Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will hold a virtual media availability at 12:30 p.m. today with public health leadership who will be available to answer questions as North Carolina closely monitors the hantavirus outbreak on board the M/V Hondius.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is closely monitoring the recent hantavirus outbreak on board the M/V Hondius. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed one person from North Carolina was on board and evacuated with all remaining United States passengers to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit. To protect their privacy, no further details will be shared about this individual. There are no current cases of hantavirus in North Carolina. The risk of infection in North Carolina remains extremely low.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced that 45 students across North Carolina are graduating this academic year from the NC Child Welfare Education Collaborative (CWEC), marking a significant step forward in the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the state’s child welfare workforce.

MEDIA ADVISORY — J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC) will host a hiring event from 5 to 8 p.m. on both Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14, 2026.

PRESS RELEASE — The Surry County Emergency Services team of Josh Booker and Josh LeCrone claimed the top honors at the 34th annual North Carolina Paramedic Competition held on Sunday, May 3, in Winston-Salem, earning the state title for the first time as a team.

PRESS RELEASE — As temperatures rise, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging North Carolinians to "Fight the Bite" by taking measures to reduce their risk of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases. In 2025, more than 1,000 cases of tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses were reported statewide.

PRESS RELEASE — As Governor Josh Stein proclaims May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reaffirms its commitment to increasing access to care and highlights mental health services available across the state.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the selection of organizations to serve as leads for the North Carolina Rural Organizations Orchestrating Transformation for Sustainability (ROOTS) Hub for the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (NCRHTP). Together, these organizations will work as regional networks connecting medical, behavioral health, and social supports as North Carolina increases access to care for rural communities across all 100 counties.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The 34th annual North Carolina Paramedic Competition will be held Sunday, May 3, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Six groups from across the state will compete for the title of Top Paramedic Team during the annual NC Emergency Medical Services Expo.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging is partnering with the state area agencies on aging and local service providers to distribute fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Heat Relief from May 1 – Oct. 31, 2026.