Health

West Virginia University confirmed three cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 have been detected in the Morgantown area – two are WVU students. Genetic sequencing of samples from the WVU Medicine testing program detected the B.1.1.7 variant in Morgantown campus test samples analyzed this week. The University is working closely with the Monongalia County Health Department in its case investigation and contact tracing. It is believed that the three individuals who have tested positive for the variant are related to one another and have not visited the WVU campus during their infectious period.

West Virginia University scientists knew it was coming. When health officials confirmed the first three cases of a COVID-19 variant in West Virginia late Friday (Feb. 19), they were not surprised. In fact, WVU researchers had, in recent weeks, already formed a partnership with colleagues at Marshall University and the Department of Health and Human Resources to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants.

In an ongoing effort to support West Virginia University’s commitment to keeping its campus community and others safe, the School of Public Health is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct an eight-week mask observation study.

West Virginia University has made several updates to its COVID-19 procedures after reviewing the latest COVID-19 numbers on the Morgantown campus and within Monongalia County.

Dr. Mark Lee is building on the legacy Dr. G. Robert Nugent left behind following his 50-plus years at WVU. As chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery for the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Lee hopes to continue growing the Department via an endowed chair position created in Nugent’s memory. An additional $300,000 in private support is needed to fully fund the endowment.

West Virginia University will continue remote instruction for the Morgantown campus the remainder of Thursday (Feb. 18) due to inclement weather and road conditions. Classes already offered online and those in hybrid form will also continue as planned. Students on clinical rotations should check in with their program directors for additional guidance. The remainder of the University, including Libraries, dining, buses and COVID-19 testing will operate on a normal schedule. Those who are unable to make it to the COVID-19 vaccination clinics or need to adjust their appointment time should contact covidvaccine@mail.wvu.edu as soon as possible. The vaccination team may also reach out to reschedule appointments.

West Virginia University will move to remote instruction on the Morgantown campus online until 11:30 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 18) due to inclement weather and road conditions. Classes already offered online and those in hybrid form will also continue as planned. Students on clinical rotations should check in with their program directors for additional guidance. The remainder of the University, including dining, buses and COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics, will operate on a normal schedule.

A free smartphone app is now available for state residents who are searching for connection while struggling with substance use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prompted by a lack of independent, third-party evaluations of these devices, a research team of WVU neurologists led by Joshua Hagen, director of the Human Performance Innovation Center at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, tested the efficacy of eight commercial sleep trackers.

Antibiotic resistance is not exclusively a health issue. It’s a national security threat, as the Department of Defense has tapped a team of West Virginia University scientists to help exterminate the enemy – infectious biological agents.