PCPH News and Health Alerts
For Immediate Release
CHEYENNE, WY - June 30, 2026 — The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is alerting residents to a recent phone scam where bad actors are "spoofing" official department phone numbers to solicit personal information. “Spoofing” is a form of scamming where a bad actor manipulates a caller ID to display a different phone number, often displaying the information of a trusted person, business, or official office.
Reports indicate that scammers are using the number 307-777-7656, a primary line for the WDH Director’s Office, to contact individuals. These callers often claim to be from an "investigative unit" or pharmacy and ask for sensitive personal data.
The WDH reminds the public that official department representatives will never call to ask for sensitive personal information in this manner. To protect yourself from these fraudulent activities, the WDH recommends the following:
- Verify the Caller: If you receive a suspicious call from a WDH number, hang up and call the department back using a verified phone number from the official website.
- Protect Personal Information: Never provide Social Security numbers, financial details, or other sensitive data over the phone to unsolicited callers.
- Gift cards and credit cards: WDH will never ask you to provide us a credit card or debit card over the phone for payment. We will also never ask you to give us gift cards.
- Consult Your Service Provider: Contact your phone service provider to inquire about call-blocking features or tools to identify potential spam.
- Report Fraud: You may report spoofing and scam calls to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
For more information on Caller ID spoofing, please visit the FCC website at https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cheyenne, Wyoming - June 28, 2026. The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated adult in Teton County. Measles is a highly contagious infection that can cause severe illness.
The public may have been exposed to measles at the following locations and times:
Cafe Court Pizzeria and Ranch House Restaurant, Colter Bay Village, Grand Teton National Park, 100 Colter Bay Village Road, Moran, Wyoming, 83013
- June 17, 2026, Noon to 10 PM
- June 18, 2026, Noon to 10 PM
Colter Bay Convenience Store, Grand Teton National Park, 1 Colter Bay Village Road, Moran, Wyoming, 83013
- June 20, 2026, 2:00 PM through 4:00 PM
Target Jackson Hole, 510 S Highway 89, Jackson, Wyoming 83001
- June 25, 2026, 7:00 AM through 9:30 AM
“We are asking people who may have been exposed to watch for measles symptoms for 21 days past the exposure date and consider avoiding crowded public places and high-risk settings such as daycare centers,” said Alexia Harrist, State Health Officer with WDH. Monitoring for symptoms is especially critical for people who have not been vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The MMR vaccine provides safe, highly effective, and long-lasting protection against measles infection. WDH recommends that all Wyoming residents ensure that they and their children are up-to-date on MMR vaccines.
Babies who are too young to get vaccinated, pregnant women who are not immune, and people with weak immune systems are more likely to have serious problems if they get measles. WDH recommends that people in these groups who believe they may have been exposed to measles contact their healthcare providers. If you have been exposed, doctors may recommend treatment to help prevent illness.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body. People who get sick with these symptoms should call their healthcare provider for guidance. Calling ahead in non-emergency situations helps prevent additional exposures. If you have symptoms of measles, stay home and avoid contact with others unless you are getting healthcare. Avoiding contact with babies, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems is especially important.
WDH posts measles case counts and exposure locations on its website: https://health.wyo.gov/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2026 Phone: 307-777-2438
Rabies Makes Its Return to Wyoming As summer approaches and temperatures rise, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is warning residents about wild animals that may carry rabies. The most common carriers of rabies in our state are bats and skunks, but any mammal can be infected with rabies, including humans. The first confirmed case of rabies for 2026 occurred in May in Sheridan County. A rabid bat was found in the backyard of a home in a downtown residential neighborhood. This highlights the need to stay alert outdoors, not just in the woods. Humans and pets can become infected from bites and scratches of an animal with rabies. Rabies is not spread through the touch of an infected animal or its feces or urine. Bat bites are not always visible. Anyone who has direct contact with a bat or who wakes up with a bat in their room should immediately contact a doctor or public health provider for assessment. There were six confirmed cases of rabies in Wyoming animals last year. “Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease,” says Dr. Emily Curren, a state public health veterinarian with the WDH. She advises, “Anyone with potential exposure to a rabid animal should wash the wound thoroughly with warm water and soap, and seek medical advice about the need for rabies post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment.” General Tips for preventing rabies:
For more information about rabies exposure in Wyoming, please visit: https://health.wyo.gov/ |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2026 Phone: 307-777-2438 The Wyoming Department of Health Reminds People to Prevent Mosquito Bites This Summer Cheyenne, WY - June 1, 2026. The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is reminding residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites as we move into warmer months to prevent West Nile Virus (WNV) infection. “Even if you don’t get bitten by mosquitoes often, one bite can still put you at risk of WNV infection,” said Courtney Tillman, Epidemiologist at the WDH. “It’s important that we all take steps to prevent mosquito bites and WNV infection.” To protect yourself and your loved ones:
Most people infected with WNV show no symptoms. Approximately one in five people will have mild symptoms, like fever, headache, and body aches. In rare cases, severe illness or death can occur, particularly in those over the age of 55 or with chronic health conditions. Information from the WDH about WNV can be found at badskeeter.org. |
Whooping Cough Continues Wyoming Spread
Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) officials are concerned about the ongoing, active spread of pertussis (whooping cough) across the state.
Kaylyn Friesen, vaccine-preventable disease epidemiologist with WDH, said there have been 26 confirmed pertussis cases in Wyoming so far this year. “While roughly two-thirds of the reported cases have been among Fremont County residents, pertussis has also been identified in other counties,” Friesen said.
Friesen noted that 148 cases were reported in Wyoming in 2025, the highest since 1951. “We are continuing to see outbreaks and high monthly case counts,” Friesen said.
Actual case numbers are likely higher because many illnesses are not recognized as pertussis, and others may not be reported. Pertussis typically begins with cold-like symptoms and perhaps a mild cough. Pertussis is often not suspected or diagnosed until a persistent cough with spasms develops after 1 to 2 weeks. Infants and children can cough violently and rapidly with a loud "whooping" sound.
Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer with WDH, said, “One-third of infants less than 1 year of age who become ill with pertussis need to be hospitalized, and we know, in some cases, it can be deadly for these babies. Pertussis in the youngest babies can cause them to have pauses in breathing. Infants are simply more vulnerable and don’t yet have all the protection pertussis vaccines offer.”
Harrist said the Tdap adolescent/adult pertussis booster vaccine is especially important for those spending time with new infants, such as parents, grandparents, and other people who take care of them. “Also, if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about a Tdap vaccine because that can also help protect newborns,” she said.
Harrist recommends that all residents stay up to date with pertussis vaccines, as those who still become ill with pertussis after vaccination are less likely to have a severe experience. “In addition, people should consider seeing a medical professional for antibiotics if they have symptoms consistent with pertussis,” she said.
More information about pertussis can be found online at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/pertussis/.