Park County Wyoming Health Officer

10/01/2026

PARK COUNTY WEST NILE VIRUS SURVEILLANCE

The 5th cycle of mosquito trapping in Park County was completed yesterday in Garland, Clark, South Fork, Cody, Meeteetse, and Wapiti. We found no mosquitoes of the predominant species transmitting West Nile Virus in Wyoming (Culex tarsalis), so we sent no mosquitoes to the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory for testing. As the WNV season in Wyoming winds down, we have noticed significantly fewer mosquitoes trapped at each location. WNV has not been detected in Park County this summer.

Over the last 10 years, the Wyoming WNV season has peaked in August and September. This summer, trapped mosquitoes tested positive for WNV in Albany, Fremont, Goshen, Hot Springs, Laramie, Natrona, and Sheridan Counties. Horses have tested positive for WNV in Fremont, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties. Two individuals were diagnosed with neuroinvasive WNV (Fremont and Laramie counties), and there have been no deaths this summer (2 people died of WNV last summer).

In recent years, Wyoming has had higher WNV infection rates than the rest of the US. WNV has emerged as the leading mosquito-borne disease in the continental US.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/kaylyn.friesen/viz/WYWNV_17879573220080/WNV

09/24/2026

https://abcnews.com/US/glp-1-users-potential-risk-rare-type-vision/story?id=136635318

Dozens of Americans have filed personal injury lawsuits against GLP-1 makers, claiming they were not properly warned of the risk of a rare type of sudden vision loss.

09/24/2026

https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/21/kratom-withdrawal-addiction-centers-report-surge/

Addiction clinics are seeing a surge in patients dependent on potent kratom and 7-OH products.

09/17/2026

09/16/2026

FOUR 2026 MEASLES DEATHS IN PENNSYLVANIA

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed another 2 measles-associated deaths in unvaccinated adults, making a total of 4 deaths for 2026.

More information is available at: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/fourth-measles-associated-death-reported-pennsylvania

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/newsroom/doh-confirms-two-additional-measles-associated-deaths-?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXlGdwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWJ6WjRWWWJBcjhWSjFLd3lzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe2xNTT8gQcTAKPzQN-4OkMnYxFimnR50kiPVWtJz0HW2v3RWdRTkg7aDJ7sE_aem_sKKqQVam-6LvcSOO615UQQ

DOH Confirms Two Additional Measles-Associated Deaths

09/16/2026

WNV SURVEILLANCE

Recently, mosquito pools from 4 locations in Powell (collected by the City of Powell), Garland, Clark, South Fork, Cody, Meeteetse, and Wapiti were negative for mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus (WNV). This was our 4th mosquito-trapping cycle. We have noticed a decrease in the total number of mosquitoes trapped and those capable of transmitting WNV due to both falling temperatures and increasing winds.

This summer, mosquito pools have tested positive for WNV in Laramie, Albany, Goshen, Natrona, Sheridan, and most recently Hot Springs and Fremont Counties (immediately south of us).

WY WNV

09/15/2026

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF THE COVID-19 AND INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS FOR THE 2026-2027 RESPIRATORY SEASON

𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (155 studies: 15 randomized clinical trials, 84 observational studies with a comparator group, 38 product safety studies without a comparator group, and 18 descriptive studies of disease burden) - In a recently published systematic review, "COVID-19 vaccines were consistently associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization and other outcomes, including among individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19, such as infants, and those who were pregnant. No new safety concerns were identified."

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853778?guestAccessKey=51401b94-b99d-436b-bd41-b266ef05ff79&utm_source=postup_jn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jamanetwork&utm_content=weekly_highlights-most_read-tfl_&utm_term=091326

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (69 studies: 21 randomized clinical trials and 23 observational studies with a comparator group, 7 product safety studies without a comparator group, and 18 descriptive studies of disease burden) - "This systematic review found that evidence published August 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, continued to demonstrate that influenza vaccines were associated with reduced risk of severe disease and hospitalization, especially among older adults, infants, children, and young adults. No new safety concerns were identified."

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853779?guestAccessKey=843ae640-c256-4f79-9b1a-754ba1e07b15&utm_source=postup_jn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jamanetwork&utm_content=weekly_highlights-most_read-tfl_&utm_term=091326

09/11/2026

09/10/2026

RETIREMENT

After serving as Park County Health Officer and Registrar for more than 11 years, I will be retiring from the position on September 30, 2026.

This page was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide Park County residents with timely, understandable, science-based public health information. What began as a response to an unprecedented public health emergency grew into a community of more than 2,500 followers.

I am very grateful to everyone who followed this page, asked questions, shared information, offered constructive criticism, and trusted me to provide public health information during some extraordinarily challenging years.

With my retirement, I will no longer maintain or update this page. This page and its historical content will be retained as a public health information archive.

Please note that older posts reflect the information and recommendations available when they were published. Public health recommendations can change as scientific knowledge evolves, and older posts should not be assumed to represent current medical or public health guidance.

For current public health information after my retirement, please contact Park County Public Health at 307-527-8570 or https://parkcounty-wy.gov/public-health/.

Thank you for allowing me to serve the people of Park County. It has been a privilege.

09/03/2026

2nd RABIES CASE IN PARK COUNTY

A 2nd bat has tested positive for rabies in Park County. This was in the Cody area, and several vaccinated domestic cats were significantly exposed. No humans were exposed. Last week, a bat tested positive in the Powell area (see the August 27th update).

Rabies is rare but is nearly always fatal for humans if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered before symptoms begin. Any mammal can get rabies. Make sure your pets are appropriately vaccinated. 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸, 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. Rather, contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (307-527-7125) during business hours. Beware of any nocturnal animal that is out during the day (especially bats and raccoons). Contact the appropriate law enforcement agency (stray or aggressive animals, bites) or your veterinarian for assistance with domestic animals.

ALL people should exercise caution in ALL parts of Park County. Rabies was also detected in a bat in Sheridan County this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHvhZCcMD4o

https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about/index.html

abies is a virus that infects wildlife, especially bats, raccoons, ...