Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging North Carolinians to be aware of the potential dangers of having wounds or cuts open to saltwater or brackish water following reports of three deaths due to Vibrio infections in North Carolina residents.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Radon Program is offering 12 free, four-hour classes for licensed real estate brokers so they can ensure their clients understand the importance of radon testing of the homes or other buildings they may purchase.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is recommending limits on consumption of certain freshwater fish from the middle and lower Cape Fear River based on concerns about exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) found in fish sampled from that area.

As part of the ongoing focus on behavioral health and resilience, changes promoted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are improving health and saving lives among people in the state with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders. New state level data is showing the lowest rate of tobacco use in more than a decade for people in North Carolina who struggle with their mental health or heavy drinking.

As summer activities heat up and North Carolinians flock to recreational waters to beat the higher temperatures, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging residents to prioritize safety and adopt best practices for enjoying water activities with their pets. When swimming in lakes and rivers, it is crucial to ensure the well-being of both humans and their pets.

Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are advising North Carolinians take precautions to protect themselves, their children and their pets from heat-related illness as temperatures across the state rise and remain high throughout the summer.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Cafecito and Spanish-language tele-town hall on Thursday, June 8, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss the importance of talking about health for men and the LGBTQ+ community and provide resources and guidance to support health and well-being.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health is proud to announce its accreditation from the prestigious Public Health Accreditation Board. This achievement recognizes DPH's commitment to meeting the highest standards of public health practice and demonstrates its dedication to improving the health and well-being of the residents of North Carolina.

With summer just around the corner, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services encourages the use of safe swimming and grilling practices to minimize the risk of illness, injury and death.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching the Take Pride Now campaign to encourage sexual health. This campaign promotes safer sex practices, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevention, testing and treatment.

The North Carolina Sickle Cell Syndrome Program within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrates its 50th anniversary with an event Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the NC Museum of Art – West Building, 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized its recommendations to expand eligibility for blood donation to include gender-inclusive, individual risk-based questions to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV.

The U.S. public health emergency that was declared to respond to COVID-19 ends today. North Carolina will continue to distribute the federally funded COVID-19 vaccines and tests for free to individuals who are uninsured while supplies last.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, May 9, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss maternal health in North Carolina and provide guidance and resources to support well-being before, during and after pregnancy.

The Pender Emergency Medical Services team of McKenzie Shipp and Owen Feest claimed top honors at the 31st Annual Paramedic Competition held this week in Greensboro, earning the title for the first time in the county’s history.

About 1.2 million North Carolinians, or nearly 11% of the state’s population, don’t know where their next meal is coming from. To ensure North Carolina children, families and older adults have enough food and good nutrition, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released the NCDHHS State Action Plan for Nutrition Security. This plan is part of the department’s larger strategic goal to support child and family well-being.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, April 27, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how North Carolinians can access and understand health-related information so they can improve their own health.

The 31st annual North Carolina Paramedic Competition will take place Sunday, April 30, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, pitting the 2022 state champs from Mecklenburg EMS against five teams that clinched the right to challenge them during regional championships this summer.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Cafecito and Spanish-language tele-town hall on Wednesday, April 26, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how essential it is for North Carolinians to learn how to access and understand health-related information so they can improve their own health.

Everyone older than six months will now only receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against more variants of the virus. People age 65 and older and those with a compromised immune system can now receive an additional dose to protect themselves against severe illness from COVID-19.