453 Van Voorhis Road
Morgantown, WV 26505
(Top Floor)

Dentistry

453 Van Voorhis Rd, 
Morgantown, WV 26505

Environmental Health

Threat Preparedness

Clinical Services

1000 Elmer Prince Dr, 
Morgantown, WV 26505

453 Van Voorhis Road
Morgantown, WV 26505

Health Promotions

Some animals and insects, such as rodents, mosquitoes and ticks, can spread diseases to humans. Although these animals and insects are a natural part of the environment where we live, by minimizing our contact with them we can help to prevent the spread of disease.

Because it is not possible to remove ticks from the environment, try to keep them from biting and attaching to you. When you are out in wooded areas or in tall grass, wear repellent. When you return, check yourself for any ticks that tried to hitch a ride on you. If you do find a tick attached to you, remove it by pulling it straight out —

do not twist it — with your fingers or a pair of tweezers. If you find a deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) attached to you, contact your doctor. Monongalia County Health Department conducts 

 surveillance to monitor tick diseases, such as 

, like to live in trash piles, removing trash from your property is a way to control rodents. 

 requires all persons to have trash service or to take the trash to a landfill at least once per month. Because trash with food scraps will also attract other wild animals, such as raccoons, any trash stored outdoors should be kept in a covered and leak-proof trash container.

 need standing water to breed, removing standing water from your property, or at least around your house, will help to control mosquitoes. Any standing water — a bucket, an old tire, a pot or a birdbath can be a potential breeding area for mosquitoes. If you live in an area where there are mosquitoes, be sure to use repellents when you are outside to help keep mosquitoes from biting you. If you have any pets, make sure that your pets receive regular heartworm preventative. Monongalia County Health Department conducts mosquito surveillance to monitor 

 requires a property owner to properly dispose of any animals that die on their property. This is especially important if the dead animal is located in a creek or stream. Dead animals can also attract other animals, such as rodents. Properly disposing of dead animals helps to prevent the spread of disease.

Vector Control – Ticks, Mosquitoes, etc.

Members of Monongalia County Health Department’s 

program work to protect area residents from the harmful effects of substances known by the acronym 

 — Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear.

Radiation is used medically in X-rays and to diagnose and treat some conditions. It's also used in places that some might not expect, such as in household products such as smoke detectors, and in heavy industry to measure underground wells or pipelines. These devices are transported via area roadways that all citizens use.


Radiation can harm humans if it becomes uncontrolled or is used improperly. Members of Monongalia County Health Department’s 

 have undergone and continue to take training to learn how to conduct surveillance and detect different types of radiation in a variety of situations to help keep our community safe, as well as to respond to incidents that may occur. That includes learning how to treat radiation injuries in a network that includes WVU Medicine.


 also works with other partners to prepare for potential radiation emergencies, such as an event at a nuclear power plant or a lost/missing radiation source. The team continually works to build capability to support the response to those types of activities. This includes generating data that allows for mapping and making decisions about how to deal with potentially dangerous items.

 Monongalia County Health Department staff members, along with other community radiation responders, attend West Virginia University football games and other large-scale events to perform surveillance and to detect any radiation that may be on-site.
MCHD Threat Preparedness staff members also have participated in community radiation response drills, including one with West Virginia University in May 2019 involving a scenario on WVU’s PRT.

Team members have undergone training through a variety of institutions. These include:

The Counter Terrorism Operations Support (CTOS)

 of the Center for Radiological/Nuclear Training in Nevada; 

Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site

 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland; 

Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program 

Also, team members have taken additional training to learn how to combat chemical and biological attacks at the 

United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

 to help carry out the duties of the Radiation Response Team. They include:

Thermo Scientific RadEye Personal Radiation Detectors 

Detects radiation and monitors total dose when worn on an individual.

 — Locates radioactive contamination on individuals and objects.

 — Locates radioactive sources and identifies specific radioactive isotopes.

 — Scans individuals or vehicles that go through portal for radioactive sources or contamination.

MCHD’s Threat Preparedness program also houses the

 West Virginia Northern Radiation Response Team

. We have a team of radiation specialists that can respond to incidents to assess and mitigate the radiation hazard as well as provide subject matter expertise and recommendations to responders as well as the public. Click 

 to find radiological data gathered by United States government agencies.


What to do in case of a radiation emergency

Radiation Response Team — CBRN

Nutritionists and registered dietitians provide nutrition assessments along with nutrition counseling and education for WIC participants. Nutritionists and dietitians also prescribe the WIC food package tailored to the individual participant’s needs. 

Nutrition information by category and child's age is available here

Nutritional Counseling and Education (WIC)

Naloxone HCL (Narcan) is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, a result of consuming or using one or more opioid-related drugs. 

In order for those struggling with substance abuse to receive help, they need to stay alive. The 

 provides naloxone distribution and training to any individual, groups or organization that are interested. If interested in naloxone or naloxone training, reach out to Joe Klass, Assistant QRT Coordinator, at 

 or 304-225-0264. Naloxone is also available 24/7 at 

 to watch a video on the importance of naloxone and how to administer it, and 

 to read a blog about why everyone should consider carrying it. 

The Monongalia County QRT also holds at least two Free Naloxone Day events at different locations around Monongalia County twice a year. The most recent Free Naloxone Day took place on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. 

Naloxone/Narcan

Monongalia County Health Department offers three levels of food safety training: food manager certification, person-in-charge training and food worker training.

Food worker training is required for all persons involved in preparing, storing or handling food in restaurants and other facilities offering food for sale to the public.

Class length is about 45 minutes. Registration begins 30 minutes prior to class. It's best to arrive early because seating and parking can be limited. A photo ID is required for registration.

The training costs $10 per year. Cards expiring in one, two ($20) or three years ($30) are available.

MCHD is pleased to offer online food worker training provided by StateFoodSafety.com. The course costs $20. It takes about two hours to complete and you must pass a test at the end.

 is the only online food service worker course we accept.  Please be sure to take the Monongalia County course.

Course registration will ask for the name and address of the facility or volunteer organization you work for, so it will be helpful to have that information available before you start. If you are not employed or not volunteering, please put N/A in those fields.

We now have three options for the Online Food Worker Training Course. Click on a link below to take the course that best suits your needs:

one-year certification valid in Monongalia County only ($20)

one-year certification valid statewide ($25)

two-year certification valid statewide ($30)

three-year certification valid statewide ($35)

Many employers and organizations ensure their workers comply with training requirements by sponsoring an onsite food worker course. MCHD is pleased to offer this service for groups of 20 or more.

The cost is typically $200 plus card fees. Please contact 304-943-7773 to schedule a course. 

We offer temporary food worker cards every weekday (except for holidays) from 9-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. Candidates must study informational sheets (available below) and then complete a 10-question worksheet.

Temporary cards cost $1 for each week issued. All cards expire the day of the next scheduled food workers class. Temporary card holders are expected to attend that class.

Download Temporary Food Worker Study Material

The Food Code requires a designated PIC to be in the food establishment during all hours of operation (2- 101.11(A)). The PIC is required to demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention, HACCP principles, and the requirements of the Food Code. The Monongalia County Health Department's online PIC course is available with a fee of $65. You will have 30 days to complete the course once you create your account. It takes about four hours from start to finish and you must pass a test at the end. Please have the name and address of your food service facility available for the registration process. You may read about the course, watch a preview video and take the course 


The 2013 Food Code requires all food establishments to have at least one management level employee who is certified in food protection by passing an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited exam. Our Food Manager Training Course will help to prepare you to meet this requirement.
At the end of the course, we will proctor the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals CFPM exam. A score of at least 75% is required for certification.
The course costs $150 per person; this includes the exam fee. It is day and half in length, meeting from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. the first day. The second day from 8:30 a.m.-noon.
Individuals who are not fluent in English are encouraged to bring a translator. The exam itself is available in several languages.
Pre-registration with payment is required at least 21 days prior to the class. You must provide a photo ID prior to taking the test.
A one-year food worker card will be issued to all class attendees.

Well-qualified candidates can take the ServSafe exam without the course. A score of at least 75% is required for certification.
The exam-only option is $100; an optional study manual can be purchased at any time prior to the test for $25.
You must pre-register with payment no later than 21 days prior to the test date.
For testing purposes, arrive at 8:30 a.m. You must provide a photo ID prior to taking the test.
Onsite registration begins 30 minutes before testing times.
To pre-register, use the 

Food manager certification National Registry

The 2013 Food Code requires all food establishments to have at least one management level employee who is certified in food protection by passing an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited exam. Our Food Manager Training Course will help to prepare you to meet this requirement.

At the end of the course, we will proctor the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals CFPM exam. A score of at least 75% is required for certification.

The course costs $150 per person; this includes the exam fee. It is day and half in length, meeting from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. the first day. The second day from 8:30 a.m.-noon.

Individuals who are not fluent in English are encouraged to bring a translator. The exam itself is available in several languages.

Pre-registration with payment is required at least 21 days prior to the class. You must provide a photo ID prior to taking the test.

A one-year food worker card will be issued to all class attendees.

Well-qualified candidates can take the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals CFPM exam without the course. A score of at least 75% is required for certification.

The exam-only option is $100; an optional study manual can be purchased at any time prior to the test for $25.

You must pre-register with payment no later than 21 days prior to the test date.

For testing purposes, arrive at 8:30 a.m. You must provide a photo ID prior to taking the test.  Onsite registration begins 30 minutes before testing times.

Food Safety Training

 is the study of health and illness in the community and is considered the foundation of public health. At Monongalia County Health Department, our epidemiologists track infectious diseases, investigate and manage disease outbreaks, educate medical providers and the general public about illness in our community and teach how to prevent the spread of diseases.


When an outbreak occurs, our epidemiologists communicate with the facility or individual(s) to help track the disease and provide guidance on steps to work through the outbreak and prevent them in the future.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides extensive information about epidemiology on its 


The West Virginia Office of Epidemiology 

 to alert residents of infectious diseases that could be encountered close to home or on a trip.

The federal public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 

ended on May 11, 2023 and as a result CDC has updated the 

Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

 To support healthcare workers in understanding and implementing the updated recommendations, CDC’s Project Firstline hosted a town hall in collaboration with the American Medical Association. Watch the 

Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR)

 tools are used to systematically assess a healthcare facility’s infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and guide quality improvement activities (e.g., by addressing identified gaps).

Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (DIDE)

The Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (DIDE)

, a program from the West Virginia Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services (OEPS), monitors and manages communicable diseases in West Virginia through technical assistance, investigation, education and prevention. DIDE is staffed by epidemiologists, physicians, nurses and other experts infectious diseases. DIDE provides consultation regarding infectious diseases and outbreaks and in collaboration with local health departments investigates and reports these diseases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DIDE also provides educational materials on identification, management and prevention of diseases to clinicians and the public.

Epidemiology/Infectious Diseases

There is no better food than breast milk for a baby’s first year of life. Breastfeeding provides many health, nutritional and emotional benefits to both mother and baby. Mothers enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program are encouraged to breastfeed their infants, unless there is a medical reason not to.

The WIC program supports breastfeeding in many ways. Specially trained counselors provide WIC mothers with breastfeeding encouragement, education and support. Members of the public can take advantage of free breastfeeding classes in each MCHD WIC county (see below for times and days) as well as a 24/7 app through the Appalachian Breastfeeding Network. Many WIC moms are eligible to receive or borrow breast pumps at no cost. Breastfeeding mothers are also eligible to participate in WIC longer and can receive enhanced food packages, if they breastfeed exclusively.

If you are interested in breastfeeding your baby, MCHD WIC can help.

for Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor Counties:

Lynne Ryan, BA, IBCLC, Peer Counselor - Monongalia County 

Angie Rebrook, Breastfeeding Liaison, IBCLC, Registered Lactation Consultant - Harrison County 

Susie Boreing, Peer Counselor, Certified Lactation Counselor - Monongalia County 

Chrissy Rodeheaver, Peer Counselor, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, Certified Lactation Counselor - Monongalia County 

Ceranda Jones, Peer Counselor, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist - Monongalia County 

Brianna Lucas, Peer Counselor, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist -  Harrison and Marion counties,

Anna Ash - Peer Counselor, Doula, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist - Monongalia County 

MCHD WIC's retired breastfeeding coordinator. Lynne Ryan, now serving as a WIC breastfeeding consultant, conducted this breastfeeding class about 10 years ago. MCHD WIC offers free breastfeeding classes for all pregnant and new moms in its six-county region, which includes Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison, Doddridge and Taylor counties. 

You can watch this video to learn more about breastfeeding. Clients also can get information from consultants via phone consultations and the Pacify app. Here is the schedule for free breastfeeding classes that are open to the public, including non-WIC participants: 

WIC breastfeeding classes are open to the public. Please call ahead to verify the class schedule.

 first and fourth Wednesday at 3 p.m., third Wednesday at 10 a.m.

 first, second and third Tuesday at 10 a.m.

 first and third Wednesday at 4 pm, second Wednesday at 10 a.m.

MCHD WIC maintains a limited inventory of manual and electric breast pumps. Only active WIC participants are eligible to borrow or receive a WIC pump, and pumps are issued based on need and availability. WIC does not fill pump prescriptions for insurance companies.

Most nursing employees are entitled to accommodations to allow them to breastfeed at work, via 

 Feel free to ask your breastfeeding counselor for more information. 

Breastfeeding

Our diverse team of highly skilled, experienced and dedicated professionals are collectively focused on the health and well-being of our community.

Events Calendar

 Immunizations

Lead Testing

Rabies Control 

Radon

Reproductive Health

Smile Express

STI and HIV

WIC/Breastfeeding

Accessibility

Online Inspection Reports

Resources

MCHD Threat Preparedness provides public health preparedness and response capabilities to protect the community from natural and man-made threats. Learn more about 

MCHD Dentistry proudly provides quality preventive, restorative, therapeutic and cosmetic dental care for children and adults in a caring, professional environment. 

MCHD WIC provides nutrition, breastfeeding support, health education and other services, free of charge, to pregnant women, mothers, infants and children up to the age of 5 who qualify. 

Environmental Health helps to protect the health of the citizens of Monongalia County by regulating the food, water, land, public spaces and businesses of Monongalia County. 

MCHD Clinical Services has served generations of Monongalia County residents with their medical needs, ranging including adult and childhood vaccines, cervical cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment and more. Learn more about 

Health Promotions centers on outreach and encouraging activity through the West Virginia Wellness Passport, as well as community partnerships to help tackle problems faced by area residents. Learn more about 

The mission of Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD) is to prevent disease, promote healthy living and protect our community.

Home

Last year it was Wheeling and Fairmont; this year, Weston and Buckhannon.
You don’t have to look as far away as Nepal and Tibet to see how gushing water and flooding can devastate communities and individuals.
Recently, West Virginia’s governor declared a 55-county statewide emergency after a series of rainfalls caused severe flooding that only hit a small area of Monongalia County but made a bigger impact in other locations.
Of course, flooding is just one kind of emergency, and weather doesn’t cause all of them.
Friday will be the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, an event that prompted the creation of the 

 program at Monongalia County Health Department.


 was launched in September 2004 not only because of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in nearby Shanksville, Pennsylvania, but also to acknowledge the severe weather that can occur during the height of hurricane season.
That makes it a good time to impart some helpful tips on how to make sure you are ready for whatever might come your way as well as provide information on what MCHD Threat Preparedness does.
It’s not that difficult to make a case to be prepared, because the question has evolved from “if” something happens to “when.”
Even if it’s just a power outage that may last longer than usual, it’s good to have items in place that will make you more comfortable until things return to normal.


Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)

, encourages everyone to make a kit to be ready for those types of incidents and more. You can refer to the website to see a list of practical items to gather.
Other suggestions include:
Learn how to receive emergency alerts.
Make plans for both sheltering in place and also evacuation.
Create a communication plan with your family in case disaster strikes when you are at different locations.
There are also financial preparations you can make to better help in the event of an emergency.
Keep financial, critical household and medical information handy, including printed copies.
If you don’t have any of these, purchase homeowners or renters insurance, as well as health and life insurance.
Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash at home in a safe place. It is important to have small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food. Remember, homeowners insurance typically doesn’t cover flooding, so if you believe this is a risk to your property, look into flood insurance.
Additionally, so many people are pet owners and you don’t want to forget about your furry (or scaly) family members. Microchipping dogs and cats will aid in them being reunited with you more easily.
Consider making a plan with your neighbors, including those with pets who can serve as an evacuation backup in case you are gone, and vice versa. But getting to know your neighbors is also a good idea in general, because you can help each other out and check on the elderly and others who might need assistance when an incident occurs, even a power outage.
MCHD Threat Preparedness provides a variety of training that you can schedule now, including 

, a national program that can be used if someone is injured in a car accident, a shooting or in some other incident. To schedule a training, email Joseph.L.Klass@wv.gov.
MCHD is also the main base for the 

Monongalia County Quick Response Team (QRT)

 and our annual naloxone distribution event, Save a Life Day, will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at various locations.
Disasters aren’t fun to think about, but being prepared makes them easier to handle when something happens.


Mary Wade Burnside is the public information officer at Monongalia County Health Department. Email her at MaryWade.Burnside@wv.gov.

Disasters don’t plan, but you can

Monongalia County Health Department will be closed on Monday in honor of Labor Day. The health department will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

MCHD closed Monday in honor of Labor Day

Christina Mickey was brushing her teeth when she noticed a small black dot under her eyelid.

Using a magnifying mirror, the Fairmont resident not only could tell that the speck under her eye was a tiny 

, but she also saw another one on her eyelid.

Retired from the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Mickey grabbed tweezers to remove both ticks. She put them in a plastic bag so she could turn them in to find out if they carried 

, which is spread by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick.

“One was attached and had skin in his mouth when I removed it, and the smaller one wasn’t attached yet, so I felt they were fairly new bites,” she said.

Within hours, Mickey went to an urgent care and was prescribed a single 200 mg dose of the antibiotic doxycycline, which, when administered soon after an incident, helps prevent Lyme and other types of tick-borne illnesses.

The next time she saw Monongalia County Health Department’s 

 program manager Jamie Moore in a park where they both walk, she handed the ticks off to him.

A little later, he walked into my office, held up the bag containing two tiny dots and told me what they were.

“How can you tell that they are ticks?” I asked.

“I put them under the microscope and that’s what they are, clear as day,” Moore said. “Six legs and an anal groove. Two tiny, microscopic ticks that could be bullied by poppy seeds, if that were a thing.”

This story illustrates at least two things. One, even if you think you know what a tick looks like, you might not consider such a tiny dot to be a disease-carrying arachnid.

And two, Monongalia County Health Department is working to surveil the area to help keep community members safe from ticks and the diseases they may carry.

In fact, MCHD master’s interns from the WVU School of Public Health, under the direction of health officer Dr. Brian Huggins, spent the summer conducting tick drags in Monongalia County parks in an effort that Dr. Huggins hopes will continue.

“We restarted tick drags with a few goals in mind,” he said. “One is to look at the tick count in the area to understand what the tick density is. Two is to look for tick species, especially to see if 

Lone Star ticks are the infamous arachnids that, when diseased, can transfer 

 to their victims after latching onto them. Alpha gal is the illness that causes an allergic reaction to red meat and dairy products. However, as of now, in West Virginia, most of those ticks can be found in the southwestern part of the state.

Then, the third goal of resuming tick dragging is to try to identify environmental factors that could be impacting tick populations in the area, Dr. Huggins said.

Recent tick drags took place in four parks outside of Morgantown and four within the city limits, and each site was dragged twice.

One interesting finding was that fewer black-legged ticks than expected were found. However, Lyme disease has definitely been on the rise in West Virginia.

“It could just be the time of year,” Dr. Huggins said. “That’s why we need to check in the fall. It could be that they are in the larval stage and we weren’t picking up as many at that stage.

Dr. Huggins hopes that between student interns and potential grants, tick dragging can be ongoing and eventually yield more information.

In the meantime, it’s a good idea to take precautions to keep you, your family and your pets safe. This includes sticking to paths if you are in a wooded area, wearing socks and long pants and checking everyone for ticks upon your return.

Mary Wade Burnside is the public information officer at Monongalia County Health Department.

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MCHD closed Monday in honor of Labor Day

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