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The holiday season should be filled with joy, laughter and good tiding. Don’t let precious time with family and friends get detoured with coughs, sniffles and tummy troubles.

Food can be the center of attention of many holiday gatherings, parties and meals. With a few easy steps you can keep food poisoning from being an uninvited guest.

Safety starts with good food preparation. Make sure you keep your hands and food surfaces clean. When you touch raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs you can spread germs if you don’t wash your hands after handling them. It is also important to wash food surfaces like cutting boards and counter tops after using them for raw foods.

Refrigerate foods at the right temperatures. Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Never thaw food on the counter. Finally, make sure you cook foods like turkey, stuffing and other items at the proper temperature.

Make healthy choices when picking your holiday menu and remember all good things in moderation. When serving, make sure your buffet stays bacteria free with these safety tips.

Store leftovers promptly.  Never leave food out for more than two hours.  And don’t forget to freeze and reheat leftovers safely.

If your holiday plans include dining out, check out these tips to keep your experience safe.

Holiday gatherings are a great place to catch up with your loved ones, but they are also a great place to share germs. Make sure you only give gifts this year and not contagious diseases like flu, COVID, strep, and norovirus by following these tips:

1. Staying home when sick.
2. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
3. Covering coughs and sneezes.
4. Not preparing food for others if you are sick.
5. Stay updated on your vaccines.
6. Avoid touching face, nose, mouth and eyes with unwashed hands.

The most up-to-date data on the current rates of current rates of COVID, flu and RSV activity can be found on VDH’s Respiratory Disease Dashboard.

Have a healthy and safe time during the holidays with your family and friends!

The Virginia State Anatomical Program (VSAP) provides the opportunity to give the ultimate gift, which is donating your body to medical science. The primary mission of VSAP is to educate health professions by providing human donors for the teaching of anatomy, surgery and medical research to the Commonwealth’s medical schools, universities and research facilities. Established in 1919, VSAP is the only program in Virginia authorized to receive donations of human bodies for scientific study. VSAP does not receive state funding, nor does it pay for donated bodies.

Whole-Body Donation

Your gift will improve the lives of Virginians by:

1. Furthering medical education and scientific research.
2. Learning from disease processes and their effects on the human body.
3. Contributing to new surgical treatments.
4. Improving surgical outcomes.
5. Providing your family with an option to alleviate burial and cremation costs.

Candidates for Donation

1. Donors for VSAP must have legal next of kin or an authorized agent to finalize donation.
2. Donors must be free from contagious diseases.
3. All potential donors are assessed and handled on a case-by-case basis.
4. Unfortunately, not all potential donors are accepted. Some medical conditions or circumstances of death may cause a potential donor to be unsuitable for anatomical examination.

The need for anatomical donors is great and the number of healthcare educational programs in Virginia is increasing.

For information on the Virginia State Anatomical Program and how the process works, visit: www.vdh.virginia.gov/vsap. 

“Abundant gratitude for this gift which was so dear to you and your family. I am humbled to learn from your worldly vessel. Your selflessness and vulnerability carry your legacy beyond your time. I will treasure this experience so that your impact on the world will persist.”

Excerpt from, “A Patient and Professor,”

written by a University of Virginia Medical School student.

During National Influenza Vaccination Week, we remind Virginians that it is not too late to get your yearly flu vaccine. If you are 6 months and older this is the best way to protect yourself against getting sick from the flu.

You can find a vaccine from a healthcare provider, pharmacy, or your local health department.

Some people are more likely to become very sick from flu.  This includes:

• Adults 65 years and older
• Children younger than 5 years and especially children younger than 2 years
• Pregnant women
• People with certain chronic conditions

Being vaccinated from flu can help your body defend itself from flu viruses. The flu vaccine protects you by reducing your chances of getting sick and also making you feel less sick if you do happen to catch one of the circulating viruses.

Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are best for you and your family.

You can also protect yourself from flu and other respiratory diseases if you avoid people who are sick, cover coughs, wash your hands often, and clean frequently touched surfaces.

Time is one of the most valuable resources we have. This Giving Tuesday, choose to spend your time where you will have the most impact in the lives of others—volunteer with the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (VA MRC)!

The VA MRC is a statewide network of volunteers that support ongoing public health initiatives. They help during disasters and emergencies throughout Virginia.

Virginia MRC volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and span a wide range of ages. No medical knowledge or experience is required to become a volunteer. Participating in this program is a great way to:

• explore a career in public health,
• gain hands-on experience,
• obtain service hours,
• build your resume, or
• simply help make a difference in your community.

As a member of the Virginia MRC, you’ll receive free lifesaving training and learn about public health and emergency preparedness. You’ll attend exciting community events and, best of all, make new friends.

A few of the ways the Virginia MRC volunteers have supported public health and served their communities are:

• Supporting community vaccination events for seasonal flu, COVID, and back-to-school vaccines.
• Responding to emergencies, such as Hurricane Helene, by staffing emergency shelters, providing Tetanus and hepatitis A vaccines at mobile vaccination clinics, and conducting wellness checks for vulnerable individuals.
• Addressing the opioid addiction crisis by teaching naloxone dispensing classes and staffing Drug Take Back events.
• Teaching CPR, AED, and bleeding control skills to community members.
• Staffing first aid tents at local marathons, 10K races, and other community events.
• Providing administrative assistance to their local health departments.
• Staffing call centers to answer inbound calls, or to make outbound calls as needed.

The opportunities are endless! Some of the newest opportunities include our Behavioral Health Response Team, Radiological Health Response Team, or the MRC Amateur Radio Team.

Don’t hesitate to make an impact. Start your volunteer application today! Need more information? Learn more about the VA MRC or review our FAQs.

World AIDS Day is observed each year on December 1. The annual event serves as:

• A time to honor those lives that have been lost to HIV/AIDS.
• A reminder of the struggles that people living with HIV still face against stigma.
• A commitment to working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat.

The first World AIDS Day happened in 1988. The purpose was to raise awareness around HIV and AIDS and to honor the lives that were being affected by the epidemic. There has been amazing progress in addressing HIV and AIDS. This is thanks to scientific advancements in the medical field. These advances have allowed increased access to HIV treatment and prevention. We now also have a better understanding of the virus.

VDH is committed to working toward ending HIV. VDH has dedicated staff at local health departments. VDH also partners with community organizations across Virginia. HIV testing is offered at many convenient locations throughout Virginia. If you cannot find a location nearby, you may be eligible to receive an HIV self-test kit.

For persons living with HIV, VDH implements the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part B and the Virginia Medication Access Program. These programs help those that need financial help with HIV care and insurance costs. Essential support services are also offered to ensure the best possible health outcomes.

Visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/disease-prevention to learn more about HIV prevention and treatment programs and information in Virginia. Join us in the fight against HIV this World AIDS Day.

As the days turn colder, make sure your home, your family and your vehicles are ready for the potential dangers that winter weather brings.

Start your winter preparations by securing your house. Winter is when most home fires happen, and heating is the second leading cause of home fires.  Check out this Home Fire Safety Guide for tips on ways to keep your home safe.

Here are other ways to keep your home warm and safe this winter:

• Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector and make sure the batteries are working.
• Never leave lit candles or other flames unattended.
• Have your chimney or flue inspected every year.
• Keep blinds and curtains open during the day to absorb heat from the sun. Close them at night to keep the heat from escaping.
• To save on heating bills, close the doors and shut the vents of rooms you are not using. Keep the basement door closed.
• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
• Insulate walls and attics.
• Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls so your water supply will be less likely to freeze.
• Repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on your home or other structure during a storm.

Additionally, make sure your family is safe by dressing warmly and limit exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite. Avoid getting wet and change out of wet clothes as soon as possible to prevent hypothermia. Always remember to bring your pets indoors as temperatures drop.  Take extra precautions if you work in the cold.

Don’t forget to make sure you and your family are up to date on your respiratory vaccines as we spend more time indoors.

If a winter storm heads your way, make sure you understand the warning and advisories. Winter storms, including blizzards, can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds. Make sure you have an emergency plan, listen to weather forecasts regularly, limit your time outside, and have an emergency supply kit on hand. If power lines are down, call your local utility and emergency services. Have extra blankets and warm winter coats on hand to stay warm during power outages. If using a portable space heater, make sure it has an automatic shut-off switch and non-glowing elements and is placed at least three feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or other flammable materials. Never using generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows. The fumes are deadly.

Additionally, make sure your car is travel ready for the winter.

• Check the forecast and road conditions before you leave.
• Check antifreeze level and have radiator system serviced.
• Replace worn tires and check tire air pressure.
• Keep an emergency kit for your car.

This winter remember to stay warm and stay safe!

Each year during November 18-24, U.S. healthcare professionals observe U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us.” It makes clear that everyone has a role to play in this vitally important public health effort. This observance reminds us to raise awareness about:

• The importance of appropriate antibiotic and antifungal use.
• The threat antimicrobial resistance poses to people, animals, plants and their shared environment.

Antimicrobial resistance happens when germs can defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the germs are not killed and continue to grow. Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global public health threat. It causes over 1.27 million deaths around the world and nearly 35,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

Antimicrobial resistance can affect anyone, anywhere, at any stage of life. Antimicrobial-resistant germs can spread rapidly across the globe. It can also spread in healthcare facilities, our community, environment and food supply.

Appropriate use of antibiotic and antifungal drugs helps improve patient outcomes. It optimizes the treatment of infections and avoids drug-related side effects. It slows the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Preventing infections is our first line of defense against antimicrobial resistance. We can prevent infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistance with:

• access to clean water,
• access to quality health care,
• adequate sanitation,
• vaccine coverage and
• improved antibiotic and antifungal use.

Many medical advances are dependent on the ability to fight infections using antibiotics:

• joint replacements,
• organ transplants,
• cancer therapy and
• the treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.

If antibiotics or antifungals aren’t effective, we can’t treat infections. Here are some simple steps we can all take to fight antimicrobial resistance:

• Take antibiotics ONLY when you need them.
• Realize that antibiotics DO NOT work on viruses.
• Remember that antibiotics WILL NOT make you feel better if you have a virus.
• Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Talk to a healthcare provider about side effects of antibiotics.
• Stay healthy and keep others healthy through regular handwashing, staying home if you’re sick and covering your coughs and sneezes.

Quitting smoking is no easy task. Tobacco and nicotine addiction create a battle that impacts people both mentally and physically. But with commitment, a plan and support, people can quit.

Join others in trying to make a change. The Great American Smokeout is on November 21. Start by Making a Plan to Quit and Planning Your Quit Day. Quit Now Virginia can help people who use tobacco and nicotine to make a plan. Quit Now Virginia is free and confidential for all Virginians 13 and older. Free quit medicines may be available, if eligible.

VDH has several InfoSheets to help guide you or a loved one in quitting:

• Ways to Quit Smoking
• How to Help People Quit
• Medications to Help Quit Tobacco and Nicotine
• Tobacco and Stress
• E-cigarettes

The American Cancer Society has also resources that may help.

• Staying Tobacco-free After You Quit
• Help for Cravings and Tough Situations While You’re Quitting Tobacco

The Tobacco Control Program (TCP) is working to reduce tobacco rates and exposure by:

• Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People
• Eliminating Nonsmokers’ Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
• Promoting Quitting Among Adults and Young People
• Identifying and Eliminating Tobacco Related Disparities

VDH wants people to know that a plan and support can help increase one’s chances of quitting tobacco for good. This year, take steps towards living tobacco and nicotine free.

• providing technical assistance
• offering regulatory updates
• providing resources
• fostering collaboration within communities throughout the Commonwealth