, methamphetamine, and cocaine) are also increasing. Cases of congenital syphilis, which occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy, have similarly increased dramatically in the last decade. National data show comparable trends.

The new syphilis webpage summarizes important information about syphilis infections, including common symptoms, risk factors, testing and treatment recommendations. Virginians can use this information to better protect themselves and their communities from syphilis. Additional resources specifically for healthcare providers are also available. Provider resources are designed to assist with identifying, staging, treating, reporting, and preventing syphilis.

For more information on sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing, visit the VDH testing page.  For testing or other health services, consult your local health department.  For specific questions about STDs or testing locations, you may call the Virginia Disease Prevention Hotline at (800) 533-4148.

The syphilis data dashboard includes up-to-date information on annual and monthly TES case counts by patient residence and demographics.  Cases are reported by the local health district of the patient’s residence at diagnosis with standard VDH data suppression rules in place to protect patient privacy. Data on congenital syphilis diagnoses are also presented by year and health region. The dashboard data will be updated weekly on Tuesdays.

The public may learn more about syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases at the VDH website for STDs.

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