Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Health director says no local measles cases; department tracking measles in wastewater and watching federal grant risk
Summary
Teton County Health Department reported no measles cases locally and said it is monitoring measles virus in wastewater; the department also noted it receives about $1.4 million annually in pass‑through federal grants and is monitoring risks from the federal shutdown, though WIC remains operational for the near term.
Teton County Health Director Travis Riddell told the commission Oct. 27 that public‑health surveillance shows no local measles cases to date and that the department is tracking measles virus in wastewater samples at the Jackson wastewater treatment plant but has not detected it.
Riddell said the county maintains a high vaccination rate that should limit community spread if cases occur. The department is running seasonal vaccine clinics and reported lower senior‑clinic turnout this year; staff are offering online appointment scheduling for in‑house flu and COVID vaccination clinics.
Riddell also told commissioners that the health department receives roughly $1.4 million annually in federal pass‑through grant funds that support clinics and communicable‑disease services and that the department is monitoring risks from the federal shutdown and associated appropriations gaps. He said WIC funds passed through the state are currently sufficient to cover service through October and November, but he asked commissioners to be prepared to look locally for alternative funding should federal pass‑throughs be interrupted.
The health director said data products produced by the department are intended to give staff and the board timely, visual information for decision‑making and that he will provide further updates as the grant and surveillance landscapes change.
