Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging the public to stay out of the Chowan River near Indian Creek because of an algal bloom producing the highest levels of toxin recorded this year.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is investigating recent reports of severe lung disease after vaping. Three patients have been hospitalized in North Carolina since late July and similar cases have been reported from other states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, California and Minnesota. No deaths have been reported.

As teachers, parents and students are preparing for the start of the 2019–2020 school year, public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are reminding North Carolinians to ensure their children, especially teens and preteens, are current on their vaccinations.

Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed Friday as Americans with Disabilities Day in North Carolina, honoring the more than 1.3 million North Carolinians who have a disability and reminding all that the

NC public health officials are reporting that an individual died after developing an illness caused by an amoeba that is naturally present in warm freshwater after swimming in Fantasy Lake Water Park in Cumberland County on July 12, 2019.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging the public to stay out of the Chowan River near Arrowhead Beach because of an algal bloom producing a toxin called microcystin. 

Today, Governor Roy Cooper signed the House Bill 325, the Opioid Epidemic Response Act, to help increase access to medication assisted treatment and expand harm reduction measures to reduce opioid overdose deaths across the state.

Open enrollment for Medicaid managed care begins today in 27 counties. From July 15 through Sept. 13, 2019, more than 300,000 households with nearly 540,000 people in Medicaid can choose a health plan to provide their Medicaid services, along with a primary care provider.

Six rural North Carolina communities will share $1.2 million in federal grant funds to strengthen and expand their response to opioid use disorder with increased planning; prevention; evidence-based treatment, including medication-assisted treatment; and recovery service delivery.

Funding is available to help North Carolinians in crisis pay utility bills or secure fuel or cooling resources.