RCAHD Health Updates Newsletter
03.27.24
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Health updates for residents of the
Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD)
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Protecting, Connecting, Thriving:
National Public Health Week April 1-7
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Learn more about the many public health activities undertaken by RCAHD in the 2023 Annual Report
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During the week of April 1-7, the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts will observe National Public Health Week. The national theme, “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health,” emphasizes what we know is true: the community’s health improves when we work together to build safe, interconnected, healthy communities for everyone.
Every day, public health workers across our districts, the state, and the country strive to make sure that our water, air, and food are safe. In addition to efforts to assure conditions for all people to be healthy, the public health workforce is responsible for assessing the community’s health; developing policies and programs to address needs; and assuring that those programs are effective, efficient, and available to all.
Locally, RCAHD staff efforts have recently focused on Community Health Assessment processes in both the Roanoke Valley and Alleghany Highlands to gather input about health priorities directly from community members. These activities will allow us to both examine the complex issues that underlie community health and join partners to build a common agenda with shared resources.
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Additional public health activities undertaken by RCAHD staff over the past year have included:
- Working with numerous community partners to respond to increases in reported cases of communicable diseases, particularly tuberculosis and syphilis. In 2023, we worked with medical providers to manage eight active cases of tuberculosis, a concerning rise over the typical baseline of one or two cases per year.
- Monitoring an ongoing increase of invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) cases since 2022. ...
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Looking Back: By The Numbers 2020-2024
March 19, 2024 marked four years since the first RCAHD COVID-19 case was announced in 2020. Recent local trends reflect that COVID infections now cause less frequent severe disease than earlier in the pandemic. For example, total COVID-related hospitalizations in the last 15 months (1,140) are lower than six months of hospitalizations at the pandemic’s peak (1,412).
All details as of March 10, 2024
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We attribute this improvement in outcomes to greater immune protection levels provided by vaccines, prior infection, or both. As part of its pandemic response, RCAHD has now provided over 40,000 COVID vaccinations to residents. |
COVID has not disappeared, but we now have better tools to protect ourselves, such as vaccination and treatment. Going forward, we can benefit by applying the lessons we have learned about immunization, hygiene and ventilation to future respiratory seasons. |
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RCAHD Health Situation Update
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As recent trends for respiratory illness have continued to improve, the March 19 health situation update will be the final weekly update in its current form. As always, we will update you here (and elsewhere!) with any public health alerts.
We remain focused on protecting the health and well-being of all RCAHD residents, particularly those at highest at risk, including seniors and immunocompromised people. COVID-19 remains a public health priority, and our work to protect residents will continue.
Adults aged 65+ and those who are immunocompromised should receive an additional COVID vaccine booster. If you qualify, visit us or vaccines.gov to schedule an updated dose near you.
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Catch the replay on PBS2, March 28, 10am or PBS.org
"The Invisible Shield" on PBS
Public health makes modern life possible. The Invisible Shield examines how new challenges are putting our health at risk.
This four-part PBS series unpacks how the field of public health has saved countless lives, protected people from the constant threat of disease, and increased lifespans.
It also explores the hidden public health infrastructure that makes modern life possible, and highlights the unsung heroes—healthcare providers, scientists, reformers, engineers, and government officials—who have battled some of the world’s greatest health threats, from smallpox to COVID-19.
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"The Invisible Shield" (Ep. 1 30sec preview)
Check local PBS listings, or stream on PBS.org.
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How to Safely Experience the Solar Eclipse
Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause serious eye damage. Here are some tips to safely observe the solar eclipse on April 8:
DOs
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Use eclipse glasses or solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 standards (also termed "ISO 12312-2:2015"). Do not stare continuously at the sun. Take breaks and give your eyes a rest.
- If you normally wear glasses, wear them with the protective eclipse viewers over them.
- Supervise children at all times.
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Use a box pinhole viewer. Learn how to make one
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Use a pinhole projector. Learn how to make one
- Use your hands to cast shadows on the ground. Cross your hands with fingers slightly spread to create a waffle pattern. Look down to see the spaces between your fingers project a crescent-shaped shadow image of the sun during the partial eclipse stages.
- Watch shadows on the ground, such as beneath a leafy tree, during the eclipse to see crescent sun shadows projected by the spaces between the leaves.
DON'Ts
- Do not look at the sun directly.
- Do not view through regular sunglasses. No matter how dark they are, they will not protect your eyes.
- Do not use damaged eclipse sunglasses or solar viewers. If they are torn, scratched or punctured, throw them away. If the filters are coming out of their frames, discard them.
- Do not use homemade filters.
- Do not view through welder's glass. The glass in most welding helmets is not strong enough.
- Do not view through your camera viewfinder.
- Do not view through a phone camera, telescope, or binoculars without a proper solar filter. Your eyes will not be protected by your eclipse sunglasses alone when using these items.
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Viewing any part of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will cause severe eye injury.
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Planning to decorate Easter eggs soon?
- Use food coloring or specially made, food-grade egg dyes
- Use crayons, paints or art materials that are labeled non-toxic
- Keep a close eye on small children as they can mistake dye tablets for candy
- Discard hard-boiled eggs after seven days
The Blue Ridge Poison Control Center is a 24-hour, 7-days a week hotline for help with suspected poisonings, as well as non-emergency calls about poisons and poison safety. 800-222-1222
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