Park County Wyoming Health Officer

08/09/2026

08/08/2026

https://health.wyo.gov/public-notice-rural-health-transformation-advisory-committee-meeting/

Notice is hereby given that a public meeting of the Rural Health Transformation Advisory Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The meeting will convene at 8:00 am in the Turntable room of the Thyra Thomson State Office Building at 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper, Wyoming.  At the meeting...

08/08/2026

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-vaccines/first-mrna-flu-shot-gets-fda-approval-raising-hopes-more-effective-vaccine

A first-of-its-kind flu shot using mRNA technology has been approved for adults 50 years of age and older by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

08/08/2026

Update 8/8/26 0800: There was no additional growth on the fire. Firefighters will continue to mop up the fire until it is completely out. This will be the last report unless significant changes occur.

Update 8/7/26 0800: The current size is 2.5 acres. Eight Smokejumpers are on the fire assisted by two helicopters. They were able to get saw line around the fire last night and will strengthen their containment line today After that they will begin the process of "mopping" up, or finding and extinguishing hot spots along the fire's edge.

Pinnacles Fire has been reported outside of Cody WY, at the head of Fish Hawk drainage, south of Howell Mountain. It is Estimated to be 1-2 acres in size, one helicopter is on scene and additional aviation and firefighters have been ordered. Please avoid using the Fish Hawk Trailhead as resources will be operating out of the area. Stay tuned to this post for future updates.

08/06/2026

NATIONWIDE SALMONELLA OUTBREAK

Yesterday, the CDC announced an investigation into a Salmonella outbreak with cases detected in 27 states (including 6 cases in Wyoming). The outbreak involves jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. These jalapeños were primarily sold wholesale and to restaurants such as QDOBA and Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these severe symptoms.

1. Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
2. Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
3. Bloody diarrhea
4. So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
5. Signs of dehydration, such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, or feeling dizzy when standing up

Information about a Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapenos.

08/06/2026

CYCLOSPORA OUTBREAK UPDATE (THIS ISN'T OVER)

The CDC is now reporting 10,468 laboratory-confirmed cases, 517 hospitalizations, 2 deaths, and cases in 47 states. The CDC is aware of 12,255 more cases that are not yet laboratory-confirmed.

The incubation period of cyclosporiasis averages about 1 week after exposure, but can be up to 2 weeks. Taylor Farms' voluntary lettuce recall was July 17th. Contaminated Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and sold to Taco Bell doesn't totally explain the expanding outbreak. 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱.

Cyclosporiasis is a nationally notifiable disease, and cases are reported to CDC.

08/04/2026

MOSQUITO TRAPPING AND TESTING

Last week, Park County Public Health and Park County W**d and Pest completed our 1st round of mosquito trapping and testing in Park County.

Mosquito traps use CO2 from evaporating dry ice as bait, which mimics the CO2 we exhale. A battery-operated fan sucks nearby mosquitoes into a tubular net. 24 hours after the traps are set out, the mosquitoes are collected and killed by being frozen overnight. Mosquitoes are then examined under a dissecting microscope to identify those of the genus Culex tarsalis, which is the primary carrier of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Wyoming. These mosquitoes are then sent to the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory for testing for both WNV and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE).

Mosquitoes trapped in Garland, Clark, Cody, South Fork, Wapiti, and Meeteetse have all tested negative for WNV and WEE.

08/04/2026

https://apnews.com/article/michigan-cyclospora-outbreak-deaths-cf058908cdfd1bfd405d15e7079bed14

State health officials say two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan. They are the first confirmed deaths in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite.

08/03/2026

CURRENT PARK COUNTY AIR QUALITY

The current 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅 (AQI) in Cody is 𝟭𝟲𝟭 (𝘂𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆). This is due largely to smoke carried by the weather from wildfires in Oregon and Washington. Current data is trending towards very unhealthy. AQI in Powell is currently 120 (unhealthy for sensitive groups).

The predominant pollutant is particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5). These particles come primarily from combustion and are small enough to pass deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:

Everyone - Keep outdoor activities light and short. Go inside to cleaner air if you have symptoms.

Sensitive Groups* - Consider moving all activities inside. Go inside to cleaner air if you have symptoms.

*People with heart and lung disease (asthma, COPD, coronary artery disease, etc.), small children, and older adults.

07/17/2026

PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE

1. Measles - The Teton County outbreak now includes 5 cases. 4 cases center on Grand Teton National Park's >1,000 employees. Contact tracing among visitors is just about impossible. 1 case in Jackson without known exposure suggests community spread. https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/measles/

2. Ebola - Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda continues without signs of slowing. There have been 2094 cases with 798 deaths (38% fatality rate), including 1 case in France. https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/situation-summary/index.html

3. Cyclosporiasis - 1,644 confirmed cases in 34 states with 94 hospitalizations and no deaths. Including suspected cases under investigation, the total case count is approaching 7,000. See today's update. https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/07-26/investigation.html

4. Andes Hantavirus - Outbreak now over as the incubation period has passed. 13 cases with 3 deaths (23% fatality rate). https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/infectious-disease-topics/hantavirus-infection/surveillance-and-updates/andes-hantavirus-outbreak

5. Botulism - 4 cases related to the Nara Organics brand whole milk powdered infant formula sold at Target (now recalled). The formula was not sold in Wyoming Target stores but was available online. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-infant-botulism-powdered-infant-formula-june-2026

6. New World Screwworm - 34 animal cases in Texas and 1 in New Mexico. No human cases. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/current-status/us-confirmed-cases-new-world

7. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) - 37 Wyoming cases in 2026. On track to have fewer cases than last year (148). https://health.wyo.gov/whooping-cough-continues-wyoming-spread-2/