Virginia
Virginia’s rising syphilis cases are another bellwether of a strained public health system – Virginia Mercury
For greater than two years, COVID-19 has largely monopolized the time and assets of native well being departments throughout Virginia. However because the virus strikes into an uneasy plateau, well being officers are turning their consideration to a different infectious illness with alarming charges of development.
Since at the least 2016, syphilis — a sexually transmitted illness as soon as considered on the verge of eradication — has been rising throughout Virginia. Circumstances elevated by 158 p.c between 2007 and 2017, in accordance with information from the Virginia Division of Well being, and charges jumped once more the next 12 months. In 2020, probably the most just lately accessible information, there have been 1,288 new diagnoses of early-stage syphilis, a rise of 228 circumstances in comparison with simply 4 years earlier.
Much more regarding has been a persistent rise in congenital infections amongst infants who contract the illness from their moms. A decade in the past, in 2011, Virginia had zero circumstances. In 2020, there have been 15, together with 5 syphilitic stillbirths. Preliminary information from 2021 signifies one other rise, pushing the state to 17 circumstances, in accordance with Oana Vasiliu, the director of STD Prevention and Surveillance for VDH.
As much as 40 p.c of infants born to girls with untreated syphilis are stillborn or die from the an infection shortly afterwards. Infants that survive can have critical well being problems, together with jaundice, extreme anemia and blindness. The fast unfold of the illness over the course of some years has frightened public well being staff throughout the state, from on-the-ground specialists to the division’s high management. Dr. Colin Greene, Virginia’s newly appointed state well being commissioner, recognized syphilis as one of many company’s largest post-pandemic priorities.
“It’s arduous to imagine we’re seeing a resurgence to the purpose the place we’re seeing congenital circumstances once more,” he mentioned at a gathering earlier this month. “They’re one thing I used to be taught in med college that I’d in all probability by no means see as a result of they was once so uncommon.”
(Parker Michels-Boyce/ For the Virginia Mercury)
Whereas the numbers could seem small, consultants say they’ll obscure the seriousness of rising infections. In a reality sheet for well being care suppliers, VDH described each case of congenital syphilis as “a sentinel occasion representing a public well being failure.” Dr. Patrick Jackson, an infectious illness doctor at UVA’s Ryan White HIV Clinic, mentioned it’s as a result of the illness is very easy to check and deal with.
Federal tips name for all pregnant girls to be examined at their first prenatal go to and typically later within the being pregnant, relying on threat components. And as a bacterial an infection, syphilis may be cured with a course of penicillin, which protects each moms and their infants from critical problems. When congenital circumstances emerge, it’s an indication that ladies couldn’t entry routine screening and different companies that play a significant function in wholesome pregnancies.
“We already know america has been doing a horrible job at prenatal care,” Jackson mentioned. “Should you’ve missed syphilis, you’ve in all probability missed a ton of different issues.” The priority is borne out by state information, which reveals that just about 50 p.c of all congenital circumstances from 2011 to 2020 occurred amongst moms with late or insufficient prenatal care or no intervention in any respect.
The rise of STDs extra usually is considered as a bellwether of america’ underfunded public well being system. Whereas spending on prevention, by way of {dollars}, has technically remained regular over the past 20 years, buying energy adjusted for inflation has fallen, in accordance with evaluation by the Nationwide Coalition of STD Administrators. The pressure on public well being departments has coincided with the substantial rise in syphilis each in Virginia and throughout the nation.
There are different theories for rising charges, together with development in on-line relationship and hypothesis that condom use has fallen amid improved remedy and prevention for HIV — making the prospect of the illness much less of a deterrent for unsafe intercourse (simply over 40 p.c of recent syphilis diagnoses in 2020 co-occurred with HIV infections, in accordance with VDH information). However Jackson mentioned dwindling funding was probably the most logical clarification for the expansion in circumstances.
Syphilis has at all times had a disproportionate influence on marginalized teams together with Black and Hispanic Virginians and the LGBTQ group. However over time, charges have additionally continued to develop amongst different demographics, together with girls of childbearing age, an indication that the illness is spreading and going untreated amongst these girls and their sexual companions. Extra intervention may assist, however native well being departments are sometimes working with restricted assets.
“In an excellent world, you’d be sending groups of nurses to weak communities and making issues tremendous easy by way of testing and remedy,” Jackson mentioned. “And I’m positive the parents at VDH would love to try this kind of factor, however they’ve what they’ve.”
(Parker Michels-Boyce/ For the Virginia Mercury)
Staffing was already stretched skinny…then got here COVID
The frequent battle to do extra with much less underscores the challenges of stopping STDs earlier than they’ll unfold. Whereas syphilis may be detected with a easy blood check and cured with a routine antibiotic, the bacterial illness is named the “nice imitator,” Jackson mentioned, because of signs that may mimic a variety of situations.
Main syphilis, the earliest stage, is usually marked by small and sometimes painless sores that may be simple to overlook relying on the place they emerge. Secondary syphilis could cause signs together with rashes, fever and fatigue, however these will go away after just a few weeks even with out remedy. If the illness isn’t caught in its early levels, it could possibly linger for many years. Jackson mentioned 15 to twenty p.c of sufferers will go on to develop tertiary syphilis, which can lead to painful lesions, listening to loss and neurological signs like dementia.
Nonetheless, even early levels can result in critical signs and even hospitalization. Over the previous couple of years, Jackson mentioned he’s observed an increase in ocular circumstances — which might trigger everlasting blindness, — whatever the affected person’s age or stage of illness. That makes early detection key, nevertheless it rides on testing and constructing belief with sufferers. On the native degree, the work is commonly completed by illness intervention specialists, who comply with up on constructive outcomes, share details about the prognosis and refer individuals to free remedy on the well being division or different group suppliers.
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It’s not at all times simple. Like many different situations, circumstances of syphilis and different STDs happen disproportionately amongst communities of colour who might already be distrustful of the medical system. Employees are nonetheless grappling with the legacy of the Tuskegee syphilis research, which withheld remedy from practically 400 Black males contaminated with the illness. And the stigma hooked up to sexually transmitted infections already makes some sufferers reluctant to talk with well being officers, mentioned Bradley Cox, the STD program coordinator for the Richmond-Henrico Well being Division.
“If I had been to sit down down and say, ‘Hello, my identify is Brad and I want an inventory of everybody you’ve had intercourse with within the final 12 months,’ not lots of people are going to be very keen about collaborating in that,” Cox mentioned. So whereas early intervention and remedy is essential for figuring out uncovered companions and stopping extra unfold, it’s a job that takes time and experience.
For many departments, the duties are unfold amongst a finite variety of employees. Richmond leads the state in syphilis infections, however Cox at the moment has 4 full-time illness intervention specialists dealing with circumstances throughout town in addition to the Henrico and Chickahominy well being districts, which, all mixed, recorded a complete of 245 new syphilis diagnoses in 2020. The identical employees are answerable for following up on HIV circumstances, as effectively.
COVID-19 was an added stressor. Till just lately, Cox had the funding for 5 specialist positions, however misplaced some employees as a consequence of turnover and promotions in the course of the pandemic. When COVID hit Virginia, native well being companies had been additionally pressured to place different work on the again burner. Cox mentioned his group labored arduous to keep up follow-up companies for syphilis, however scientific hours for testing and remedy had been lowered because the district stood up coronavirus-related occasions. Within the early days, particularly, his group was shifted to case investigation and phone tracing for the rising new illness.
“I personally truly spent a while going out to the Peninsula well being district in Newport Information to assist them work on their very first contact tracing efforts,” Cox mentioned. “In these early days of the pandemic, we had been pulling individuals from wherever we may get them.”
(Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury)
The state’s STD testing information highlights the shifting focus. In 2020 and 2021, there was a 24 p.c decline within the variety of common month-to-month exams in comparison with the 2 years prior. It’s possible the pattern was short-lived, and testing thus far this 12 months is nearer to pre-pandemic ranges, in accordance with Tammie Smith, a spokesperson for VDH. However given the lag in the course of the pandemic, some officers are nonetheless afraid the state is going through blind spots with regards to new circumstances.
Cox pointed to chlamydia as one instance. Whereas new gonorrhea infections soared in 2020 and syphilis remained largely unchanged regardless of the lower in testing, chlamydia charges out of the blue and inexplicably took a nosedive. Of the three, it’s additionally the least more likely to lead to noticeable signs. Cox mentioned the decline possible had much less to do with a real discount in transmission and extra to do with a drop within the variety of individuals being examined for the illness.
Like many well being officers, he’s hoping Virginia will keep away from one other COVID surge, permitting native companies to proceed shifting their focus again to different important day-to-day work. The rise in gonorrhea is a brand new frontier of concern, particularly after Richmond-Henrico was pressured to chop again tracing efforts in the course of the pandemic. And in contrast to syphilis, it’s a illness that’s developed resistance to most of the antibiotics used to deal with it, making new infections notably arduous to fight.
However syphilis nonetheless stays a serious concern. In 2021, the state’s well being division assembled a taskforce to evaluate congenital circumstances of the illness together with examples of HIV handed from mom to youngster. The objective, in accordance with Smith, is to evaluate whether or not there have been missed alternatives to forestall the illness and discover methods for bettering pre- and post-birth care all through Virginia.
Due to greater than $4.5 million in pandemic emergency funding, the state can even be hiring greater than 30 new illness intervention specialists and 6 coordinators to develop STD prevention efforts. Whereas the one-time allocation is about to run out in 2025, for Cox, it’ll imply doubling his full staffing from 5 to 10 positions.
It’s not clear whether or not it is going to be sufficient to reverse the state’s ongoing development. However for native well being departments, it may make an actual distinction in connecting with extra sufferers.
“Of us who’re disproportionately impacted by STIs — these communities are the identical communities who’re disproportionately impacted by issues like lead poisoning and air air pollution and different co-occuring situations,” Cox mentioned. “And it actually speaks to why we wish to give attention to inhabitants well being and what we will do to handle the limitations which are conserving them from accessing the medical system.”
FBI busts Virginia man with large cache of homemade explosives
A Virginia man was arrested after investigators uncovered hundreds of explosives at his home. Court docs say it could be the largest cache of explosives the FBI has ever confiscated.
What we know
A Virginia man has been arrested after federal agents discovered what may be the largest cache of explosives ever confiscated by the FBI, according to court documents.
Brad Spafford, of Smithfield, Virginia, is accused of stockpiling hundreds of explosives, weapons, and ammunition and making threats against Democratic lawmakers.
Federal investigators allege Spafford used pictures of President Joe Biden for target practice at a shooting range and created a “go box” filled with weapons, medical supplies, and food for quick access in an emergency.
Authorities say Spafford also possessed an unregistered short-barrel rifle, a federal offense, and admitted to making homemade ammunition and explosives. A confidential informant reported that Spafford disfigured his hand in a 2021 incident involving a homemade explosive device.
Spafford remains in custody as federal authorities continue to investigate.
The Source: The information in this report came from FBI court documents.
Virginia (8-5, 1-1 ACC) earned its first ACC win of the season with a 70-67 victory over NC State (8-5, 1-1 ACC) in an ACC matchup on New Year’s Eve at John Paul Jones Arena. See a full play-by-play and live analysis for the game in the thread below.
Read five takeaways from Virginia’s win over NC State here: Five Takeaways From Virginia’s 70-67 Win Over NC State
Virginia nearly turns the ball over, but UVA manages to retain possession as an NC State player was out of bounds when he was fighting for the ball. That allows five seconds to drain off the clock and then UVA gets the ball inbounds to Elijah Saunders, who is fouled with 3.9 seconds left. Saunders misses the front end of the one-and-one, but O’Connell’s half-court prayer falls well short and Virginia hangs on to win 70-67. UVA erases a 14-point deficit and earns a huge ACC win.
NC State 67. Virginia 70 | FINAL
Marcus Hill scores a layup off the glass to get NC State back within three. UVA calls a timeout with 10.9 on the clock.
NC State 67, Virginia 70 | 10.9 2H
McKneely misses a deep three and O’Connell drives in transition, drawing a foul on Sharma and making 1/2 free throws to make it a five-point game. Both teams come up empty on their next couple of possessions and then Murray is called for a foul while trying to box out. Marcus Hill goes to the line for a one-and-one and makes both free throws to make it 68-65 with a little over a minute remaining. Rohde’s long drive ends in a missed shot and NC State gets a chance to tie it. Jayden Taylor gets a good look but misses his shot off the glass and Saunders secures the rebound and is fouled with 15 seconds remaining. Saunders goes to the line for a one-and-one and makes both to make it 70-65.
NC State 65, Virginia 70 | 15.4 2H
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield hits a short jumper to end UVA’s 8-0 run. Elijah Saunders gets a good look from the corner and knocks down the three, Virginia’s sixth triple of the second half. Buchanan is called for his fourth foul and then Huntley-Hatfield scores off the glass. UVA has had trouble defending him all game. Andrew Rohde does a good job moving off ball and Saunders finds him for an open three. Hoos lead by 10. Styles is fouled by Saunders, but he misses both free throws, which causes another loud cheer from the crowd at JPJ. McKneely finds Buchanan cruising down the lane and Buchanan gets the short push shot to fall. Michael O’Connell gets multiple wide-open looks from the corner and he makes the second one. Rohde drives inside and draws a foul on Huntley-Hatfield, making 1/2 free throws. Marcus Hill grabs an offensive rebound and lays it in. Parker misses a layup, but Huntley-Hatfield is there for the putback to get NC State back within six points.
NC State 62, Virginia 68 | 2:20 2H
Styles is fouled by Saunders and makes 1/2 free throws. Rohde finds an open Ishan Sharma on the left wing and the freshman drills the three-pointer. Virginia gets a couple of stops and then Rohde passes to Cofie, who spins past his man for a reverse layup. Isaac McKneely is left wide-open and he has time to dribble to the three-point line and splash his fourth three of the game. Virginia has its largest lead of the game at 59-51 and Kevin Keatts calls another timeout.
NC State 51, Virginia 59 | 8:01 2H
Saunders makes both free throws. Cofie blocks Huntley-Hatfield and then Isaac McKneely gets a very friendly JPJ roll on a three-pointer to get the Hoos back within five. NC State turns it over and then Taine Murray slashes from the corner and scores in the paint. Virginia gets another stop on defense and this place is about as loud as it’s been all season. Murray drives baseline and finds Rohde, who quickly pulls the trigger and buries the corner three. It’s a 10-0 run for Virginia and a 17-3 run over the last five and a half minutes to tie the game at 46-46. Breon Pass hits an incredibly tough jumper from the baseline to end the UVA run. Rohde posts up O’Connell and gets into the paint before getting a flip shot to fall with a smooth touch. UVA turns the ball over in transition and NC State scores on the other end as Marcus Hill scores over Buchanan. McKneely hits a deep three-pointer to give the Cavaliers the lead. Kevin Keatts calls timeout.
NC State 50, Virginia 51 | 11:06 2H
NC State gets multiple offensive rebounds and eventually Jayden Taylor knocks down the three-pointer. That’s a back breaker for the Cavaliers. UVA goes back to the hot hand with Saunders, who draws a foul in the post on Styles. He’ll shoot two free throws after the media timeout.
NC State 46, Virginia 36 | 15:59 2H
The second half starts just as the first half did, with Dontrez Styles driving to the basket for a layup. Marcus Hill hits a jumper to stretch the Wolfpack lead to 14 points. Elijah Saunders scores inside plus a foul on Styles to get the Hoos on the board in the second half. Rohde throws a great pass to a cutting Saunders, who draws a foul on Taylor and makes both free throws. Saunders gets deep post positioning on O’Connell and Rohde gets him the ball for an easy layup. It’s a personal 7-0 run for Elijah Saunders to get the Cavaliers back within seven points. Timeout Kevin Keatts.
NC State 43, Virginia 36 | 17:02 2H
Taine Murray drives baseline and whips a beautiful pass out to McKneely, who swishes the open three. That got a big response from the crowd at JPJ. Buchanan is called for a foul on Huntley-Hatfield, who again makes both free throws. On top of their six threes, the Wolfpack are also 6/6 from the charity stripe. Cofie picks up his second foul, so Anthony Robinson checks into the game for the first time. Jayden Taylor drives to the basket in transition and scores plus a foul on Robinson. Murray’s three rattles out at the buzzer and UVA goes into the halftime break trailing by 10 points.
NC State 39, Virginia 29 | Halftime
Jacob Cofie makes nice defensive plays on consecutive possessions, blocking a shot from Marcus Hill and then coming up with a steal. Saunders drives past his man and gets to the rim for a lefty layup. Virginia turns it over and Taylor finds Styles for an easy layup. Taylor gets a wide-open look from three and buries it for NC State’s six triple of the game; the Wolfpack average 5.8 made threes per game… Ishan Sharma answers with a three on the other end off the extra pass from Rohde. That was Virginia’s first made three of the game.
NC State 34, Virginia 26 | 3:33 1H
Virginia breaks the press and Taine Murray’s layup rolls off the rim, but TJ Power is there for the tip-in putback. Pass takes a three from the right wing and knocks it down; that’s the fourth three-pointer of the game for the Wolfpack and that’s not supposed to be one of their strengths. Rohde throws a cross-court pass to Murray, who pump fakes out of a three and splashes a mid-range jumper. Dennis Parker Jr. slashes to the paint and hits a lefty floater. Rohde uses a spin move to get by O’Connell for a layup. Trey Parker knocks down a three-pointer, NC State’s fifth triple of the first half. Murray fouls Taylor in transition and he makes both free throws. Saunders outhustles NC State to keep an offensive rebound alive and scores the second-chance layup. Virginia is executing well on the offensive end; NC State has just been too good shooting from the perimeter.
NC State 29, Virginia 21 | 7:06 1H
Blake Buchanan checks into the game and is immediately called for a foul on Huntley-Hatfield, who makes both free throws. Saunders hits a fadeaway jumper from the baseline late in the shot clock. Buchanan is fouled and makes 1/2 free throws. Michael O’Connell gets a three-pointer to rattle home. Breon Pass gets a clean look from three in transition and knocks it down. Ismael Diouf gets free rolling to the basket for an easy layup. It’s an 8-0 run for NC State to take a 19-13 lead. Timeout Ron Sanchez.
NC State 19, Virginia 13 | 11:16 1H
NC State wins the opening tipoff and scores right away as Dontrez Styles cuts to the basket for an easy layup. Jacob Cofie rolls free to the basket and Elijah Saunders finds him for the layup. Dai Dai Ames drives baseline and stops on a dime under the basket to shed Michael O’Connell for a layup. Virginia plays a good possession of defense but Marcus Hill knocks down a contested mid-range jumper at the buzzer. Isaac McKneely answers with a fadeaway jumper. Jayden Taylor hits a corner three. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield backs down Saunders and hits a jump hook in the paint. Cofie backs down Huntley-Hatfield and gets around him for a layup. UVA gets a stop and then Andrew Rohde finds Saunders for a transition bucket. Both teams are shooting well from the floor to start this game.
NC State 9, Virginia 10 | 14:55 1H
The starting lineups have been posted for both teams.
NC State: Dontrez Styles, Jayden Taylor, Marcus Hill, Michael O’Connell, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield
Virginia: Andrew Rohde, Dai Dai Ames, Isaac McKneely, Elijah Saunders, Jacob Cofie
As we await our 12pm ET tipoff on ESPN2 for Virginia vs. NC State, read a full preview of the game here: Virginia Basketball vs. NC State Preview, Score Prediction
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West Virginia made a major commitment at defensive coordinator by adding Zac Alley.
Alley had been serving as the co-defensive coordinator and play caller for the Sooners and has ties to Rich Rodriguez after spending two years as his defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State in 2022-23 and then previously working with him at Louisiana Monroe in 2021.
“Zac is one of the top young defensive coordinators in the country and has proven his ability to lead and be an innovator at different stops during his career,” Rodriguez said. “I have worked with him several seasons, and he constantly impresses me with his ability to blend schemes with his personnel and develop winning results.”
At Oklahoma in 2024, Alley helped lead the Sooners’ defense to a No. 3 ranking in defensive touchdowns, No. 5 in fumbles recovered, No. 10 in team tackles for loss, No. 11 in first-down defense, No. 19 in total defense, No. 23 in rushing defense, No. 25 in sacks and No. 30 in scoring defense.
Alley coordinated a 2023 Jacksonville State defensive unit that ranked 33rd out of 133 teams in scoring defense (21.2 points per game) and 43rd in total defense (352.8 yards per game). The unit also ranked fourth in the country in 2023 in opponent yards per rush (2.8), eighth in tackles for loss yardage (414), ninth in turnovers gained (25), 10th in interceptions (16), 12th in opponent yards per play (4.8), 13th in sacks per game (2.9) and 15th in rushing defense (111.5 ypg).
The 2022 unit also was stingy as it played a key role in helping to lead Jacksonville State to 9-2.
Rodriguez made it clear that outside of a really good coordinator he wanted one that met some clear requirements in his introductory press conference.
“Other than that, I want us to be really, really aggressive and I want to force the issue on the other team,” Rodriguez said.
Alley certainly checks both those boxes.
Alley’s defenses have been known not to play it safe and he keeps offenses off balance with shifting formations while dialing up pressure from unexpected places per OUInsider.com, the Oklahoma Rivals site.
The unit was described as “all gas and no brakes.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Alley’s defense blitzed on 169 of 412 passing downs against the opponent’s starting quarterbacks which was 41-percent of the time.
His defensive units have been known for their adaptability to the personnel as well as plenty of pre-snap movement and creative pressures to force the action. At Jacksonville State, Alley used a lot of odd-stack configurations and mixed in some four-down looks while at Oklahoma used a four-man front and sometimes elected to go with three-down linemen for a different look.
Essentially the model that Alley has used has boiled down to being fast, physical and aggressive which is what Rodriguez sought to find when he began the search.
West Virginia wanted to invest in its future defense and securing Alley is a major start in that department for a lot of different reasons.
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