In mid-January, news reports revealed that Jackson Hole had been the location the COVID variant found in the United Kingdom had been found. However, during Friday’s community update, Teton County Health Officer Dr. Riddell revealed that there are now actually five cases of the variant found in Teton County Wyoming.
Riddell said, “Three of those are in an epidemiologically-linked cluster, and then the other two are not linked as far as we know. Of course, most of our positive cases are not analyzed to see whether or not they have the variant, and so it’s likely that the variant is, in fact, much more widespread than in those five cases.”
Dr. Riddell says over the past weeks, researchers are learning about how the variants might respond to the effectiveness of the vaccines now available, but so far, the vaccines seem to be quite effective with this variant, but possible not so much for other variants that are evolving. Riddell says the more the virus spreads, the more it can mutate; and that is why it is so important to get the population vaccinated as quickly as possible.
- National Elk Refuge February 2026 Biological Update: Mild Winter Persists in Jackson Hole - February 9, 2026
- Wyoming Game and Fish Hosts Workshops on Elk Feedground Management Action Plans - February 9, 2026
- Jackson Town Council Considers Unmet Housing Grant Application for S4 Flats on January 20th - January 20, 2026