Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has extended a swimming advisory for Lake Anna as a harmful algae bloom continues. The VDH cautioned this algae bloom is not connected to the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) outbreak that occurred after Memorial Day.
According to the VDH, some harmful algae, called cyanobacteria, can cause skin rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses. Algae blooms can occur when warm water and nutrients combine to make conditions favorable for algae growth. Most algae species are harmless; however, some species may produce irritating compounds or toxins. Avoid discolored water or scums that are green or bluish-green because they are more likely to contain toxins.
The VDH's Harmful Algal Bloom map shows which areas to avoid, and VDH provides a status report containing the updated advisory areas.
The sections of the lake currently under a swimming advisory due to unsafe levels of cyanobacteria are:
North Anna Branch (advisory extended)
- Upper North Anna Branch - From the upper inundated waters of the North Anna arm, to include the “Sandbar” of the lake and downstream to the Route 522 Bridge.
- Upper and Middle North Anna Branch -Â From the Route 522 Bridge, to include Route 719 (Holladay Bridge), to Lumsden Flats at Rose Valley Drive
Pamunkey Branch (advisory added)
- Upper-Upper Pamunkey Branch-Â From the upper inundated waters of Pamunkey Branch to Runnymede Park
- Upper Pamunkey Branch – From Runnymede Park to the confluence with Terry's Run
- Middle Pamunkey Branch – From confluence with Terry’s Run to Route 612 (Stubbs Bridge)
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Updated 1:20 p.m. — UVA Health says its medical centers in our region are affected by the global CrowdStrike computer outage. The firm operates hospitals in Manassas, Haymarket, and Culpeper.
From UVA Health:
UVA Health is being impacted by a worldwide system outage affecting computers that run on Microsoft Windows. As a result, UVA Health is operating on a modified schedule Friday, July 19. Some ambulatory clinics will be closed today. Patients and team members can find the latest schedule updates at uvahealth.com/status.
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge and its ancillary regional offices usually operate.
We are closely monitoring the IT outage linked to the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.
Sentara does not utilize CrowdStrike so our IT systems are not directly impacted.
However, we are currently in the process of evaluating the impact on third-party providers and partner organizations who do work with this vendor.
Normal operations remain in process at Sentara hospitals and facilities.
Meanwhile, flights were grounded across the country due to the outage, affecting Windows operating system computers.
Mary Washington Healthcare, which operates hospitals in Stafford County and Fredericksburg, is not affected.
There has been no word yet from Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center.
Meanwhile, the computer outage has not affected local government operations in our region.
Representatives from governments in Prince William and Stafford counties and Manassas and law enforcement agencies in the counties tell us it’s business as usual.
Virignia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued this statement:
Amidst the global tech outages, overnight we have conducted an initial assessment to determine impacts across government agencies and departments for functionality,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Critical health and safety systems, including 911 call systems and transportation infrastructure, are operational. However, airlines continue to experience significant disruptions. The assessment determined that government administrative functions are experiencing disruptions, and we are coordinating with local, regional and federal authorities and private sector critical infrastructure partners in order to reestablish normal operations. As a result of the administrative disturbances, Virginians may experience delays and we ask everyone to remain patient as we work to remedy and reestablish the high standards that Virginians deserve.
Photo: Photo by Irvan Smith on Unsplash
Mary Washington Hospital has been named a High Performing Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 11 adult procedures and conditions in its 2024-2025 Best Hospitals rankings. The hospital was recognized for excellence in procedures and conditions such as COPD, diabetes, heart attack, hip replacement, lung cancer surgery, and more.
“This recognition is a testament to our physicians and staff's unwavering commitment to patient care,” said Dr. Mike McDermott, CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare.
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Mary Washington Healthcare has announced that providers from Elite Women’s Health will join its healthcare system.
Dr. Leedylyn Stadulis, Courtney Miller, Lauren Backy, Julie Flanagan, and Megan Pham will join Mary Washington Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) at a new Fredericksburg office located at 4710 Spotsylvania Parkway. Dr. Brittany Bowler will see patients at Mary Washington OBGYN at 1300 Hospital Drive.
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Sometimes, we get buried in breaking local news, and some essential interviews get pushed back. Though we conducted our interviews for this story last month, it is still important to share.
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center featured a documentary photo exhibit titled “Innovation on Maternal Health Exhibition.” The exhibit, created by photojournalist Karen Kasmauski in collaboration with WHRO, was displayed on May 21 outside the hospital’s maternity ward.
The exhibit showcases powerful images that highlight the crucial role of midwifery and doula services in improving maternal health outcomes, particularly for non-Hispanic Black mothers. Sheena Kundid, a nurse at the medical center, explained the significance of the display, emphasizing how midwifery bridges gaps in maternal healthcare. “Midwifery services support and really bridge the gap for our non-Hispanic Black mothers and really all of our mothers. It’s been shown that midwifery and doulas improve outcomes through trust and active partnership in the birth experience,” she said.
The photos in the exhibit capture various stages of the birthing process, from a mother enduring contractions to the care provided post-delivery. Kundid highlighted the importance of showcasing both home and hospital births, demonstrating the collaborative relationship between midwives and hospital facilities. “It paints a picture of how midwifery supports that collaborative relationship with hospitals and facilities,” Kundid added.
Misti Gray, an OB-Gyn at About Women in Woodbridge, which is affiliated with Sentara, underscored the alarming disparities in maternal mortality rates. “The headline of the main focus is, ‘I just don’t want to die.’ It’s powerful but true,” Gray stated. She pointed out that Black mothers are disproportionately affected by pregnancy-related complications, being three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. Gray attributed this disparity to systemic issues such as racial biases, unequal access to care, and lack of education.
Gray also addressed common misconceptions about midwifery, emphasizing that midwifery care is not limited to home births. “Midwifery care is everywhere. It’s hospitals, birthing centers, at home, and in the community,” she said. She highlighted the growing presence of midwives in hospitals, a trend that has increased over the past decade.
The exhibit aims to educate the community and break down misconceptions about midwifery. Kundid shared that Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is working to increase its midwifery presence and build partnerships with providers. “Midwives help our OB/GYNs, and it increases access to care, which is a dire need across the entire United States,” Kundid explained.
In March, the CDC reported a slight improvement in maternal mortality rates for non-Hispanic Black women, who are now 2.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. Kundid acknowledged the progress but stressed the need for continued efforts to address these disparities.
The “Innovation on Maternal Health Exhibition” will be on display at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for the next few weeks. It offers a compelling look into the critical role of midwifery in maternal healthcare.
Virginia’s Department of Health (VDH) has set up an outbreak investigation website documenting the outbreak of Shiga toxin-inducing Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections in Lake Anna swimmers. 25 cases have been confirmed, and the only known common factor is swimming in the lake on Memorial Day weekend.
VDH says 76% of cases are children and 21 are Virginia residents. 7 cases developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a rare complication that affects kidney functions. As Potomac Local previously reported, several children were hospitalized and on dialysis due to the severity of their symptoms.
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Randal Brown, of Augusta County, near Charlottesville, said his family visited the lake on May 25 and May 26. Everyone went swimming and ate the same food. His son Bentley, who just turned eight, was the only one to get sick. The family went to the Augusta Health ER on May 30 when Bentley had severe stomach pain.
He was diagnosed with a virus and discharged, Randal said. The ER doctors said he would be OK to travel, but during the next day’s drive to Florida, he started having bloody diarrhea. After consulting with their pediatrician, the family went to a pediatric ER in Florida, where Bentley was admitted and diagnosed with E. coli that evening. Randal said his son had been showing some improvement, and they were able to drive home on June 7 before his son’s symptoms worsened again.
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The Virginia Department of Health has confirmed to Potomac Local it has launched an investigation after multiple people fell ill after swimming at Lake Anna over Memorial Day weekend. While the state health agency has not said how many are sick, all have reported gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. According to agency spokeswoman Brookie Crawford, some have been diagnosed with Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections.
*Update 06/06/24 3:14 p.m.* VDH has confirmed it is actively investigating 10 cases, with several others reported but unconfirmed.
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A new VA hospital in Spotsylvania County, set to open in March 2025, is generating significant concern about traffic congestion in the area.
The hospital, located along Route 1 near the I-95 corridor at Exit 126, just south of Fredericksburg, is expected to increase traffic flow and potentially cause congestion on the already busy roadways.
