Alexandria continues to outpace the state average for sexually transmitted infections, according to a new report.
The Alexandria Health Department’s 2024 Disease Investigation Report recorded 1,900 separate disease investigations in 2024, a 5% decrease from 2023. The department found that vaccine-preventable diseases increased fivefold with 41 cases in 2024, compared to eight reported cases in 2023; and that sexually transmitted infections decreased 2%, although gonorrhea and HIV cases have increased by 9% and 24%, respectively.
“A lot of this disease investigation work happens quietly, behind the scenes,” said Anne Gaddy, deputy director of AHD, in a release. “But this work is vital. Continuous monitoring and investigation are how we prevent a single illness from becoming a community‑wide problem.”…