AGP Executive Report

Salmonella/Jalapeños: The CDC says a jalapeño-linked Salmonella Javiana outbreak has grown to 431 illnesses across 32 states, with 57 hospitalizations and no deaths; the grower in Sinaloa, Mexico is still unnamed. Cyclospora/Lettuce: Cyclosporiasis cases tied to Taylor Farms lettuce top 15,000 lab-confirmed nationwide, with at least 828 hospitalizations and two deaths reported, as federal and state health teams keep tracing clusters. Local EMS Funding: Monongalia County commissioners approved placing a Mon EMS excess levy renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot, keeping rates at 4.8 cents per $100 for owner-occupied property and 9.6 cents for commercial, to sustain response times and services. Dental Access: WVU opened the first phase of major upgrades to the state’s only dental school, citing federal shortage data showing West Virginia still needs more dental providers. Care Closer to Home: WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital launched 24/7 EEG monitoring for neurological emergencies, aiming to diagnose faster and reduce transfers. Health Coverage Disruption: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage patients in Virginia and West Virginia are set to lose in-network benefits at Valley Health facilities after contract talks failed. Food Safety Lawsuits: A Pennsylvania woman filed suit against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms after a cyclospora hospitalization, alleging inadequate disclosure of contamination risk.

Water Infrastructure Push: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced an additional $145 million for West Virginia water and wastewater projects, launching a “Clean, Clear Water Strategy” aimed at speeding up timelines and boosting help for small, understaffed utilities. Dental Access: WVU opened Phase 1 of its School of Dentistry modernization in Morgantown, adding new orthodontic and pediatric clinics plus a dental innovation center—part of efforts to address widespread dental professional shortages. Flood Response: Fayette County agencies, volunteers, and partners are still coordinating relief along Route 61 after extensive flooding, including meals, drinking water, cleanup supplies, and road repair updates. Medicaid Work Requirements: West Virginia is on track to start Medicaid work requirements in January, but about 33,000 recipients are projected not to meet the 80-hours-a-month standard, raising questions about how health-related exemptions will be proven. Food Safety & Outbreak Watch: National cyclosporiasis cases tied to recalled lettuce appear to be trending down, while FDA recall coverage continues to highlight major 2026 food safety actions. Immunization Trends: CDC data shows kindergarten vaccine coverage slipping as exemptions hit a record 4.2% nationwide, with West Virginia among states still below the 95% target for MMR. Local EMS Funding: Mon EMS is seeking voter approval to renew its excess levy on the Nov. 3 ballot to maintain response times and services.

Water & Wastewater Funding: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced an extra $145 million for West Virginia water and wastewater projects, launching a new “Clean, Clear Water Strategy” to speed timelines and help small, understaffed systems with grant-writing and technical support. Healthcare Quality & Access: Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Morgantown was named No. 1 rehab hospital in West Virginia in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 rankings. Primary Care Staffing: Medpointe Family Medicine in Clarksburg welcomed Andrea M. Garrison, DO, expanding adult primary care services. Emergency Care Leadership: Vandalia Health Davis and Webster Memorial hospitals named Christopher Conrad, DO as Emergency Department Director. Rehab & Specialty Expansion: Independence Health System added orthopedic/spine surgeon Steven Hand, DO, expanding orthopedic and spine care in Butler and Clarion. Legal/Health System Fallout: A federal jury awarded Memorial Health $5 million in a lawsuit tied to WVU Medicine Camden Clark. Public Health Watch: CDC data shows kindergarten vaccine exemptions hit 4.2% for 2025-26, continuing an upward trend. Community Health Support: United Hospital Center will receive community-donated produce boxes for outpatient cancer patients.

Emergency Care Leadership: Christopher Conrad, DO, FACEP, FACOEP, has been named Emergency Department Director for Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center and Vandalia Health Webster Memorial Hospital, bringing rural emergency medicine leadership back to the region. Neurology Access: WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital launched a new 24/7 EEG program, expanding around-the-clock brain monitoring for neurological emergencies and helping reduce transfers. Cancer Support: Local groups donated produce boxes to outpatient cancer patients at United Hospital Center, aiming to boost nutrition during treatment. Mental Health via Telehealth: Emplify Health West Union added Mary Katherine Lilly, MSW, LICSW, providing therapy services by telehealth with decades of experience across community and veteran care. Public Health Alert: Health officials are urging vigilance after four confirmed measles cases in Meigs County, Ohio, warning West Virginia residents about travel-related exposure risk. Vaccines & Schools: CDC data shows kindergarten vaccination coverage fell while exemptions rose to 4.2% in 2025-2026, with MMR and other key shots declining. Food Safety Recall: Kettle Cuisine recalled its Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit sold at Walmart in West Virginia and 28 other states due to possible Listeria contamination. Flood Response: Charleston residents continue cleanup after Sunday flash flooding, with local health officials offering flood-related vaccines and emergency support.

FDA Recall: Nutrient Foods recalled Protein Cereal Cocoa Crunch kits in 10 states after soy was found undeclared on the label, prompting a Class II recall. Child Safety Tech Trial: A federal trial over Meta’s addictive features for kids is set to begin in Oakland, with 29 states seeking damages and changes to Facebook/Instagram. Medicare Fraud Case: U.S. prosecutors filed a civil complaint alleging a Texas company and a North Carolina man defrauded Medicare via improper billing for implanted electro-neurostimulators. Flood Health & Safety: Flash flooding hit West Virginia hard, knocking out power and prompting emergency guidance on cleanup safety, including protective gear and avoiding dangerous generator use indoors. Cancer Screening Access: WVU Medicine will bring mobile breast and lung screening units to Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs and Paw Paw in September. Immunization Policy Confusion: A new CDC report shows kindergarten vaccine rates dipped as exemptions hit a record high, while pediatric groups warn federal vaccine guidance is undermining confidence. EMS for Kids: West Virginia earned national approval to launch a statewide prehospital pediatric readiness recognition program. WV Legal Desert: West Virginia’s State Bar highlights ongoing attorney shortages in rural areas and the role of public defenders.

Flood Recovery & Access: Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin declared a State of Emergency after devastating flooding, giving the city more flexibility to deploy resources as crews assess damage. Pharmacy Reopening: CVS Pharmacy in Weston reopened after severe flash flooding, with cleaning, flooring replacement, and full restocking of prescriptions and merchandise. Cancer Care Fundraising: WVU Cancer Institute’s Golf and Sporting Clays Classic raised over $100,000 for patients through the Connection 304 Fund. Behavioral Health Services: The Randolph County Family Support Center, part of Youth Health Services, shared its youth and young-adult behavioral health and child development work with the Elkins Rotary Club. Opioid Treatment in Court: A federal judge let a challenge move forward against West Virginia’s nearly 20-year moratorium on new methadone clinics, arguing it violates disability protections. Food Safety Recall: FDA announced a recall of Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits sold at Walmart in 29 states due to possible Listeria contamination. Vaccines & Exemptions: CDC data shows kindergarten vaccination coverage dipped again while nonmedical exemptions rose, with West Virginia among the states at or above the MMR 95% threshold. Legal Desert Crisis: Attorneys urged West Virginia to focus on raising court-appointed counsel compensation to address “legal deserts” across many counties. Health System Litigation: A federal jury awarded Memorial Health System $5 million in a conspiracy-related case involving WVU Medicine Camden Clark.

WVU Cancer Care Fundraiser: A record-setting 2026 Golf and Sporting Clays Classic in Roanoke raised more than $100,000 for patient support at the WVU Cancer Institute, with the Connection 304 Fund backing the institute’s greatest needs. Pharmacy Access After Flooding: Weston’s CVS reopened after severe flash flooding, with officials saying the store was cleaned, damaged flooring was replaced, and prescriptions and merchandise were fully restocked. Addiction Treatment Lawsuit Moves Forward: A federal judge allowed a challenge to West Virginia’s long-standing methadone clinic moratorium and zoning limits to proceed, arguing the rules block access for people with opioid use disorder. Tele-audiology Upgrade: ELEHEAR launched ElePro Plus, offering live tele-audiology sessions for OTC hearing device owners, aiming to improve fitting and follow-up support. Food Safety Recall: Walmart-linked Marketside tomato bisque soup kits were recalled in 29 states due to possible listeria contamination; no illnesses were reported in the alert. Community Health Workforce: EnCova Foundation of West Virginia awarded $25,000 to fund a wilderness medicine elective at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, training students for rural emergency care. Health Equity & Trust: A new book highlights why Appalachians may mistrust healthcare providers and what clinicians can do to close the gap.

Cancer Care Fundraising: The 2026 Golf and Sporting Clays Classic in West Virginia raised a record $100,000+ for patient support at the WVU Cancer Institute, with the Connection 304 Fund backing the institute’s greatest needs. Pharmacy Reopens After Flooding: Weston’s CVS reopened after severe flash flooding, completing cleaning, flooring replacement, and restocking with fresh merchandise and prescription meds. Food Safety Recall: Kettle Cuisine recalled Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits sold at select Walmart stores, including in West Virginia, due to possible listeria contamination; no illnesses reported. Public Health & Access: State lawmakers pressed the Morrisey administration over disruptions to West Virginia’s school clothing voucher program, citing unclear problems tied to funding and application data. Workforce Shortage: A new West Virginia Supreme Court report says legal demands are rising while the number of attorneys is falling, leaving many counties “legal deserts.” Healthcare Education Enrollment: West Virginia’s higher education chancellor reported record enrollment in the tuition-free West Virginia Invests Program and rising FAFSA completion among high school graduates. Community Health Events: Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia held its Splash Bash in Morgantown to raise funds for medical care, vetting, and adoption support. Local Emergencies: A single-engine plane crash in Millwood left one person transported by HealthNet; an ATV crash in Mink Shoals sent two people to the hospital.

Food Safety Alerts: Walmart shoppers in West Virginia should check for recalled Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits after Kettle Cuisine LLC issued a listeria-related recall affecting select stores in 29 states, including WV; the 14-ounce kits (UPC 194346474004) have a use-by date of Aug. 22, 2026, and consumers are urged to throw them away or return for a refund. Public Health & Vaccines: A new Trump executive order on childhood vaccines is stirring debate, but states still control school vaccine requirements and enforcement; meanwhile, a CDC map shows measles cases spiking as guidance shifts raise concerns about immunity gaps. Care Access in WV: West Virginia is facing a growing shortage of attorneys for court-appointed work, with a new Supreme Court of Appeals report finding declining lawyer numbers alongside rising legal demand. Local Health & Community: Monongalia County Schools reported its highest overall assessment results in a decade, with gains in reading, math, and English Language Arts. WV Health-Adjacent Policy: West Virginia lawmakers are also weighing hospital-to-nursing-facility admission rules tied to patient representatives, a move aimed at easing consent and admissions processes. Emergency Response: A single-engine plane crash near a TIMET facility in Jackson County left one survivor being transported for medical treatment; details on injuries were not immediately released.

Food Safety Recalls: Kettle Cuisine recalled 3,240 Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits sold at select Walmart stores in 29 states (including West Virginia) after routine testing showed a presumptive positive for Listeria; no illnesses reported yet. Public Health: The CDC says cyclosporiasis linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has surged to 13,895 lab-confirmed cases across 47 states, with Ohio and Michigan leading reports; FDA is coordinating with Mexico and has begun inspections at Taylor Farms’ plant. Addiction Treatment Access: A federal judge let a lawsuit challenging West Virginia’s nearly 20-year methadone clinic moratorium move forward, arguing the ban and zoning limits block people from timely, evidence-based care. Healthcare & Community: West Virginia Prevention Solutions raised support at “Tunes and Togetherness” to fund youth-focused, substance-free programming and school curriculum. Environmental Health: DEP approved an air quality permit for a Clean-Seas plastics pyrolysis plant near Belle despite community health fears, including concerns about monitoring near Riverside High School. Telehealth & Broadband: A Mountain State Spotlight report highlights how unreliable internet disrupts telehealth counseling, underscoring the stakes of broadband expansion in rural West Virginia.

Public Health & Food Safety: The CDC says male life expectancy varies by nearly 8 years between top and bottom states, with West Virginia among the lowest for men (about 69.5 years), underscoring big health gaps. Food Recalls: Walmart shoppers in West Virginia should check for recalled Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits after a listeria risk prompted a recall in 29 states; no confirmed illnesses reported so far. Infectious Disease Watch: The cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has spread to 17 states, with West Virginia listed among affected areas as FDA and CDC continue investigations. Addiction Treatment Access: A federal judge let a lawsuit challenging West Virginia’s methadone clinic moratorium move forward, arguing the limits block people from needed, evidence-based care. Rural Healthcare Access: Gov. Morrisey announced $4.2 million for rural transportation and EMS collaboratives to connect patients to the right care beyond the emergency room. Environmental Health: DEP approved an air quality permit for a plastics-to-products facility near Belle despite community health fears, including concerns about proximity to a high school. Community Wellness: West Virginia Prevention Solutions raised support at “Tunes and Togetherness” to fund substance-free youth programming.

Food Safety: FDA upgraded a large egg recall to the highest risk level after salmonella sickened nearly 100 people in 17 states, with dozens hospitalized. Food Safety: Kettle Cuisine recalled 3,240 packs of Walmart Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits in 29 states, including West Virginia, after routine testing found a presumptive listeria result; no confirmed illnesses yet. Public Health: Measles cases are spiking nationwide as the Trump administration overhauls vaccine guidance, with Wisconsin among states reporting new outbreak-linked cases. Addiction Treatment: A federal judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit challenging West Virginia’s nearly 20-year methadone clinic moratorium, allowing the case to proceed; the state has only nine clinics. Healthcare Access: Gov. Morrisey announced $4.2 million for rural healthcare transportation via EMS and public transportation collaboratives under the Rural Health Transformation Program. Foodborne Outbreak Tracking: FDA and CDC began inspections in Mexico tied to the cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce, with West Virginia listed among affected states. Privacy & Tech: Lawmakers questioned Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader data security and privacy practices.

Black Lung Crisis in Appalachia: New federal findings show underground coal miners in central Appalachia are seeing black lung rates at the highest level since the 1970s, with about one in three miners testing positive after 25+ years underground—UMWA is calling for “immediate” enforcement of silica dust protections. Food Safety Alerts: The FDA issued a Class I recall for a Walmart Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit over possible Listeria contamination, with a use-by date of Aug. 22 still not reached; separately, egg recalls tied to Salmonella Enteritidis were upgraded to Class I, and a jalapeño-linked Salmonella outbreak has triggered broad recalls of salsas, guacamole and dips sold at major retailers. Cancer Screening Access: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, will visit Harrison and Clay counties in September, offering low-dose CT scans for eligible patients, including options for uninsured residents via grant support. Public Health in Motion: USDA-APHIS will air-drop oral rabies vaccine baits across parts of West Virginia through early September to protect raccoons and slow rabies spread. Local Food Support: Mountaineer Food Bank is seeking volunteers to pack and distribute monthly senior food boxes through the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

Mobile Lung Cancer Screening: WVU Medicine’s LUCAS unit will bring low-dose CT scans to Clarksburg (Sept. 9) and Ivydale/Big Otter (Sept. 11), with options for private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and grant-funded help for eligible uninsured patients. Public Health Vaccines: Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department is running school and community clinics next week to help students meet West Virginia immunization requirements before the school year. Cyclospora Update: The national Cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce continues to be tracked, with confirmed cases still rising even as officials say the worst spread may be behind them. Addiction Treatment Research: Cabell County is partnering with the University of Pittsburgh on a project aimed at identifying what most effectively gets people into addiction treatment. Food Safety Recall: Walmart is recalling a Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit sold in select stores, citing possible Listeria contamination risk. Cancer Care Expansion: WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital named Dr. Mohammed Abdulhaleem director of medical oncology as its cancer program grows. Work Requirements: West Virginia lawmakers were told an initial DHS review found about 33,000 Medicaid recipients may not meet new federal work rules starting Jan. 1 and may not be automatically exempted. Rabies Prevention: USDA-APHIS will conduct an oral rabies vaccine bait drop across northern and central West Virginia through early September.

Mobile Cancer Care: WVU Medicine’s LUCAS mobile lung cancer screening unit is set to visit Harrison and Clay counties in September, offering low-dose CT scans; uninsured West Virginians who meet criteria may get free screening via grant support, but appointments require a physician order and insurance prior authorization. Nursing Pipeline: Pierpont Community & Technical College celebrated 42 new LPN graduates, marking its largest Licensed Practical Nursing class in school history. Food Safety Alert: Taylor Farms expanded a multistate jalapeño recall tied to salmonella, with products sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target and Trader Joe’s; CDC and FDA advise consumers to check recalls and not eat affected items. Breast Health Access: Bonnie’s Bus mobile mammography will make multiple West Virginia stops in September, with free screenings available for eligible uninsured women 40+ through the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Public Health & Equity: United Way’s Helpful Harvest program in Monongalia and Preston counties is tackling food insecurity through a distribution hub serving dozens of pantries and feeding programs, plus hygiene and baby supplies. Local Health System Recognition: WVU School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (including the Beckley campus) was named a Program of Excellence by the WVU Board of Governors.

Mobile Cancer Screening: WVU Medicine’s LUCAS mobile lung cancer screening unit is set to visit Harrison and Clay counties in September, offering low-dose CT scans for eligible patients (with insurance billing and grant support for uninsured West Virginians who meet criteria). Mobile Mammography: Bonnie’s Bus will also roll through Mercer, Doddridge, and Ritchie counties in September, providing 3D mammograms and breast care education, with free screening options for uninsured women 40+ who qualify. Public Health Alerts: Monongalia County is distributing oral rabies vaccine baits around Morgantown, and residents are urged to avoid touching baits unless necessary for child or pet safety. Healthcare Funding: Vandalia Health received a $15 million federal grant for infrastructure and cybersecurity upgrades to better protect patient data. Legislative Scrutiny: West Virginia lawmakers pressed the new Department of Human Services secretary over the school clothing allowance program, including concerns about how benefits are being withdrawn and tracked. Food Safety: A major jalapeño recall tied to Salmonella has expanded nationwide, with hundreds sickened and products sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods. Local Health & Safety: Parkersburg firefighters are undergoing esophageal cancer pre-screening, while Preston County held a poverty simulation to highlight barriers that affect health. Education Outcomes: West Virginia K-12 assessments show math and English results above pre-COVID levels, with some grade-level shifts in proficiency.