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Healthcare Professionals Newsletter
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May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
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Measles is rising in the U.S., with over 1,000 cases reported as of May 8, 2025. Most cases (93%) are related to outbreaks.
Here’s what healthcare facilities can do to prepare for measles:
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Report all suspected cases of measles to your local health department immediately to ensure rapid testing and investigation.
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Maintain staff vaccination records and encourage measles vaccination for all unvaccinated healthcare personnel.
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Ensure you have a supply of measles testing materials (e.g., VTM).
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Collaborate with facility engineering staff and be aware of all areas on shared air-handling systems (e.g., hallways, neighboring offices).
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Identify a point of entry area and transportation route for a potential measles patient that minimizes contact and shared aired spaces.
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Ensure you have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (N95 respirators) for staff.
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Schedule appointments for measles testing at the end of the day, if possible.
Visit VDH Measles Information for Healthcare Providers for more information.
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A recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) publication reported that RSV-associated hospitalization rates in infants aged 0–7 months during the 2024–2025 RSV season were lower by 28% and 43% than the 2018-2012 and 2019–2020 seasons, respectively.
As we head into the summer, VDH recommends that providers continue to consider avian influenza virus infections in people with respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis and a relevant exposure history.
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Avian influenza A(H5) has been detected in wild birds, commercial poultry, other domestic birds and recently in mammals (foxes) in Virginia.
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To date, there have not been any avian influenza A(H5) infections in people or dairy cattle in Virginia.
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On May 6, CDC hosted a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call. The presenters shared updates on human cases of influenza A(H5) and information on CDC's surveillance and monitoring efforts for human influenza A virus infections in the U.S. The webinar recording is available on CDC’s webpage.
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More information is available on VDH’s Avian Flu webpage.
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Measles 2025: The State of the Outbreak
Free Public Webinar May 27, 2025 4 to 5:30 pm ET
The U.S. is experiencing its highest rate of measles infections in decades. As of May 12, over 1,000 cases have been reported across 31 states, and three people have died as a result of complications from the virus. Amid this widespread and dangerous outbreak, health care providers, public health practitioners, and members of the public need to know how to protect their patients, communities and loved ones.
This free public webinar will cover:
- How measles spreads and how it can be contained
- Symptoms of measles and how it is diagnosed and treated
- How to share accurate information about the virus
- The challenge of vaccine hesitancy and declining immunization rates
If desired, continuing education credit will be provided by the American Public Health Association.
The webinar is cohosted by the National Academy of Medicine, the American Public Health Association, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Big Cities, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Trust for America's Health.
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