|
Healthcare Professionals Newsletter
|
|
Emerging Issues in Public Health
More to Know
Mark Your Calendars
Resources
|
|
Avian Influenza Detections Increasing in Birds
There have been recent increases in H5 avian influenza detections in wild birds, especially Black Vultures and poultry, nationally and in Virginia.
- Consider the possibility of avian influenza virus infection in people showing signs or symptoms of acute respiratory illness and/or conjunctivitis who have a relevant exposure to sick or dead birds, livestock, or other animals.
-
Visit VDH's Avian Flu webpage to learn more.
Know the Signs of Acute Flaccid Myelitis
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare but serious neurologic condition that primarily affects young children. Symptoms include sudden onset of arm or leg weakness, loss of muscle tone, and loss of reflexes.
- Clinicians should consider AFM in patients with flaccid limb weakness, especially during the early fall when AFM cases seasonally increase.
-
Testing can be arranged in partnership with your local health department.
- Specimens required for AFM testing include CSF, respiratory (NP/OP), serum, and stool specimens.
Clinical diagnosis of varicella can be challenging as a growing number of cases occur in vaccinated people, who may have milder symptoms (e.g., <50 lesions). Laboratory testing is recommended to confirm varicella diagnosis:
- PCR testing is the preferred testing method to confirm varicella.
- Preferred specimens are vesicular swabs and scabs from crusted lesions. If those are not available, scrapings of maculopapular lesions can be collected for testing.
|
|
VAERS: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System Information
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) plays an important role in monitoring vaccine safety in the United States.
Our new infographic that highlights how VAERS works, who can submit a report, and why the participation of healthcare providers matters in supporting ongoing vaccine safety efforts. Take a moment to review the VAERS infographic to learn how reporting helps protect public health and strengthen vaccine confidence.
New Severe Maternal Morbidity Dashboard
A new dashboard on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) hospitalizations was launched. SMM includes 21 unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery. They can affect the health for both the mother and baby and can increase risk of death.
- The dashboard contains data from 2016 to 2024.
- Information includes demographic characteristics, such as race/ethnicity, and presents annual counts, rates, and/or percent trends for SMM overall, and categories such as cardiac, hemorrhagic, renal, respiratory, sepsis, and other medical and obstetric complications.
- Data are sortable by year, geography, and race/ethnicity. Datasets will be available on the Virginia Open Data Portal soon.
Please share this resource with your partners.
School Health Data Dashboard
School Health Data has been updated to include school years 2022–2025 and is now available on a public-facing dashboard. This includes data from VDOE’s annual survey of school health personnel to document health services offered in Virginia public schools.
Memo: Improving Environmental Cleaning to Prevent Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO) Transmission
- Make sure cleaning staff are trained and know their responsibilities
- Use the right disinfectants and follow instructions
- Create clear cleaning routines for different areas
- Give staff enough time and support to clean properly
- Check cleaning quality and give feedback
- Work with public health for extra help and guidance
Strong cleaning practices protect patients, residents, and staff. Learn more on how we can work together to stop the spread.
HAI/AR Newsletter Special Edition: Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO) Prevention and Containment
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more drug-resistant germs (called MDROs) have been spreading in the U.S. and Virginia. These germs can be very hard to treat, so stopping them is important to keep people safe.
This special newsletter shares how healthcare workers and public health teams in Virginia are working together to prevent infections and protect patients, residents, and staff.
Inside, you’ll learn about:
- New data and trends in Virginia
- How healthcare and public health work together
- What happens during a public health response
- How everyday infection prevention helps stop the spread
Read the full newsletter and see how you can help protect your facility and patients/residents.
|
|
Maternal and Child Health Program Presents New 5-Year State Action Plan
Every five years, Virginia's MCH Title V Program is required conduct a statewide Needs Assessment of its maternal and child health (MCH) population and subsequently build out a new state action plan to address the identified needs. Virginia's MCH Title V program is eager to share the details our new 5-year State Action Plan with you, and explore opportunities to strengthen our plan through deeper, intentional partnership with you!
Registration is free but limited to the first 150 registrants. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided! Please share with your colleagues and MCH partners whose work supports Virginia's MCH community.
The event will be held Wednesday, December 3rd from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn - Innsbrook, 4050 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
|
|
New CME Module - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Learn about blood lead testing and case management for children exposed to lead. Learners will earn one credit hour of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
Lead Safety Flyers, Available in Multiple Languages
 |
|
Please use our new lead campaign and educational materials on social media and with your patients.
- Our toolkit includes three patient handouts in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, Haitian-Creole, Hindi, Korean, Pashto, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
-
You can download these materials from our Lead Safety Communications Toolkit
|
Rabies Flyer, Available in Multiple Languages
Do you talk to your patients about rabies?
|
|
 |
|
|
Did someone forward this email to you?
Subscribe here to get future updates straight to your inbox!
|
|
|
|
|
|
