WEATHER ALERT
The first 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine reach Congo. But it's a fraction of what is needed
Read full article: The first 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine reach Congo. But it's a fraction of what is neededAuthorities in Congo say the first batch of mpox vaccine has arrived in Congo’s capital, three weeks after the World Health Organization declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.
Death toll increases to nine in listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head Deli meats
Read full article: Death toll increases to nine in listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head Deli meatsThe CDC released a statement on Wednesday once again reminding the public to avoid deli meats and products that have been recalled.
Africa has almost 4,000 new mpox cases in a week, but the wait for vaccines continues
Read full article: Africa has almost 4,000 new mpox cases in a week, but the wait for vaccines continuesAfrica's public health body is seeing a rapid increase in mpox cases, with almost 4,000 reported on the continent in the last week.
Healthwatch: Doctors weigh in on sleep aid products, and if they really work
Read full article: Healthwatch: Doctors weigh in on sleep aid products, and if they really workThere are all kinds of products that claim to help you sleep, like essential oils, sound machines and melatonin. But, do any of them actually work? Doctors weigh in.
US measles cases are up in 2024. What's driving the increase?
Read full article: US measles cases are up in 2024. What's driving the increase?There have been 17 times as many U.S. measles cases in the first three months of this year compared with the average number seen in the first three months of the previous three years.
Cases of COVID-19, flu cases remain high after holiday surge
Read full article: Cases of COVID-19, flu cases remain high after holiday surgeWith the new year came a high number of cases of respiratory illnesses. According to the CDC, in the week ending on Dec. 30, there were more than 1,000 new hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Nurses encourage low-dosage cancer screenings
Read full article: Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Nurses encourage low-dosage cancer screeningsNovember is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and LewisGale leaders are spreading awareness about getting low-dosage cancer screenings that can help patients learn if they have lung cancer.
Virginia sees highest number of syphilis cases in more than three decades
Read full article: Virginia sees highest number of syphilis cases in more than three decadesThe Commonwealth is seeing the highest number of syphilis cases reported in more than three decades, according to the Virginia Dept. of Health.
Fear to conversation: How organizations are working to shatter stigma on sexual health
Read full article: Fear to conversation: How organizations are working to shatter stigma on sexual healthThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2.5 million cases of STDs in 2021. Health experts continue their focus on outreach in both metropolitan and rural areas.
Virginia sees 1,589 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, 10,611 new cases in the last week
Read full article: Virginia sees 1,589 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, 10,611 new cases in the last weekAs of Tuesday, Virginia is reporting 2,251,042 cases of the coronavirus across the Commonwealth since March 2020.
Virginia sees 2,135 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, 16,009 new cases in the last week
Read full article: Virginia sees 2,135 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, 16,009 new cases in the last weekAs of Tuesday, Virginia is reporting 2,229,877 cases of the coronavirus across the Commonwealth since March 2020.
CDC, WHO, Uganda to host regional meeting as Ebola spreads
Read full article: CDC, WHO, Uganda to host regional meeting as Ebola spreadsThe Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Uganda next week will host a ministerial meeting on the outbreak of the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus which has no proven vaccine and has caused alarm in the East Africa region.
Study tries to see if child vaccines and asthma are linked
Read full article: Study tries to see if child vaccines and asthma are linkedA federally funded study has found a possible link between aluminum in some childhood vaccines and persistent asthma, but experts say the study has several shortcomings.
WHO again considers declaring monkeypox a global emergency
Read full article: WHO again considers declaring monkeypox a global emergencyThe World Health Organization is convening its emergency committee to consider for the second time within weeks whether the expanding outbreak of monkeypox should be declared a global crisis.
VDH responds to CDC recommendation of COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 6 months
Read full article: VDH responds to CDC recommendation of COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 6 monthsThe Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months, clearing the way for vaccinations to begin soon.
Localities in the Roanoke Valley considered high COVID-19 transmission areas by CDC
Read full article: Localities in the Roanoke Valley considered high COVID-19 transmission areas by CDCOn Thursday, the CDC updated its COVID-19 Transmission Tracker and elevated some localities in the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts.
‘Drugs are just taking over’: Virginia sees 65% increase in fatal overdoses in 2020
Read full article: ‘Drugs are just taking over’: Virginia sees 65% increase in fatal overdoses in 2020A new CDC study shows that drug overdoses and poisonings were the third leading cause of death for children and teenagers ages one to 19 in 2020, jumping 83.6 percent from the year before.
Virginia down to 17% of its cities and counties at a high COVID-19 Community Level
Read full article: Virginia down to 17% of its cities and counties at a high COVID-19 Community LevelAcross Virginia, the number of people living in areas where the CDC would recommend masking indoors continues to decrease.
Masks, proof of vaccination will no longer be required at the Jefferson Center starting March 11
Read full article: Masks, proof of vaccination will no longer be required at the Jefferson Center starting March 11The Jefferson Center is easing up on its COVID-19 policies following changes to CDC guidelines.
New CDC masking guidance still has 48% of Virginia cities and counties wearing masks indoors
Read full article: New CDC masking guidance still has 48% of Virginia cities and counties wearing masks indoorsWhile new CDC guidance lifts masking guidance for many Americans, the vast majority of those in Southwest and Central Virginia are still being advised to wear masks while inside public places.
CDC warns against travel to Mexico, Singapore and 127 more countries due to high COVID-19 risk
Read full article: CDC warns against travel to Mexico, Singapore and 127 more countries due to high COVID-19 riskAs the pandemic persists, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have added a dozen countries to a list of locations with the highest level of risk associated with COVID-19.
Ballad Health will allow asymptomatic COVID-positive staff to work due to staffing shortage
Read full article: Ballad Health will allow asymptomatic COVID-positive staff to work due to staffing shortageIndividuals who test positive for COVID-19 and aren’t showing any symptoms will still be allowed work at Ballad Health, WCYB reports.
VDH responds to Roanoke County School Board’s vote to make masks optional in the classroom
Read full article: VDH responds to Roanoke County School Board’s vote to make masks optional in the classroomAn unexpected work session vote Tuesday by the Roanoke County School Board to get rid of the school-wide mask mandate if and when Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin reverses the current public health order.
Former CDC director weighs in on COVID-19 guidance before students return to school
Read full article: Former CDC director weighs in on COVID-19 guidance before students return to schoolAs the omicron variant spreads across the united states, the former director of the CDC is laying out guidance for parents with children returning to school.
Health experts hope COVID-19 boosters, kid doses will prevent holiday case surge
Read full article: Health experts hope COVID-19 boosters, kid doses will prevent holiday case surgeHealth leaders, like Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District spokesperson, Christie Wills are hopeful the expansion of eligibility for booster shots will help prevent a COVID case surge during the holiday season.
Central Shenandoah Health District offering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11
Read full article: Central Shenandoah Health District offering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11Following the CDC’s approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, options for where kids can get the vaccine are expanding in our region.
Nearly 400,000 Virginians received a booster for the COVID-19 vaccine so far
Read full article: Nearly 400,000 Virginians received a booster for the COVID-19 vaccine so farNearly 2.2 million people nationwide are now eligible to receive COVID booster shots after the CDC authorized extra doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines Thursday night.
CDC recommends masks for trick-or-treaters and avoiding indoor gatherings this Halloween
Read full article: CDC recommends masks for trick-or-treaters and avoiding indoor gatherings this HalloweenThis year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends trick-or-treating outside in small groups and avoiding crowded indoor Halloween parties.
Boy dies from rare brain-eating amoeba found at Texas splash pad
Read full article: Boy dies from rare brain-eating amoeba found at Texas splash padA child has died after being infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba that was found at a Texas splash pad he had visited, and a review discovered lapses in water-quality testing at several parks, officials said Monday.
Virginia to provide third dose of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised people
Read full article: Virginia to provide third dose of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised peopleThe Virginia Department of Health announced that the Commonwealth will make third doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised people this month.
Virginia gubernatorial candidates respond to Gov. Northam’s comments on masks in schools
Read full article: Virginia gubernatorial candidates respond to Gov. Northam’s comments on masks in schoolsVirginia's gubernatorial candidates are commenting on Governor Ralph Northam's order for school divisions to follow the CDC guidelines on masks -- or face legal action.
No use of the phrase ‘mask mandate’ could have been a political move by Gov. Northam
Read full article: No use of the phrase ‘mask mandate’ could have been a political move by Gov. NorthamDuring Governor Ralph Northam’s 32-minute news conference Thursday, not once did he use the phrase ‘mask mandate’ while addressing the policy for grades K through 12 -- even when asked about it multiple times. That has many wondering if it was a political move ahead of November’s election.
New CDC guidance, Virginia law require mask mandate for in K-12 public schools
Read full article: New CDC guidance, Virginia law require mask mandate for in K-12 public schoolsDays before classes start, the Roanoke County School Board will now require masks for everyone this fall - vaccinated or not.
Gov. Northam says Virginia schools not following CDC masking guidance could face legal action
Read full article: Gov. Northam says Virginia schools not following CDC masking guidance could face legal actionGov. Ralph Northam announced new coronavirus guidance for the Commonwealth as cases begin to increase.
Confused about your options regarding the CDC’s eviction moratorium? Here’s what you need to know
Read full article: Confused about your options regarding the CDC’s eviction moratorium? Here’s what you need to knowJeremy White, managing attorney at the Virginia Legal Aid Society’s Lynchburg office, is helping people understand their options ahead of the Oct. 3 deadline.
Hispanic and Black communities’ life expectancies dropped about three years, says CDC
Read full article: Hispanic and Black communities’ life expectancies dropped about three years, says CDCLife expectancy in the U.S. dropped by a year and a half in 2020 and COVID-19 is largely to blame, according to the CDC.
EXPLAINER: How Virginia is helping tenants with rental aid
Read full article: EXPLAINER: How Virginia is helping tenants with rental aidThe end of some tenant protections by the end of next month has raised concerns that thousands of Virginia residents will be unable to afford their rent and face eviction.