Brooke County Health Department

10/23/2026

We continue to show positive cases in the region. Please ensure your pets are vaccinated against rabies.

Two animals test positive for rabies in Ohio County this month. Full story in the comments.

10/22/2026

Bullying isn’t always physical. It can be verbal (mean words) or social (damaging reputations and isolating others).
Recognizing these different forms helps us intervene safely. Learn the signs and protect WV youth at https://www.stopbullying.gov/🛑
Talk to your youth about these different forms so they can identify bullying and know when to seek help.

10/22/2026

Fun Farm Fact: play an important role in agriculture! They feed on moths, beetles, and other insects that are major agricultural pests. A single bat can consume hundreds of insects per hour, and entire colonies can eat thousands in a single night, reducing the need for pesticides.

10/22/2026

Monongalia County neighbors Pennsylvania but that border appears to be a strong line between a state with the most measles cases in the country and one with the fewest. West Virginia’s high childhood vaccination rates have spared residents from the brunt of the current measles outbreak, but Pennsylvania has had 247 hospitalizations and five to six associated deaths. If you need a vaccine, call 304-598-5119 to make an appointment.

10/21/2026

💗 Getting your first mammogram? Knowing what to expect can help ease your nerves!

Routine mammograms are one of the best tools for detecting breast cancer early. But if you’ve never had one, you may have questions about the process.

Darbi Wolfe, mammogram technologist at the WVU Cancer Institute Betty Puskar Breast Care Center, walks you through what to expect — from getting ready to having your images taken — and shares how your care team can help you feel more comfortable throughout the exam.

🎗️ Most women at average risk should begin screening mammograms at age 40. Don’t let uncertainty keep you from scheduling this important screening!

Read more: https://wvumedicine.org/news/article/wvu-medicine/expert-insights/what-to-expect-getting-a-mammogram/

10/21/2026

The countdown is on!!!

Snowbird brings you the holiday countdown . . .

10/20/2026

Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department
Potential Measles Exposure Notice
October 20, 2026

WHEELING, WV – The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department has been informed that an individual who was at the WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Emergency Department on October 17, 2026 has tested positive for measles. The individual is not from Ohio County or West Virginia. For privacy reasons, the department cannot provide additional details about the individual.

Wheeling Hospital and/or the County Health Department will be calling patients/staff who have been identified as exposed on this day with further instructions.

Individuals who are not vaccinated are most at-risk for infection. The WOCHD advises any individual in the exposure area who does has not had two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine to call their healthcare provider for next steps. It is very important for individuals who think they may have been exposed to not directly go to a healthcare facility without calling ahead. For anyone that is unsure, the WOCHD recommends they check their vaccination status. Individuals who have received only one dose of the vaccine, instead of the recommended two doses, may still be susceptible to the virus.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects the lungs and spreads when an infected person breaths, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, even after the infected person leaves the area.

Symptoms to watch for include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the head or face and spreads downward. Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after exposure. An individual with measles can spread the virus to others four days before and four days after the rash begins.

People who believe they were exposed to measles, and are experiencing symptoms, should contact their health care provider. Residents of Ohio County who are concerned about a potential exposure can contact the WOCHD at (304) 234-3682.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to toddlers when they are 12 to 15 months of age, and a second MMR vaccine is required for all West Virginia & Pennsylvania school children.

The Health Department recommends that any person who is due for measles vaccination make arrangements to receive it from their medical provider. Persons without health insurance may receive the vaccine at the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department.
There is no risk in getting an additional dose of the MMR vaccine for individuals who are uncertain but may have already received it.

10/20/2026

10/20/2026

Today is Test it Tuesday

Tonight, try sleeping with your bedroom door closed.
A closed door can help slow down the spread of smoke, heat, and flames. Allowing more time for your family more time to escape.

10/20/2026

Did you know?

Fun Farm Fact: How many types of pumpkins are there? We can't give you a firm figure. That's because plant breeders are constantly developing new hybrid varieties and growers around the world cultivate their own varieties. So, best guess - there are hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties.