HHS News
YOU’RE INVITED!
Pender County conducts a Community Health Assessment every four years to identify the health status, concerns and resources of the community as part of a strategic health planning process. Please join us to learn more about the health of your community and provide your input!
Monday, July 16th, 2018
Burgaw Public Library from 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Hampstead Public Library from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm
Illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the U.S., with more than 640,000 cases reported during the 13 years from 2004 through 2016. Nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the United States during this time.
These findings are in the latest Vital Signs(https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/index.html) report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is CDC’s first summary collectively examining data trends for all nationally notifiable diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick, or flea. It provides detailed information on the growing burden of mosquito-borne and tickborne illnesses in the U.S.
“Zika, West Nile, Lyme, and chikungunya—a growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick, or flea—have confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don’t know what will threaten Americans next,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. “Our Nation’s first lines of defense are state and local health departments and vector control organizations, and we must continue to enhance our investment in their ability to fight against these diseases.”
Read full article here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html
The Community Health Assessment is a door to door survey to see what residents of Pender County perceive as the biggest issues impacting health and how they view the health of the community. Help your community’s voice be heard as we prioritize and plan for a healthier tomorrow.
*Volunteers age 18 and up needed to assist with a door to door survey about improving the health of your community. Meet at the Pender County Cooperative Extension Conference room, 801 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425
Thursday, March 22nd 9:00am-12:00pm (training) and 1:00-6:00pm
Friday, March 23rd 9:00am –1:00pm and 1:00pm-6:00pm
Saturday, March 24th 9:00am-1:00pm and 1:00pm-6:00pm
Sign up with link:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0945a5ad2da2fc1-volunteers1
*Volunteers must attend training on Thursday to participate in survey. Volunteers do not need to be present all three days. Lunch will be provided. If you drive your own personal vehicle door-to-door and are not reimbursed by your employer, we will reimburse you with a gas card.
Every volunteer will receive a small thank you gift and the opportunity to win a Fitbit! For each day that you help interview your neighbors, your name will be entered into a drawing, so sign up for more days to increase your chances.
For questions, contact Pender County Health Department, Kerrie Bryant at 910-663-3762 or at kbryant@pendercountync.gov
DHHS provided the summary to answer questions raised about cancer during the ongoing investigation of GenX in the Cape Fear River
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) examined data from the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry and shared a summary of that analysis earlier today with four local health department directors. We are now sharing this summary more broadly, but we remind the public that the data in the registry do not identify the causes of cancer. Therefore, no conclusions can be drawn as to whether GenX or any other specific exposures contributed to cancer rates we examined.
Please click here for Summary.
DHHS provided the summary to answer questions raised about cancer during the ongoing investigation of GenX in the Cape Fear River. The analysis revealed that cancer rates in the four counties were generally similar to the statewide rates of pancreatic, liver, uterine, testicular and kidney cancers. There were two exceptions where the county cancer incidence rates were higher than the state and four where the incidence rates were lower.
DHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Services Mark Benton explained that the results do not point to any consistent trends in counties that get their water from the lower Cape Fear.
“Overall the results are what we would expect to see looking at multiple types of cancer in multiple counties, with some rates below and above the state rate,” said Benton. “Many factors could influence these cancer incidence rates, including prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use, diet and lifestyle choices, and many other possible exposures – none of which are addressed in the cancer registry.”
DHHS looked at the incidence of five specific cancers in Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties and compared them with statewide cancer rates from 1996 to 2015. The rates of pancreatic, liver, uterine, testicular and kidney cancers were chosen for analysis because they have been associated with GenX or other perfluorinated compounds in laboratory animal studies. The incidence rates were compared to the state rates for the entire 20-year period and separately for each five-year interval therein (1996–2000, 2001–2005, 2006–2010 and 2011–2015).
The results show that county rates for these cancers were similar to state rates, with the following exceptions:
The Central Cancer Registry collects, processes and analyzes data on all cancer cases diagnosed among North Carolina residents to inform the planning and evaluation of cancer control efforts. The Registry does not include information about causes of cancer or associations with specific exposures. Although the information in the summary describes cancer rates in these counties over time, only a comprehensive research study can provide information about whether a specific exposure is associated with increased rates of cancer.