Source: CDC

VDH Clinician Letter: Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule (10/10/2025)

  • This clinician letter outlines updates to immunization schedules for MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) and COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing their essential role in community health and safety in Virginia. It discusses the new guidelines, including the separate administration of the MMR and varicella vaccines for children under 4 years, the COVID-19 vaccine's availability for individuals aged 6 months and older, and the importance of verifying insurance coverage prior to vaccination.

CDC: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles (8/19/2025)

  • This updated webpage provides fundamental elements to prevent measles transmission within healthcare facilities.
  • Healthcare personnel (HCP) immunization is highlighted as a first-line defense as well as the rapid identification and isolation of patients with suspected/confirmed measles. HCP education on respiratory protection and hand hygiene are also mentioned.

CDC: Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing of Individuals Exposed to A(H5N1) Viruses (07/08/2025)

  • State, local, and jurisdictional health department officials are instructed to promptly investigate suspected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus infection and to notify the CDC within 24 hours of identifying such cases. Individuals exposed to HPAI A(H5N1) virus-infected birds, dairy cows, or other animals, including those using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), must be monitored for acute respiratory illness and conjunctivitis symptoms for 10 days following their last exposure.

CDC: Health Alert- Use Only Sterile Ultrasound Gel for Percutaneous Procedures (5/13/2025)

  • Health Alert: Use Only Sterile Ultrasound Gel for Percutaneous Procedures (5/13/2025)
    • An ongoing multistate investigation involves the use of non-sterile ultrasound gel during ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures. An environmental bacterium Paraburkholderia fungorum has been identified from patient cultures and non-sterile ultrasound gel products.
    • CDC recommends using only single-use ultrasound gel products labeled as "sterile" to reduce the risk of infection during ultrasonography for preparatory and procedural applications, including central and peripheral intravenous line placement, amniocentesis, paracentesis, tissue biopsies, and surgical interventions.

CDC Health Advisory: Expanding Measles Outbreak in the United States and Guidance for the Upcoming Travel Session (3/07/2025)

  • Emphasizes that healthcare professionals and travelers should ensure compliance with MMR vaccination guidelines to mitigate the risk of measles, especially among individuals traveling to areas with known outbreaks.
  • Details best practices for monitoring, diagnosing, and managing measles cases while underscoring the current low risk of widespread measles in the U.S. due to strong immunization efforts.

EVS Educational Video Series

1 – Essentials
Any Practice Setting
Cleaning and Disinfection
Closed Captioning
English
Free
Non-Clinical / Indirect Healthcare Personnel
Spanish
Video

CDC Health Advisory: Ebola Outbreak Caused by Sudan virus in Uganda (2/6/2025)

  • Review CDC's recommendations for U.S. public health departments and clinicians about case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories.
  • As a precaution and because there are other viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in East Africa, CDC is sharing best practices to raise awareness about this outbreak.

Health Advisory: Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients (1/16/25)

To prevent delays in identifying human infections with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses, especially during periods of high seasonal influenza activity, the CDC recommends a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens from hospitalized patients. This measure will support optimal patient care, infection control, and case investigation. Clinicians and laboratory staff are urged to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and to prioritize the rapid subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens, particularly those from patients in intensive care units. Additionally, clinical laboratories should increase efforts to identify non-seasonal influenza strains.