Updates from the Health Department
April 9, 2025
Each year, National Public Health Week is observed to recognize public health contributions and call attention to issues that are essential to protecting and improving our nation's health. This National Public Health Week, April 7-13, the theme: "It Starts Here!" reminds us that the health of our community starts with each of us making a difference in our homes and communities.
At home, we play a part by ensuring loved ones and children are up to date on vaccinations. On-time vaccination throughout childhood is particularly essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. And regular vaccination also limits the spread of disease, especially in childcare and school environments. Other practical and simple measures we can all take to prevent the spread of disease include washing our hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of our elbow, and staying home when sick. We can also lower our risk of exposure to vector-borne diseases from mosquitoes and ticks by eliminating standing water breeding sites around our home and by wearing repellents when spending time outdoors.
The power to share Fairfax's health lies within Fairfax - if you live, work, or play in Fairfax, then there is no better place to begin making a change than right here, in your own community. Join together with your neighbors, with our local health coalition (the Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax), or with other community groups, to create change and advocate for it.
— Vinu Ilakkuvan, Founder and Principal Consultant of Pop Health, LLC and Co-Chair of the Healthy Environment and Active Living (HEAL) Team for the Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax
Board of Supervisors Public Health Week Proclamation
The Health Department remains committed to protecting our residents from emerging and re-emerging public health threats, especially at-risk and vulnerable groups, such as older adults, children and those with underlying medical conditions. Public health faces a wide range of community challenges like the opioid epidemic and mental health disorders; communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and most recently, vaccine preventable diseases, like measles. To meet these challenges, we continue to build our capacity to access and analyze health data, strengthen our partnerships with county and state agencies and continually improve our public health surveillance capabilities to meet needs into the future.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has designated April 7-13 Public Health Week. Watch the proclamation reading along with Deputy Director for Innovation and Planning Christopher Revere's remarks.
The Fairfax County Health Department utilizes tools to increase public knowledge of local health data and initiatives. Follow the Fairfax County Health Department on Facebook, Nextdoor, Instagram, YouTube, and sign up to receive monthly updates through the Public Health in Action e-newsletter.
April 8, 2025
No Summer Slide! Keep Your Student’s Communication Skills Strong
Summer break is around the corner, but that doesn’t mean progress in speech therapy should pause. The Health Department’s Summer Speech Therapy Program is designed to help school-aged children continue building their communication skills, so they don’t lose momentum during the break.
Speech and language development is a journey, and consistency is important. By enrolling in the summer program, school-age children who have an established Individual Education Plan (IEP) will:
Maintain and strengthen the progress they’ve made throughout the school year
Build confidence in their speech and language skills in a fun, engaging setting
Start the next school year with continued growth instead of playing catch-up
Experienced speech therapists create a supportive, motivating environment where children can thrive while still enjoying their summer. Students receive 6 weekly sessions of 1-on-1 speech therapy based on their IEP. Group therapy sessions are available based on child and therapist availability.
There is a fee for this program. Medicaid and sliding fees are also available for those who meet income eligibility requirements.
Don’t let hard-earned progress slip away—keep your child’s momentum going strong. Limited spots available. Learn more about the program or register your child by calling Speech, Language, and Hearing Services at 703-246-7121 or TTY 711.
Contact Speech, Language and Hearing Services
April 1, 2025
As part of National Nutrition Month, Fairfax County’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program recently hosted a special event to promote healthy eating and nutrition. Families who visited the Annandale District Office on March 18 had the opportunity to sample delicious, premade healthy foods and learn how to incorporate nutritious ingredients into their daily meals.
Health Department staff shared practical tips on affordable, nutritious meal preparation and the benefits of choosing fresh, nutrient-dense foods. By making nutrition education accessible and engaging, WIC continues to support families in making informed food choices that lead to healthier lifestyles.
“This year's National Nutrition Month theme, Food Connect, took us to our four district offices, where we had the opportunity to encourage more meatless meals, including the delicious Middle Eastern Bean Salad featured in the WIC Recipe Book,” said Magda Garcia Narvaez, public health nutritionist with the WIC program. “We also promoted the importance of sharing more meals together as a family by providing helpful tips and engaging facts on our bilingual bulletin boards. We are thrilled with the results, as both clients and staff actively participated, making the initiative a meaningful success.”
For more information on nutrition resources, WIC benefits, and upcoming events, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/health/women-infants-children.
March 24, 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has named Dr. Barbara Andrino one of its U.S. TB Elimination Champions for 2025. The U.S. TB Elimination Champions Project highlights individuals and organizations making significant contributions to ending tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. The announcement is part of the commemoration of World TB Day.
Dr. Andrino served as a dedicated TB physician at the Fairfax County Health Department for 13 years, working with thousands of TB patients before retiring in 2024. She was known for giving her full attention and energy to each individual, going above and beyond to ensure they had the best chance of successfully completing TB treatment.
“I was so surprised when I learned that I had actually been chosen,” said Dr. Andrino. “Because I sort of fell into the TB world by happenstance, when the previous person left and I was chosen to fill the role. But I am so proud to represent the hard work and dedication of the entire TB Program team. The award is really a validation of everyone’s commitment to serving the community.”
While she devoted extensive energy to tailoring treatment plans for each person with TB, Dr. Andrino also understood the broader public health implications associated with each case. She worked diligently with her team to ensure that household members were contacted for testing and treatment, prioritizing those at higher risk.
Given the diverse demographics of Northern Virginia, Dr. Andrino and her team worked to understand the cultural, social, and medical needs of each patient, taking a health equity approach with patients from a vast range of backgrounds. She consistently organized opportunities for colleagues to come together in support of TB patients and their families, whether sourcing winter clothing or helping a family prepare for a new baby. No need was too small or too large for her to address.
“Caring for patients with TB is challenging,” said Dr. Andrino. “But what I am most proud of, and what I have enjoyed most was helping those who were sick with TB get better. To be with them along the journey from serious illness, to diagnosis, to treatment, and a return to a healthy and normal life was so very rewarding.”
World TB Day is observed annually on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tuberculosis and to intensify efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of the bacterium that causes TB, paving the way for diagnosing and curing the disease.
Wash Your Hands Often
Mosquito & Tick Bite Prevention
Health Dept. Strategic Plan
Parents: Get your child's immunizations up-to-date!
Ensuring children are up-to-date on their vaccinations helps provide immunity before they are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.
And remember, vaccination it important at all ages. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers, make sure you are up to date, too!