State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, MD, MBA, FAAP, pledged Virginia’s support of the national Million Hearts Initiative this past March, making the state the third in the nation to join the project.  The initiative focuses, coordinates and enhances cardiovascular disease prevention activities across public and private sectors in an unprecedented effort to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years.

Did you know that nearly 3 in 10 girls in the U.S. get pregnant at least once before age 20? Help recognize May 2012 as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (National kick-off was May 2). All across the nation, health departments and other organizations will be joining efforts to send one simple message: Sex has consequences.

The Environmental Health Division’s (EHD) Food Safety Program recently completed a customer service evaluation. Food facility owners and managers were invited to rate the program by responding to five closed-ended and three open-ended questions and then anonymously mail their responses back. More than 98% of respondents were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the Food Safety Program services that they had received. The EHD also received many constructive suggestions for program improvement from our food safety partners. The complete report and our action plan to address the suggestions for improvement may be accessed here.

The manufacturer of Lo-Ovral birth control pills has issued a recall for certain packs of Lo-Ovral distributed between January and December 2011 (click on this link for a list of affected pills). The recall is the result of a packaging error. The manufacturer states that “taking this product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.” If you took pills affected by the recall and have concerns or questions, please contact the manufacturer, Akrimax, at their customer service line, 877-509-3935.

During the week of November 1, the Environmental Health Division mailed the annual permit renewal packets to all food facilities, hotels/motels, and year-round aquatic facilities. Each packet contained an invoice, a permit application, and instructions on how to renew. The renewal fee and completed permit application should be returned within thirty days from the date on the invoice. All 2011 operating permits will expire on December 31.

CDC has a fun new way of teaching the importance of emergency preparedness. Their new graphic novel, "Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic" demonstrates the importance of being prepared in an entertaining way that people of all ages will enjoy. Readers follow Todd, Julie, and their dog Max as a strange new disease begins spreading, turning ordinary people into zombies. Stick around to the end for a surprising twist that will drive home the importance of being prepared for any emergency. Included in the novel is a Preparedness Checklist so that readers can get their family, workplace, or school ready before disaster strikes. Click here to view the novella. Transcripts of each chapter are provided below each chapter thumbnail.

Many people think pertussis (or “whooping cough”) no longer exists. Actually, it remains a poorly controlled illness.  How can you protect yourself and your loved ones from this very contagious illness?  The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated with the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine.

Effective Thursday, January 6, 2011, the Alexandria Health Department will be closed to the public on Thursday mornings, 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., for internal administrative functions and staff development.  The other days of the week, the Health Department will be open during its usual business hours.  For further information, call 703.746.4996.  Thank you.

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