Governor Youngkin Announces New Virginia Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Data Dashboards

RICHMOND, Va. – Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the launch of an upgraded Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Dashboard and two new dashboards to monitor and provide actionable data on maternal mortality and pregnancy-associated deaths. The data are designed to be used as a resource to establish best practices to assist mothers during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. This is a part of the Administration’s ongoing effort to support Virginia moms and improve maternal health outcomes. more>>

Governor Glenn Youngkin Releases Virginia Department of Health Report on Richmond’s 2025 Water Crisis

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin released Wednesday the final report from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) on the January 2025 water crisis in the City of Richmond and announced a second notice of violation against the city that requires the implementation of a Corrective Action Plan.  more>>

For more on the Richmond 2025 water crisis, visit the VDH response page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 20, 2025
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Additional Potential Measles Exposures in Northern Virginia
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of two additional confirmed cases of measles that traveled through Northern Virginia Wednesday, March 5 and Friday, March 14. Both people are Maryland residents who recently traveled together internationally. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights.

Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of the potential exposure sites in Virginia:

• Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Wednesday, March 5:
  • Concourse A, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) and in the baggage claim area between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
  • Concourse A, on transportation to the main terminal and in the baggage claim area between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. (Previously reported March 9 and unrelated to this new exposure.)
• Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Friday, March 14:
  • Terminal Shuttle Bus between 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Washington Area Metro on Friday, March 14:
  • Yellow Line Train from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station transferring at the L’Enfant Plaza station to the Silver Line Train heading towards the Downtown Largo station between 12:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website. Additional exposure sites have been identified in Maryland.

Virginia has not had any reported cases of measles in 2025.

What should you do if you were at the above locations on the day and time specified?

• If you have never received a measles containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who was exposed and considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
• Watch for symptoms for 21 days from the date of your potential exposure. If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
• Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms.
• If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
• If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve the highest level of protection, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to fourteen days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spread to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to measles. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records from the VDH Immunization Record Request Form. For additional information, contact your local health department.

Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can call VDH at (804) 363-2704 or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 9, 2025
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Potential Measles Exposure in Northern Virginia
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of a confirmed case of measles at Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday, March 5. The confirmed case was an individual who was returning from international travel. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights.

Listed below is the date, time, and location of the potential exposure site:

• Dulles International Airport (IAD):  in Terminal A, on transportation to the main terminal and in the baggage claim area between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spread to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

What should you do if you were at the above location on the day and time specified?

• If you have never received a measles containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who was exposed and considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
• Watch for symptoms until March 26. If you notice the symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
• Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms.
• If you have received two doses of a measles containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
• If you have received only one dose of a measles containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve complete immunity, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants younger than 12 months of age are too young to be vaccinated. These infants, and others who are not vaccinated, are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to someone with measles. If you or your child have not yet been vaccinated, call your health provider. To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records from the VDH Immunization Record Request Form. For additional information, contact your local health department.

Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can call VDH at (804) 363-2704 or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/

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Influenza Virus Afflicts Tens of Millions of Americans Annually, Resulting in Millions of Medical Visits, Several Hundred Thousand Hospitalizations, Thousands of Fatalities, and a Costly Impact on the U.S. Economy and the Health Care Delivery System

Now is the time for Virginians to get their annual influenza shot to protect against illness as cold, flu, and respiratory virus season approaches. That message was shared by Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, and other health care leaders during an event today at the Bon Secours Sarah Garland Jones Center for Healthy Living. Through words and deeds, leaders participating in the event encouraged Virginians to receive their seasonal flu shots – several rolled up their sleeves and received a flu shot today as an example to the public.  A livestream video of the flu shot event can be viewed online here.

“Getting your annual flu shot is one of the simplest things every Virginian can do to protect themselves and others as the fall respiratory illness season draws near,” said Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton, MD. “Flu sickens millions of people across the U.S. each year and, in the latest flu season, killed tens of thousands nationally. One quick shot can protect you from the flu and help prevent hospitalization or death. The flu shot is proven safe and effective – get yours as soon as you can for this flu season.”

Each year, the flu affects millions of Americans, resulting in doctor visits, hospitalizations, and in some cases, death. Flu season spans October-March. During the 2023-2024 flu season, preliminary estimates  from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate there were at least 31 million flu illnesses, 14 million flu-related medical visits, 350,000 flu hospitalizations, and at least 22,000 flu deaths. This flu season, the CDC projects that the fall and winter respiratory illness period could see a similar number of peak hospitalizations compared to last season. In addition to the physical toll of influenza on patients and health care providers, flu season also has a significant financial impact, with one multi-year study showing more than $11 billion in direct medical and indirect economic costs associated with U.S. adults who contract vaccine-preventable illness such as the flu. According to the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia reported 111,940 emergency department and urgent care visits with diagnosed influenza and an estimated 149 influenza-associated deaths, including three pediatric deaths, during the 2023-2024 flu season.

Vaccination can reduce these numbers by providing a layer of defense against severe illness and helping to reduce the spread of illness. Flu season typically runs from the fall through the spring, with peak activity in the winter months. Symptoms of the flu may include fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, and body aches.

“Every year I roll-up my sleeve to get my flu shot,” said Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. “I’m grateful to stand with members of the health care community and show our mutual support for vaccinations that help to protect ourselves and our loved ones from infection. Thank you to all our health care professionals who work around the clock to help people stay healthy.”

“Bon Secours is focused on improving and ensuring the health of our community,” said Mike Lutes, President, Bon Secours Richmond. “With flu season upon us, it’s important that members of our community know that by getting the influenza vaccine and lessening the likelihood of serious illness for themselves, that also lessens the potential burden on area hospitals as well. We encourage members of the community to talk with their trusted medical providers about protecting themselves against the flu.”

“Annual flu shots are a proven, effective way to prevent serious illness and to protect yourself and the people in your household,” added Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “Getting a flu shot can also help relieve undue burden on hospitals and health care providers, which often encounter increased patient demand for medical care during flu season. When people get sick, it impacts them, their families, and the broader community. It can cost people lost time at work, lost days at school, or worse. Annual flu shots can help protect against those outcomes. By getting vaccinated, people can do their part to keep communities healthier.”

The CDC recommends an annual flu shot for most Americans six months and older. Flu shots are safe, effective, and widely available. They are often covered by private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Those looking for more information are encouraged to visit this website and enter their zip code to find a convenient flu shot location. The flu shot and COVID-19 booster can be received at the same time. People who need more information about COVID-19 boosters can visit this link.

About VDH: The mission of the Virginia Department of Health is to protect the health and promote the well-being of all people in Virginia. Learn more at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/.

About VHHA: The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association is an alliance of 111 hospitals and 26 health delivery systems that develops and advocates for sound health care policy in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to achieve excellence in both health care and health to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. Its vision is through collaboration with members and stakeholders, to ensure the sustainability of Virginia health care system, transform the delivery of care to promote lower costs and high value across the continuum of care, and to improve health for all Virginians. Connect with VHHA through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok , LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Bon Secours – Richmond 
Bon Secours – Richmond is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health , one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours – Richmond provides compassionate medical care through a network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices and ambulatory care sites. As one of Richmond’s largest employers, the not-for-profit health system employs more than 9,000 people, including nearly 420 providers as part of the Bon Secours Medical Group. Bon Secours – Richmond includes St. Mary’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Medical Center, Richmond Community Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, Rappahannock General Hospital, Southside Medical Center, Southern Virginia Medical Center, Westchester Emergency Center, Chester Emergency Center, Short Pump Emergency Center and Southside Emergency Care Center. The mission of Bon Secours is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information visit  BonSecours.com.

Versión en español

The Virginia Department of Health advises the public to avoid natural water bodies across the commonwealth after Tropical Cyclone Helene. During heavy rainfall and flooding, pollution and debris from the land washes into rivers, lakes and streams and eventually winds up in our coastal waterways. Pet, livestock and wildlife wastes, and untreated wastewater from sewage treatment plants that are overloaded by an excess of rainwater can all end up in natural waters used for recreation and pose risks to human health.

To stay safe while in natural waters throughout the state all Virginians should:

• Avoid contact swimming in natural waterways for three days following rain events. Heavy rain picks up anything it comes in contact with, including germs from overflowing sewage, polluted storm water, and runoff from land.
• Never swallow untreated water and don’t swim if your skin has cuts or open wounds.
• Wash hands frequently, including after swimming and before preparing and eating food.
• Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.
• Check the water and the area around it before swimming. Avoid going in water if there is a green film on the water or if the water is cloudier than usual. Avoid swimming near storm drains or livestock.
• Avoid swimming if you are vomiting or have diarrhea.
• Avoid any area where there is water with a foul or chemical odor, dead or dying fish, or discolored water.
• If taking fish caught from natural waters, remove the skin from filets and dispose of viscera and internal organs. Cook filets to proper temperature and clean knives and cutting boards with soapy water. Follow posted fish consumption advisories.
• Check with your healthcare provider before swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers, and other natural bodies of water if your body’s ability to fight germs is already affected by other health problems or medicines.

For additional questions, contact VDH’s Call Center at 877-829-4682 (Option 2), The VDH Call Center is available Monday–Friday (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information on recreational water safety, visit www.SwimHealthyVA.com.

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Versión en español

El Departamento de Salud de Virginia aconseja a los habitantes de Virginia que eviten los cuerpos de agua naturales tras el ciclón tropical Helene.

El Departamento de Salud de Virginia aconseja al público que evite los cuerpos de agua naturales en todo el estado después del ciclón tropical Helene. Durante las lluvias torrenciales y las inundaciones, la contaminación y los desechos llegan a los ríos, lagos y arroyos y acaban desembocando en nuestras aguas costeras. Los desechos de animales domésticos, ganado y fauna silvestre, así como las aguas residuales sin tratar procedentes de depuradoras sobrecargadas por el exceso de agua de lluvia, pueden acabar en cuerpos de agua naturales donde se practican actividades de recreo y suponer un riesgo para la salud de las personas.

Para evitar riesgos para la salud al entrar en contacto con cualquier cuerpo de agua natural (ríos, lagos, arroyos) en Virginia, se recomienda:

• Evitar el baño en cuerpos de aguas naturales tres días después de que haya llovido. Las lluvias torrenciales arrastran todo a su paso, incluidos los gérmenes de las aguas residuales desbordadas, las aguas pluviales contaminadas y la basura de la tierra.
• No tragar nunca agua no tratada y no bañarse si se tienen cortes o heridas abiertas en la piel.
• Lavarse las manos con frecuencia, incluso después de nadar y antes de preparar y comer alimentos.
• Ducharse o bañarse después de nadar para eliminar posibles gérmenes y productos contaminantes.
• Antes de bañarse, revise el agua y la zona alrededor de la misma. Evitar entrar en el agua si observa una capa verde o si el agua está más turbia de lo habitual. Evitar bañarse cerca de los desagües pluviales (tuberías que drenan el agua contaminada de las calles) y de las zonas donde hay ganado.
• Evitar entrar en el agua si tiene vómitos o diarrea.
• Evitar cualquier zona donde haya agua con olor fétido o químico, peces muertos o moribundos, o agua descolorida.
• Si consume pescado procedente de aguas naturales, retire la piel de los filetes y deseche las vísceras y los órganos internos. Cocine los filetes a una temperatura adecuada y limpie los cuchillos y las tablas de cortar con agua y jabón. Siga las recomendaciones sobre el consumo de pescado.
• Consultar a su médico antes de bañarse en océanos, lagos, ríos y otros cuerpos de agua naturales si la capacidad de su organismo para luchar contra los gérmenes ya está afectada por otros problemas de salud o por el uso medicamentos.

Si tiene alguna pregunta adicional, póngase en contacto con el centro de atención telefónica de VDH llamando al 877-829-4682 (opción 2), disponible de lunes a viernes (excepto festivos) de 8 de la mañana a 5 de la tarde.  Para más información sobre la seguridad en las aguas de recreo, visite www.SwimHealthyVA.com.

Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced the first recipients of the Earn to Learn program to address critical workforce shortages for nurses across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Earn to Learn Nursing Education Acceleration Program aims to transform nurse clinical education to accelerate the development of practice-ready nurse graduates. The grant was open to educational institutions or organizations that offer Virginia Board of Nursing-approved nursing education programs for pre-licensure Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).

“The Earn to Learn program is a win all around for nursing students, schools, hospitals, and communities,” said State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, MD. “Nursing students will be able to earn a stipend while completing classes and clinical training. The program has academic and hospital partners in every region of the state, ensuring opportunities are spread across Virginia. For communities, more nursing graduates means more nurses to take care of patients in doctor’s offices, hospitals, urgent care centers, clinics and other settings.”

“Preparing future clinicians for careers in medicine is imperative at a time when we face serious shortages of nurses, doctors, and behavioral health professionals,” said Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “The Earn to Learn program is an innovative apprenticeship model that promotes collaboration between nursing schools and hospitals by providing hands-on clinical experience and compensation to nurses in training. It aligns with work already happening in Virginia hospitals where many aspiring nurses and doctors receive training. VHHA and its members are also working to strengthen Virginia’s health care workforce through initiatives such as the On Board Virginia campaign to recruit new nurses to practice in the Commonwealth. Earn to Learn is an essential tool to help address nursing shortages. We are excited to see its implementation and we commend Governor Youngkin and the Virginia General Assembly for enacting this important program.”

The Earn to Learn program was included in the adopted 2024 budget. In establishing the program, the General Assembly directed VDH to utilize $5 million of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLRF) authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to establish the Commonwealth’s Earn to Learn Nursing Education Acceleration Program in Fiscal Year 2024. For Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026, $4 million in general funds was appropriated to the program.

The Earn to Learn program provides funding to educational institutions in the Commonwealth to foster collaborative clinical training arrangements between grant recipients, hospitals, and health providers with the goals of:

• increasing the number of nursing students in Virginia’s nursing programs,
• creating more employment opportunities for nursing students so that they are more likely to secure jobs upon completion of their training, and
• producing more practice-ready Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses thus enhancing RN and LPN retention in the Commonwealth.

Students participating in the program will be placed at partner clinical sites to receive paid, hands-on training and mentorship that complements their academic studies. This pay enables students to earn a wage comparable to their current level of practice while training to obtain a higher certification level. The Earn to Learn model is based on a growing body of evidence that suggests better workforce program outcomes come from programs that incorporate hands-on, work-based trainings alongside academic engagement and include access to one-on-one career navigation assistance and other wraparound services.

The following educational institutions received Earn to Learn grants:

Paul D. Camp Community College	Franklin	$500,000.00
Rappahannock Community College	Warsaw	$267,885.04
Germanna Community College	Locust Grove	$500,000.00
Northern Virginia Community College	Annandale	$213,180.00
Marymount University	Arlington	$500,000.00
New River Community College	Dublin	$358,911.00
Virginia Western Community College	Roanoke	$439,521.22
James Madison University	Harrisonburg	$372,749.00
Blue Ridge Community College	Weyers Cave	$374,967.00
Southside Community College	Alberta	$367,994.53
Galen College of Nursing – Richmond	Richmond	$470,819.00
Laurel Ridge Community College	Middletown	$500,000.00
Virginia Commonwealth University	Richmond	$493,964.00

Virginia Area Health Education Centers (AHECs)

• Each red dot represents an ETL awardee on the map.

The awardee institutions are expected to:

• provide coordinated educational training, paid clinical experience, and mentorship for RN and/or LPN students,
• routinely collect data on participant skill acquisition and post-graduation employment readiness, employer satisfaction, nursing shortages among clinical sites, increased RN and/or LNP enrollments at participating schools, and
• participate in technical assistance/ cohort activities hosted by VDH.

For more information about the Earn to Learn program, visit the VDH Earn to Learn website.

VDH implements critical reforms and strengthens financial oversight to support a more efficient and accountable EMS system

On Wednesday, Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton and Chief Operating Officer Christopher Lindsay shared the results of a year-long audit they had requested into VDH’s Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS).

The audit identified significant financial irregularities by former OEMS leadership, dating back to 2019. This resulted in $33 million in unpaid debts and over-obligations, including over $4 million in fraudulent charges, and has since led to major reforms and the conviction of a former employee.

In the summer of 2023, Dr. Karen Shelton requested the internal audit after discovering the financial irregularities. The Internal Audit revealed multi-million-dollar contracts that bypassed state procurement rules through the use of Regional EMS Councils, as well as the improper allocation of funds from the mandated Trauma Fund and Rescue Squad Assistance Fund grants to cover the costs for the EMS Symposium, inflated operating expenses, and EMS-related technology.

“Lack of oversight and internal controls within OEMS led to financial irregularities and criminal fraud that had impacts at state, regional, and local EMS levels,” said VDH Commissioner Karen Shelton. “While these findings are difficult to confront, VDH has been taking proactive measures to address these issues which will lead to a well supported EMS system across the Commonwealth.”

The Internal Audit Report outlined 63 key recommendations for VDH Leadership and the OEMS. Dr. Shelton and Mr. Lindsay presented the key findings of the audit, highlighting initiatives that have already been completed or that are planned as part of the effort to bring OEMS into compliance with the audit findings.

The following are some of the significant changes which have been implemented:

• Placement of an interim director of OEMS since the fall 2023
• Reorganization of the OEMS leadership structure, including the permanent placement of a dedicated business operations manager to consult on financial decisions
• Weekly briefings for VDH senior leadership on all aspects of OEMS restructuring and financial status
• Evaluation and restructuring of all OEMS contracts and business relations to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth of Virginia procurement and contracting requirements
• Redesign of the Trauma Fund payout plan to create more transparency and regularity of payment for Virginia’s trauma centers
• Ensuring that all funds committed to the “Return to Locality,” “Rescue Squad Assistance Fund,” and “Trauma Funds” are used in accordance with the Virginia Code

“The changes we have implemented will ensure that the Office of Emergency Medical Services is now in a much stronger financial position, with the right leadership structure and resources in place,” said Chief Operating Officer Christopher Lindsay. “This allows EMS providers across the Commonwealth to be better supported and ready to respond when Virginians need them most.”

Following a review of the audit findings, Fitch & Associates, an EMS consulting firm contracted by VDH, presented on recommendations to improve the strategic direction of the OEMS based on best practices. Proposals included:

• A plan to position OEMS for stronger oversight
• A proposed revised Regional Council structure and oversight model
• A recommended policy and regulatory framework
• Suggested enhancements to the EMS Advisory Board, EMS programs, and their functions

To learn more about the VDH’s OEMS, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/.

Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) launched a new Respiratory Illness Dashboard, which replaces several older dashboards. This dashboard provides key insights into respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). By integrating data from multiple sources, the dashboard offers a comprehensive and streamlined view of respiratory disease trends across Virginia.

The new Respiratory Illness Dashboard can be found at www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/respiratory-diseases-in-virginia/data/.

“We believe this new resource will empower Virginians with the information they need to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones during respiratory illness season,” said State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, MD. “By staying informed and taking preventive measures — such as keeping up with vaccines, improving air quality, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands frequently, and staying home when sick — everyone can contribute to reducing the spread of illness.”

The dashboard consolidates data from previous influenza and COVID-19 dashboards, which were crucial tools during the height of the pandemic. The dashboard tracks emergency department (ED) visit data for COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Trends are highlighted by age group to show which populations are most affected. ED visit data can be one of the fastest ways to spot changing trends in respiratory illness activity. To view local data for your community, visit the updated Emergency Visits for Respiratory Illnesses dashboard.

In addition to tracking ED visits, the dashboard shows the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19, flu, or RSV, offering insights into the severity of these illnesses. It also identifies which viruses are circulating, including seasonal flu subtypes, and tracks outbreak trends by setting, such as, in schools, daycares, and nursing homes. Vaccination coverage rates for respiratory viruses are also displayed, offering a glimpse of community protection levels across the Commonwealth.

With the launch of the new respiratory illness dashboard, VDH will retire the Influenza surveillance, COVID-19 summary, COVID-19 cases, and COVID-19 case demographics dashboards. The number of COVID-19 cases is no longer a reliable measure for tracking trends due to the widespread use of at-home tests, which are not reported to VDH.