يتمثل هدف التحديث الإعلامي لـ VDH في توفير معلومات في الوقت المناسب حول قضايا الصحة العامة التي تؤثر على المجتمعات في جميع أنحاء Commonwealth، بما في ذلك اتجاهات الأمراض، وتوجيهات الوقاية، واستشارات السلامة، والموارد المجتمعية. نحن نسعى جاهدين لإبقاء الشركاء الإعلاميين والجمهور على اطلاع دائم بالمخاوف الصحية الناشئة، وجهود الاستجابة، والإجراءات التي يمكن لسكان Virginia اتخاذها لحماية صحتهم.
في هذا التحديث - سبتمبر 11، 2026
2026 Food Regulations Update
Update:
The Virginia Department of Health announces that updated Virginia Food Regulations will take effect on September 10, 2026. These revisions align portions of the state regulations with the most recent United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code.
A key focus of the update is enhanced allergen safety. The new requirements strengthen protections for individuals with food allergies and establish clearer expectations for communicating major food allergens found in food across the Commonwealth.
Please note that these changes are separate from additional regulatory updates that will be required because of actions taken during the 2026 Virginia legislative session. Information on those forthcoming updates is available online here.
For full details on the 2026 Food Regulations update, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-in-virginia/food-regulations-update-2…
Note: these are different than the future updates required per the 2026 Virginia legislative session. For information on these future regulatory updates, see here.
For additional information, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-in-virginia/food-regulations-update-2026/.
Increases in Recent Animal Rabies Activity and Associated Human Exposures
Update:
Local health departments have reported an increase in the number of potential rabies exposures this season, many of which are related to bat encounters. In addition, some of Virginia’s health districts have reported an increase in the number of people undergoing rabies post-exposure vaccinations. On September 10, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert reporting a nationwide increase in human rabies exposures.
التوجيه العام:
In the case of an animal bite:
- Don’t panic, but don’t ignore the bite either. To decrease the chance of infection, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and lots of water. Give first aid as you would for any wound.
- إذا it can be done safely, capture or confine the animal that bit you, or at least identify it before it runs away. Don’t try to pick the animal up. If the animal is owned, get the name and contact information for the owner. Call your local health department or animal protection office for further instructions.
- Don’t damage the head of any animal that might need to be tested for rabies. The brain will be needed for the test.
- Notify your doctor promptly and explain how you were bitten. Tell your doctor whether or not the bite has been reported to local authorities.
- Your doctor may call the health department to discuss whether or not you need to start the rabies vaccine series and will help address other concerns about the bite. Rabies treatment no longer involves injections in the abdomen and most are given in the arm.
Take Special Care Around Bats:
People can be exposed to rabies by bats without knowing they were bitten. Seek medical advice even in the absence of an obvious bite wound if you have direct contact with a bat or find a bat in a room with a:
- شخص نائم
- طفل صغير دون رعاية
- شخص يعاني من تحديات عقلية أو جسدية
- شخص مخمور
Bats that may have exposed people or animals to rabies should be collected safely for possible testing (or at least not released). Bats may be contained in a room by closing windows and door(s). Use caution if you try to capture a bat yourself by wearing gloves and using a container (like a coffee can or a box) to place over the bat and then sliding and securing a piece of cardboard between the container and the bat. Call your local health department for advice about testing and medical care. A local health department directory can be found at vdh.virginia.gov/local-health-districts/
For more information about rabies, go to: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/animal-contact-human-health/rabies-control/
For more information about bats, go to: