Health Department

The fourth annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day takes place this year on April 29, 2025. Fentanyl Awareness Day is observed to help inform communities like ours about the dangers of illegally made fentanyl. Across all ages, almost all (95%) fatal opioid overdoses have involved fentanyl since 2020 in the Fairfax Health District. Illegal fentanyl is dangerous, but there are steps you can take to prevent overdoses. See the infographic below to get the facts on fentanyl and learn how to help prevent fentanyl overdoses in our community. 

From the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is reporting the state's first measles case of the year. The patient is a child (0-4 years) in the Northwest Region who recently traveled internationally. To protect the family's privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating efforts to identify anyone who might have been exposed. "This first case of measles in Virginia this year is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with internation travel," said VDH State Epidemiologist Laurie Forlano, D.O., M.P.H. "Vaccination remains our best defense against measles and is safe and highly effective at protecting people and preventing outbreaks. We urge Virginians, especially those planning to travel, to check their vaccination status, talk to their health care provider, and get the MMR vaccine if needed." Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of the potential exposure sights in Virginia: Location Date and Time Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center, Advanced Urgent Care Located at 13285 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge From 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15 Kaiser Permanente Fredericksburg Medical Center, Pediatrics Department Located at 1201 Hospital Drive in Fredericksburg From noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16   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 might have been exposed and is considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately. Watch for symptoms for 21 days after the date of your potential exposure. If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need to seek healthcare, 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 spreads 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 your vaccination records using the VDH Immunization Record Request Form. Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov or contact your local health department. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/

  R.I.S.E., which stands for Reading Intervention & Support for Excellence, is an intensive summer reading skills program offered by the Fairfax County Health Department's Speech and Hearing therapists. The R.I.S.E. program helps school-age children ages 5–21 develop language and reading skills. This multisensory, research-backed program builds essential skills in reading, spelling, and writing for young people who have received a diagnosis of dyslexia. Led by ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologists, our one-on-one, personalized approach begins with the Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS)® program to strengthen phonological awareness, then transitions into an Orton-Gillingham-based method to teach the rules of reading and writing effectively. Highlights of the program include: Individualized instruction tailored to the student’s needs 30–40 hours of programming lasting between 6 to 8 weeks Follow-up support throughout the school year, tracking continued progress Affordable options: The Health Department accepts Medicaid and offers a sliding-scale fee for Fairfax County residents Benefits for your child can include: Increased reading confidence and fluency Improved spelling and writing skills Greater success in school and reduced frustration with learning Enhanced self-esteem and a potential new passion for reading Stronger foundation for lifelong academic and personal achievement By providing engaging materials, along with assessment tools for setting attainable goals, the therapist is dedicated to helping each child improve their literacy skills. Participating in the program is intensive in the beginning, meeting five times per week for 6 weeks. It drops back to two-to-three times per week for the remainder of the academic year, if needed. The program will take place during normal business hours, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.at the Herndon-Reston Health Clinic. The cost is $96.80 per session. A sliding scale is offered for all Fairfax County Residents who may qualify based on income qualifications. Medicaid is also accepted. Don’t delay, sign up today to ensure your student's spot in the program. Space is limited To participate, you must register by May 30, 2025, by completing the Speech and Hearing Program request form. Select “Reading Program” in the Service Being Requested drop down menu. For more information about registration, call 703-246-7120. More information about the Health Department’s Speech, Language, and Hearing Services is available on the Health Department's website.