Health officials issued a rabies alert Friday after a fox in Alexandria’s Del Ray/Rosemont neighborhood tested positive for the virus following contact with a domestic cat.
The Alexandria Health Department said the fox encountered the cat on Monday near a home in the area. The fox died, and officials are working with the cat’s owner on safety measures.
Alexandria residents who traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Aug. 12 may have been exposed to measles, according to health officials.
The Virginia Department of Health was notified of a confirmed measles case involving an out-of-state resident who traveled through the airport that day. The potential exposure occurred in the main terminal, at the TSA security checkpoint, in Concourse B and on transportation between the main terminal and Concourse B from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
As summer winds down and the new school year approaches, the Alexandria Health Department is encouraging families to schedule their children’s required immunizations now to avoid the typical back-to-school rush.
Virginia mandates specific vaccines for students entering kindergarten, seventh grade, and 12th grade. These immunizations protect against preventable diseases, including measles, pertussis (also known as whooping cough), and meningitis.
With the 2025-2026 school year just a month away, the Alexandria Health Department is urging parents to get their children’s school-required vaccinations.
“Scheduling vaccine appointments early makes it easier to find an appointment that fits your schedule,” Alexandria Health Department Director Dr. David Rose said, “and vaccines protect our children from getting sick and being sidelined from school and activities later on.”
City Council has released more than $120,000 in reserve funding to the Alexandria Health Department.
On Tuesday (July 1), Council approved the one-time funding to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan, immigrant and refugee resource programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. AHD lost the funds, which were from a federal COVID-19 grant earlier this year.
The Alexandria Health Department presented findings from its comprehensive community health assessment to the Alexandria City Council Tuesday night (July 1), revealing stark health disparities between neighborhoods and outlining plans for a more targeted approach to community health improvement.
Dr. David Rose, Director of the Alexandria Health District and Alexandria Health Department, told the council that the extensive assessment revealed “large differences in health between our neighborhoods” and calls for collaboration “with the people most impacted to move the needle on health outcomes.”
Alexandria’s government offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a good time.
Here’s what you need to know about city services on Independence Day.
The Alexandria Health Department lost dedicated federal COVID-19 grant funding earlier this year, and now the City Council will vote on a proposal for various health initiatives.
AHD is requesting one-time funding of $120,510 from the city to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan for the current fiscal year, in addition to community health outreach, continued resource funding for immigrant and refugee programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. The Healthy Homes program brings together dozens of city organizations to recommend home improvements.
The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) is sharing details on a June 19 potential measles exposure in Northern Virginia.
The Virginia Department of Health was notified that on June 19, a child with a confirmed case of measles traveled from another country to Washington Dulles International Airport en route to North Carolina. VDH announced the potential exposure on June 25 (Wednesday).
Alexandria residents living in the West End and Arlandria have shorter life expectancies, more health problems, and are more depressed than their neighbors living in more affluent areas.
That’s according to the city’s 2025 State of Health report, which found residents in those areas are disproportionately living below the poverty level and are more likely to be depressed, suffer from chronic conditions, have bad teeth, and more.
The Alexandria Health Department (
According to AHD, VDH
