News

The Virginia Department of Health has partially lifted its recreational water advisory for a portion of the Potomac River as repairs continue from January’s massive sewage spill.

The advisory, first issued Feb. 13, has now been lifted for a stretch of the river including Alexandria’s waterfront. The cleared area starts south at the Route 120 Chain Bridge and ends at the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in King George County, according to a VDH announcement this afternoon (Thursday).


News

The Alexandria Health Department is advising residents to be cautious around wildlife after two people reported being bitten by a raccoon in Old Town yesterday (Tuesday).

According to AHD, two people said they were bitten by a raccoon near N. Henry Street, N. Patrick Street and Cameron Street in Old Town. It’s unclear if the bites came from the same raccoon, “but the incidents happened close together in time,” according to an AHD announcement this afternoon.


News

An Alexandria office building is one of several potential measles exposure sites in Northern Virginia confirmed by state health officials last night (Thursday).

People in the office building, located at 2800 Eisenhower Avenue, could have been exposed to measles between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The office was reported as an exposure site in connection with two new measles cases in the region.


News

The Alexandria Health Department is advising residents of another measles case, the seventh in the Northern Virginia region.

An adult who recently traveled abroad was diagnosed with measles after visiting a local grocery store and two Inova facilities, according to the Virginia Department of Health.


News

New potential measles exposures in Northern Virginia were confirmed last week, following several cases in the region so far this year.

A preschool-age child and an out-of-state resident with measles recently traveled in Reagan National Airport and a Yellow Line Metro train, in addition to visiting a medical facility in Haymarket. Dates, times and exact locations of the potential exposure sites are listed below, according to the Virginia Department of Health.


News

The Alexandria Health Department is advising city residents of Northern Virginia’s fourth confirmed measles case this year and warning of potential exposures.

An adult from Northern Virginia with measles traveled through various sites in Fairfax County late last month, leading to potential exposures, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Dates, times and locations for the potential exposures are listed below.


Around Town

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, the Alexandria Health Department is partnering with a dozen local businesses to offer discounts customers who book a sexual or reproductive health appointment this month.

AHD is offering 5% “Cupid Coupons,” valid for up to $10 off at 12 local businesses to customers who book the appointments during the February Love Safely and Save promotion.


News

Health officials are advising of potential measles exposures after confirming a case that traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport last Saturday.

A person with measles traveled through the Dulles airport and took a shuttle bus to its rental car facilities on Saturday, Jan. 24. Health officials “are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights,” the Virginia Department of Health said in a release today (Saturday).


Around Town

Following a health inspection at an Old Town juice shop earlier this month, a community petition has launched to allow the business owner’s emotional support animal inside the establishment.

The recent Change.org petition focuses on a recent city investigation into a complaint about dogs inside Zen Press Juice. That includes owner JuAnn Wong’s emotional support dog, Coco, who previously made frequent visits to the shop at 806 King Street.


News

After a reported uptick in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses in the city, the Alexandria Health Department is recommending the flu shot and and other preventative measures to stay healthy.

Flu-related emergency department visits more than tripled in Alexandria during the last two weeks of December, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. Alexandria’s current flu vaccination rate is low, sitting at less than 30% of the population, AHD spokesperson Eve Elliott told ALXnow.


Around Town

New holiday trees from the Alexandria Health Department are seeking to spread cheer while preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

A small, artificial tree in AHD’s clinic waiting room at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) is decorated with about 20 to 30 sexual health items, including internal and external condoms, as well as fentanyl test strips. A second “condom tree” has been placed at Friends to Lovers Romance Book Store at 301 Cameron Street.


View More Stories