The Teen Wellness Center, located at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King Street, will be closed from Thursday, June 20, through Monday, July 1, for scheduled maintenance. Medical services and appointments will not be available. Mental health counseling services will be limited and relocated. For information about mental health counseling services, please call 703.746.3541. On July 2, the Teen Wellness Center will be open for regular business hours -- Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thank you for your patience.

Beginning October 1, 2013, millions of uninsured Americans will be able to find health insurance that meets their needs and fits the way they live, at the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace will give Americans who are uninsured or who buy their own coverage a whole new way to shop for insurance. Click here for more information.

Some lots of Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend (sold under the Harris Teeter brand in Virginia) may be linked to a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections. Please see the Virginia Department of Health website for more information: www.vdh.virginia.gov.     

On Tuesday, April 23, the Alexandria Health Department conducted a tabletop exercise with Goodwin House Alexandria, a large two-building facility housing nearly 400 residents, including a mix of skilled nursing care, as well as assisted and independent living. This was the second exercise of its kind in Northern Virginia (the first one was also conducted by AHD in 2011), bringing together all partners that might be involved if an emergency requires a high-rise nursing home facility to evacuate patients.

Manufacturers of purified protein derivative (PPD) used in the tuberculin skin test (TST) are experiencing delays in production, resulting in a nationwide shortage. Click here to see information about Alexandria Health Department (AHD) tuberculosis (TB) control activities.

The fourth annual County Health Rankings were released by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on March 20, 2013. Please click here to view the results.

The Alexandria Health Department and Sheriff's Office recently took part in a joint exercise to dispense medicine to first responders in the event of a bioterrorism attack. The Health Department has been working closely with the Sheriff’s Office and other public safety agencies to develop plans that ensure public safety personnel receive proper medication in case of a biological attack so they are able to continue working.

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.

Immunizations apply to all of us — from infants to seniors. Vaccines protect you from serious diseases and keep our community healthy. Protect yourself and our community- be wise, immunize! Click here to view the current recommended immunization schedules and other useful resources.

 As flu activity continues to increase locally and across the U.S., take time to learn about a few simple steps that you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community! (please click here for Spanish version)

Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. It is endemic in the Northern Virginia area, and is most commonly found in wild animal populations such as raccoons, foxes, bats and skunks. The best way to prevent the spread of rabies is to keep pets properly vaccinated and to report any animal (domestic or wild) acting strangely or erratically to Animal Control at 703.746.4774. Visit http://alexandriava.gov/Rabies for more information.

The Alexandria Health Department Brochure of Services, in both English and Spanish (please click on either to view and print) is available. The brochures provide a wide overview of our services, including program descriptions, locations, and phone numbers and hours of operation.

The Alexandria Health Department is 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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