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Epidemiology Surveillance Report

March 2023
A Communicable Diseases Update for providers in
Alleghany, Botetourt, Covington, Craig, Roanoke City and County, and Salem
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To optimally protect the community’s health, Virginia’s healthcare professionals and laboratories are required to report over 70 conditions to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

This newsletter is intended to provide timely updates about reportable conditions in the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) for our local partners in public health. This issue reflects disease activity reported through February 28, 2023.
In this issue:
  • Summary of reportable diseases through February 2023
  • RCAHD Spotlight on Tuberculosis
Summary of Reportable Diseases
Overview
  • There were no notable communicable disease concerns in February. We continue to identify an increase in individuals with hepatitis C and with community-acquired invasive Group A Streptococcus (9 cases so far in 2023).

Meningitis
  • Earlier this month, VDH announced an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) serogroup Y in the eastern region of Virginia. We have had one confirmed case identified in RCAHD in 2023.

Respiratory illnesses
  • Currently both COVID-19 activity and influenza activity are low in our districts. Omicron variant X.BB.15 remains the predominantly circulating strain. 

Rabies
  • Rabies investigations: Of the 47 investigations for potential exposure to rabies, 42 investigations involved domestic animals. Post-exposure prophylaxis was recommended in 8 cases. Of six animals tested, rabies was confirmed in one case, a skunk.

Spotlight: Tuberculosis
This month's spotlight on tuberculosis (TB) reflects the theme of World TB Day (March 24), dedicated to raising awareness of TB and the efforts to eliminate it: “Yes, we can end TB!”
  • Latent TB infection (LTBI) occurs when TB bacteria live in the body without making a person sick. Importantly, people with latent TB infection cannot spread TB to others.
  • Without treatment, about 10% of people with LTBI will develop TB disease.
  • TB disease occurs when TB bacteria multiply in the body, causing symptoms that create the opportunity for transmission to others.
  • TB is a preventable and curable disease yet globally, TB remains a leading cause of death due to infectious disease. Fortunately, because of comprehensive TB control programs, the United States has one of the lowest rates of TB disease in the world.

In Virginia, there have been 150-200 cases of TB disease reported per year over the past five years. In the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts, on average, only 2-4 cases of TB disease are reported every year.

When TB is suspected
As part of our collective effort to eliminate TB, Virginia requires by law all healthcare professionals to contact their local health department when they suspect TB disease. The RCAHD TB team will assist with further testing and if indicated, treatment. Directly observed therapy is provided to every individual with TB disease. In addition to TB disease, in 2018, LTBI became a reportable condition in Virginia. 

Our health department TB team is eager to assist our healthcare professionals in reducing the impact of TB in our community. Please contact our TB Nurse Coordinator Amy Beahm (540-204-9974) with any questions or requests for more information.
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