West Virginia struggles when it comes to health. Measures ranging from life expectancy to substance abuse to chronic disease along with poverty, long travel distances and a shortage of providers all play a role. 

So does the sometimes uneasy relationship between patients and what’s presented as expert health guidance. 

This series includes stories about HIV, childhood vaccines and lung problems linked to coal dust. It’s a collaboration between West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the Global Health Reporting Center, funded by the Pulitzer Center.

Emily Rice,Aug. 28, 2024

Will The New Silica Dust Standard Rule Be Implemented?

Before a new MSHA rule to limit miner’s exposure to silica dust could take full effect, opponents threw up a new roadblock.

Caleb Hellerman,Aug. 21, 2024

Fears of Hidden HIV in Rural West Virginia 

Among U.S. states, West Virginia ranks 18th in the rate of new HIV infections. But it may be an incomplete picture, especially in rural communities, where some health officials worry that cases are going undetected.

Emily Rice,Aug. 14, 2024

West Virginia’s Vaccine Divide

As kids head back to school, pediatricians are reminding parents that their child must be immunized to attend school. But for some, this routine has become a time to grapple with fears about the safety of their children.

Caleb Hellerman +,Aug. 07, 2024

Has Fight Over Syringe Exchanges Affected West Virginia’s HIV Outbreak?

The past few years have seen major HIV outbreaks in two of West Virginia’s biggest cities – Huntington and Charleston – which at times put state officials in conflict with guidance from national experts on HIV and public health.

Caleb Hellerman,Jul. 31, 2024

What Happened to ‘The Nation’s Most Concerning HIV Outbreak?’

At the height of the COVID outbreak, Charleston, West Virginia was sideswiped by a second deadly epidemic: what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) called the most concerning outbreak of HIV in the entire country.