Health Department

  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.

FAQs The Joseph Willard Health Center will temporarily close in October 2025, to allow  for the construction of the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center Project, which is scheduled to open in September 2028. The Joseph Willard Health Center will be demolished and replaced with a new health and community center. During construction, services will be available at other Health Department locations. Clinic Services Residents seeking clinical services – including immunizations, maternity services, pregnancy testing, tuberculosis testing, sexually transmitted infections testing and treatment, HIV testing and newcomer health screenings – can schedule an appointment at any Health Department clinic location, including the Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center, opening in October 2025. To make an appointment for clinic services, please call 703-246-7100, TTY 711. Speech & Hearing The Speech and Hearing Services program helps children and adults communicate more clearly with speech, hearing and reading services. Services at the Joseph Willard Health Center will temporarily end in October 2025. Residents can schedule an appointment at the following locations: Mount Vernon Speech & Hearing Clinic Herndon-Reston Speech & Hearing Clinic Beginning in October 2025, appointments will be available at the William J. Burkholder Administrative Center To schedule an appointment, please call 703-246-7120, TTY 711 or complete the service request form. Vital Records The Fairfax County Health Department’s Vital Records offices provides certified copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates for a fee. The vital records office located at the Joseph Willard Health Center will temporarily close in October 2025. Services will continue at the following locations: Annandale District Office Herndon-Reston District Office Mount Vernon District Office The Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center will offer vital records services when it opens in October 2025 Vital record services are available Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM for walk-in service only (appointments are not available). Save time by downloading Vital Records application form before your visit.

Find updated dates, times, and locations of potential exposure sites below. Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk From the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of two additional confirmed cases of measles that traveled through Northern Virginia Wednesday, March 5 and Friday, March 14. Both people are Maryland residents who recently traveled together internationally. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights. Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of the potential exposure sites in Virginia: Location Date and Time Dulles International Airport (IAD) Concourse A, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) and in the baggage claim area Between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5  Dulles International Airport (IAD) Concourse A, on transportation to the main terminal and in the baggage claim area Between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. (Previously reported March 9 and unrelated to this new exposure.)  Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)  Terminal Shuttle Bus Between 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14 Washington Area Metro on Friday, March 14: Yellow Line Train from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station transferring at the L’Enfant Plaza station to the Silver Line Train heading towards the Downtown Largo station Between 12:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. on Friday, March 14     Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website. Additional exposure sites have been identified in Maryland and DC. Virginia has not had any reported cases of measles in 2025. What should you do if you were at the above locations on the day and time specified? If you have never received a measles containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who was exposed and considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately. Watch for symptoms for 21 days from the date of your potential exposure. If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff. Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms. If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action. If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve the highest level of protection, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose. Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to fourteen days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spread to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared. Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to measles. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine. To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records from the VDH Immunization Record Request Form. For additional information, contact your local health department. Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can call VDH at (804) 363-2704 or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/ Related: Two cases of measles confirmed in Maryland residents with recent international travel