Protect Yourself Against Norovirus Infection
RALEIGH – Recent outbreaks
of norovirus – a common and
unpleasant gastrointestinal
illness – have sickened
teenagers at a conference in
Raleigh and many other
people across the state in
long-term care facilities,
schools and child care
centers, restaurants, and
other settings.
Noroviruses are very
contagious. The virus is
present in the stools and
vomit of sick people during
illness and for a few days
after they recover. People
can get sick through direct
contact with a person who
has the virus, by touching
contaminated surfaces, or by
eating food or drinking
liquids that have been
contaminated with the virus.
Noroviruses cannot be seen,
smelled or tasted in
food.
“Noroviruses are tough to
kill”, said Dr. Megan
Davies, State
Epidemiologist. “The most
important way to prevent
spread is thorough hand-
washing using soap and
water. Hand sanitizers are
not effective against
norovirus.”
The symptoms of norovirus
illness include nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and some
stomach cramping. Some
people may also have fever,
chills, headache, muscle
aches and a general sense of
tiredness. The illness
begins suddenly, and the
infected person may feel
very sick. In most people,
the illness lasts for about
1 or 2 days. However, some –
especially young children
and the elderly – can
quickly get dehydrated and
might require medical care
or even hospitalization.
There are no specific
medications to treat
norovirus.
What can you do to protect
yourself and your family?
Follow these simple
measures:
· Wash hands
frequently with soap and
water, especially after
toilet visits and before
preparing, serving or eating
food or drink. Hand
sanitizer gels are not
effective against
norovirus.
· Clean up
vomit and diarrhea
immediately.
· Stay home
when sick.
· Do not
prepare food when sick and
for at least 48 hours
afterward.
Many commonly used
disinfectants are not
effective against norovirus.
Cleaning with a dilute
bleach solution is
recommended to disinfect
surfaces after an episode of
illness.
For more information about
norovirus, see the Division
of Public Health Web site at
www.ncpublichealth.com. More
detailed information about
cleanup in private homes and
in other settings can be
found on the Division of
Environmental Health Web
site at
www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/d
fp_fooddefense-
epidemiology.htm.
Contacts: Carol
Schriber, N.C. DHHS Public
Affairs Office, 919-733-9190
Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings Time Begins
When: Sunday, Mar 14, 2010
Friday Night Bluegrass featuring True Grass
When:Fri, March 19, 7pm – 8pm
Where:Sunset Theatre, 234
Sunset Avenue, Asheboro
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Show begins at 7:00
p.m. Admission: $5 in
advance, $7 at the door
Meeting: Planning Board/Board of Adjustments
When:Mon, May 3, 7pm – 8pm
Where:Council Chamber; City
of Asheboro Municipal
Building
Meeting: Redevelopment Commission
When:Mon, May 3, 9am – 10am
Where:Council Chamber; City
of Asheboro Municipal
Antique tractors wanted for 2010 Got to Be NC Festival
RALEIGH — Registration is
now open for the antique
tractor and farm equipment
display at the 2010 Got to
Be NC Festival. The annual
event will be held at the
N.C. State Fairgrounds May
21-23.
Antique tractor clubs,
collectors and restorers can
register their antique farm
equipment for free at
www.ncagfest.com.
Participants are encouraged
to complete an application
early, and registration is
required. Last year, more
than 500 antique tractors
were on display from owners
in North Carolina and
surrounding states. In all,
the three-day festival
showcased more than 1,000
pieces of farm equipment.
The Got to Be NC Festival,
presented by the N.C.
Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services, will
feature a carnival, live
music, food and wine expo,
tractor pulls, draft horse
pulls, classic cars, Harley-
Davidson motorcycles,
lawnmower racing and a
barbecue cook-off.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. to
midnight May 21 and 22, and
9 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 23.
Admission and parking for
the festival are free. There
is a fee for grandstand
events.
Other free events at the
fairgrounds that weekend
include the Raleigh Health
and Fitness Expo, the
Choplin Marine Boat Show,
Wake County 4-H Horse Show,
Fiber Fest and the State
Fairgrounds Flea Market.
For more information about
the Got to Be NC Festival,
including a full schedule of
events.
NCDA&CS Public Affairs
Division, Brian Long,
Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh NC
27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West
Edenton Street, Raleigh NC
27601
Phone: (919) 733-4216; FAX:
(919) 733-5047
Farmers' Market
When :Sat, April 3, 7am – 1pm
Where :134 S. Church Street,
Asheboro Enjoy fresh,
local produce and products
every Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday from 7 a.m. - 1p.m.
between April 3 - October
30, 2010.
Meeting: Planning Board/Board of Adjustments
When: Mon, August 2, 2010,
7pm – 8pm
Where: Council Chamber; City
of Asheboro Municipal
Building
Meeting: Redevelopment Commission
Meeting: Redevelopment
Commission
When: Mon, August 2, 2010,
9am – 10am
Where: Council Chamber; City
of Asheboro Municipal
Building
Meeting: City Council
When: Thu, August 5, 2010,
7pm – 9pm
Where: Council Chambers;
City of Asheboro Municipal
Building
College Students Urged to Get H1N1 Vaccination
RALEIGH — State Health
Director Jeffrey Engel
strongly urges young adults,
including college students
and teens, to get their H1N1
vaccinations before
returning to campus from the
winter break. According to
statistics gathered by the
N.C. Division of Public
Health, people of college
age are the least likely to
be immunized against H1N1.
More than 495,000 students
are enrolled in colleges in
North Carolina. Vaccination
efforts to date have reached
just over 60,000 people
between 19 years old and 24
years old statewide. Campus
immunization campaigns
appear to have reached just
a fraction of that number.
The latest estimates
indicate that fewer than 13
percent of the H1N1 vaccine
doses provided by the state
went to traditional college-
age students.
“Our young people are our
greatest resource, and we
want to make sure they
remain healthy,” Dr. Engel
said. “The holidays are a
perfect time for parents to
ensure that their teens and
college students are
vaccinated against H1N1.”
As of Dec. 15, North
Carolina had reported 76
deaths from H1N1. While
pregnant women, people with
chronic illnesses, and young
children are most at risk
for complications, this
strain of flu has had a
disproportionate impact on
young, healthy people.
“We have good supplies of
H1N1 vaccine on hand,” Engel
said. “The peak of seasonal
flu is approaching in late
January. Getting both
vaccinations now is the best
way to protect yourself and
your family against both
seasonal and the H1N1
virus.”
For updated information on
vaccination clinics near
you, visit flu.nc.gov.
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH OFFICIALS encourage RESIDENTS to ‘fight the bite!’
Raleigh – State
environmental and public
health officials are
reminding all North
Carolinians that warmer
weather and rain bring
mosquitoes and ticks, which
carry dangerous diseases.
All North Carolinians are
urged to take simple steps
to prevent the threat of
biting insects and reduce
insect breeding conditions
around the home.
“Spring rains and warmer
weather provide ideal
breeding conditions for
mosquitoes and ticks,” said
State Health Director Jeff
Engel. “Ticks and mosquitoes
can be more than just a
nuisance – they can also
make people seriously ill.
Now is the time to fight the
bite!”
Nolan Newton, chief of the
Public Health Pest
Management Section of the
Division of Environmental
Health, said that people can
take steps to prevent
illness.
“You can make your backyard
a lot less tick-friendly,”
Newton said. “Keep grass
short and remove plants that
attract wild animals like
deer and rodents, which
carry ticks.”
Newton said that removing
any containers that hold
water will take away
mosquito breeding
grounds.
“Take a good look at your
environment now, before the
mosquitoes really start
biting,” he added. “Things
like bird baths, old tires,
planters and even small
containers like tin cans can
give mosquitoes a place to
thrive.”
Newton added that people
should remember to make sure
they tightly secure screens
on all openings on rain
barrels used for water
conservation. A window
screen makes an excellent
screening mechanism on rain
barrels to prevent breeding
grounds for mosquitoes,
while allowing you to
continue your conservation
efforts.
Engel and Newton said that
insect repellent also can be
useful, particularly against
mosquitoes. The Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention recommend several
repellents against
mosquitoes – DEET, picaridin
and oil of lemon eucalyptus.
According to the CDC, oil of
lemon eucalyptus should not
be used on children under
three years old. Repellents
containing permethrin
provide excellent protection
against ticks but may only
be used on clothing.
Consumers should look for
products that contain the
CDC-recommended ingredients,
and should read and follow
all label instructions.
Exposure to both mosquitoes
and ticks can be limited by
wearing long-sleeved shirts,
long pants and socks. People
should also check themselves
and their families for ticks
when they are in tick-prone
areas.
Proper and prompt removal of
ticks is the key to
preventing infection. Use
fine-tipped tweezers to
remove ticks, getting as far
forward near the head as
possible and pulling
steadily. Note the day you
removed the tick on a
calendar. If you become ill
in the next three weeks, be
sure to tell your physician
the date you removed the
tick.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
is the most common tick-
borne illness in North
Carolina. According to the
N.C. Division of Public
Health, 515 cases of Rocky
Mountain spotted fever were
reported in North Carolina
in 2008. The state also has
other tick-borne illnesses.
Last year, North Carolina
had 59 reported cases of
Lyme disease and 41 reported
cases of ehrlichiosis. Tick-
borne diseases occur
statewide.
La Crosse virus is the most
common mosquito-borne
illness. La Crosse virus is
found mostly in western
North Carolina. Two other
mosquito-borne diseases,
Eastern equine encephalitis
and West Nile virus, are
also found in North
Carolina. While Eastern
equine encephalitis is found
largely in the eastern part
of the state, West Nile
virus is found statewide.
For additional information
on mosquitoes and ticks,
visit the following Web
sites:
www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/phpm,
www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/arbov
irus and
www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/tick.
N.C. Public Health receives funds for worksite wellness and tobacco cessation
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue
today announced the U.S.
Department of Health and
Human Services has awarded
$5.4 million to North
Carolina to support public
health efforts to reduce
obesity, increase physical
activity, improve nutrition,
and decrease smoking — the
four most important actions
for combating chronic
diseases and promoting
health.
Making North Carolina a
healthier state is a
priority for Gov. Bev
Perdue, in terms of both
quality of life and from a
statewide economic
standpoint.
“Having healthy, well-
educated people will lower
health care costs, increase
productivity, and provide
the best workforce in the
country,” said Gov.
Perdue. “All of those things
are the best incentives to
attract new and relocating
businesses to North
Carolina,” Perdue said.
The award to North Carolina
is part of $119.5 million
going to the states as the
first of several initiatives
that make up the
comprehensive prevention and
wellness initiative,
Communities Putting
Prevention to Work, which is
funded under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment
Act.
North Carolina will be
allotted $3.8 million over
two years to reduce and
prevent obesity across the
state by improving
opportunities for physical
activity and access to
healthy foods. Another $1.6
million is to be used for
the N.C. Quitline telephone
service, tobacco use
prevention, and other
programs to help people quit
tobacco.
A focus of the funding is
creating sustainable changes
in work and community
environments to support
healthy lifestyles. North
Carolina’s efforts will
involve many public and
private partners at the
state and local levels. A
statewide worksite wellness
initiative will encourage
employers to make
sustainable changes, such as
establishing employee
wellness policies to support
healthy behaviors. Wellness
experts from the public and
private sectors will be part
of a statewide Worksite
Wellness Collaborative that
promotes best practices and
supports North Carolina
employers in implementing
comprehensive wellness
programs.
The grants couldn’t have
come at a more critical
time. In North Carolina,
more than half of all deaths
occur earlier than expected.
Many of these premature
deaths are related to
chronic diseases that can be
prevented or managed through
physical activity, healthy
eating, and avoiding tobacco
use and exposure.
Tobacco use is the leading
cause of preventable death
in North Carolina. An
estimated 13,000 North
Carolinians ages 35 years or
older die each year from
smoking-related causes. Poor
nutrition and lack of
adequate physical activity
comprise the second leading
preventable cause of death
in the state. Two-thirds of
North Carolina adults and
one-third of our children
are overweight or obese,
putting them at increased
risk of illness and death
from coronary heart disease,
type II diabetes, stroke,
and several forms of cancer.
“Poor eating habits and
inactive lifestyles are at
the root of so many of our
health issues, including
high blood pressure,
diabetes, cancer – even
arthritis and injuries,”
said State Health Director
Jeff Engel, MD. “These
problems are largely
preventable. We as a state
must make it easier for
people to eat smart and move
more. The ARRA grants will
allow North Carolina to
continue its momentum in
addressing tobacco use,
exposure to secondhand
smoke, and reducing
obesity.”
Contacts: Carol
Schriber, N.C. DHHS Public
Affairs Office, 919-733-9190
Open Mobiles in Randolph County:
March 13, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM First Christian
Baptist Church
Randleman 326 W. Academy
St., Randleman, NC
March 15, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Asheboro Friends
Meeting Asheboro 230 E.
Kivett St., Asheboro,
NC
March 16, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Baileys Grove
Baptist Church Asheboro
1556 N. Fayetteville
St., Asheboro, NC
March 18, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM First UMC
Asheboro 224 N. Fayetteville
St., Asheboro, NC
March 21, 2010 1:30 PM-
6:00 PM Hopewell United
Methodist 4520 Hopewell
Church Road, Trinity,
NC
March 26, 2010 8:30 AM-
2:00 PM Asheboro HS
Asheboro 1221 S. Park
St., Asheboro, NC
March 30, 2010 8:30 AM-
2:00 PM Eastern Randolph
HS Ramseur 390 Eastern
Randolph Rd., Ramseur,
NC
April 01, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM Commonweatlh
Hosiery Randleman 4964
Island Ford Rd.,
Randleman, NC
April 01, 2010 2:30 PM-
6:30 PM Southeast
Randolph MS Ramseur
5302 Foushee Rd.,
Ramseur, NC
April 09, 2010 3:00 PM-
7:30 PM High Pine
Wesleyan Ch Asheboro
4492 High Pine Ch. Rd.,
Asheboro, NC
April 10, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM Union Grove
Baptist Church Seagrove
7912 Union Grove Ch.
Rd., Seagrove, NC
April 11, 2010 1:30 PM-
5:30 PM Mt. Gilead UMC
Sophia 4736 Mt. Gilead
Ch. Rd., Sophia, NC
April 13, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Randolph Cmnty
Coll Asheboro 629
Industrial Park Dr.,
Asheboro, NC
April 15, 2010 2:30 PM-
6:30 PM Tabernacle
Elementary School 4901
Tabernacle School Road,
Asheboro, NC
April 17, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Level Cross
UMC 10142 US 220
Bus., Randleman, NC
April 17, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints 1109 McDowell
Road, Asheboro, NC
April 23, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Flag Springs
United Meth Ch Asheboro
5852 Zoo Parkway,
Asheboro, NC
April 23, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM West Asheboro
Baptist Church 831
Uwharrie St., Asheboro,
NC
April 27, 2010 8:30 AM-
2:00 PM Randleman HS
Randleman 4396 Tiger Den
Rd., Randleman, NC
April 28, 2010 3:00 PM-
7:30 PM Colonial Baptist
Church Trinity 6792
Welborn Road, Trinity,
NC
May 02, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Marlboro Friends
Family Life Center 2668
Marlboro Ch. Rd.,
Sophia, NC
May 03, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Central Carolina
Cmnty Ch Asheboro 1128
N. Fayetteville St.,
Asheboro, NC
May 04, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM North Carolina
Zoo Education Center
Asheboro 4401 Zoo Parkway,
Asheboro, NC
May 12, 2010 11:30 AM-
4:00 PM Klaussner
Furniture Asheboro 405
Lewallen St., Asheboro,
NC
May 13, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM First
Presbyterian Ch
Asheboro 420 W. Walker
Ave., Asheboro, NC
May 16, 2010 1:00 PM-
5:30 PM Shiloh United
Methodist Church
Liberty 7394 Shiloh Ch.
Rd., Liberty, NC
May 18, 2010 8:00 AM-
12:30 PM Elastic Therapy
Asheboro 718 Industrial
Park Ave., Asheboro, NC
May 20, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM First UMC
Asheboro 224 N. Fayetteville
St., Asheboro, NC
May 22, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM Randleman
Community Center 144 W.
Academy St., Randleman,
NC
May 22, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM St. Mary's
United Methodist Church
5583 Rockford Drive,
Trinity, NC
May 26, 2010 3:00 PM-
7:30 PM Ramseur Fire
Dept Ramseur 471
Coleridge Rd., Ramseur,
NC
May 27, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:00 PM Grace
Evangelical Lutheran
Church 146 S
Fayetteville St,
Liberty, NC
June 04, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Walmart 1132-
Asheboro 1226 E. Dixie
Dr., Asheboro, NC
June 06, 2010 1:30 PM-
6:00 PM Poplar Ridge
Friends Meeting Trinity
3673 Hoover Hill Rd.,
Trinity, NC
June 07, 2010 3:00 PM-
7:30 PM Hopewell Friends
Meeting Asheboro 2244
Hopewell Friends Rd.,
Asheboro, NC
June 09, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM Commonweatlh
Hosiery Randleman 4964
Island Ford Rd.,
Randleman, NC
June 18, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Randolph
Hospital Asheboro 364
White Oak St., Asheboro,
NC
June 19, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Level Cross UMC
10142 US 220 Bus.,
Randleman, NC
June 27, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Cedar Grove Bapt
Ch Asheboro 3012 Old NC
Hwy 49, Asheboro, NC
July 08, 2010 2:00 PM-
7:00 PM Central UMC
Asheboro 300 S. Main St.,
Asheboro, NC
July 14, 2010 11:30 AM-
4:00 PM Insurance
Associates of the Triad
Asheboro #1 Coxborough,
350 N. Cox St., Asheboro, NC
July 15, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM First UMC
Asheboro 224 N.
Fayetteville St., Asheboro,
NC
July 24, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM Randleman
Community Center 144 W.
Academy St., Randleman,
NC
July 26, 2010 1:30 PM-
6:00 PM St Joseph
Catholic Ch. Asheboro
512 W. Wainman Ave.,
Asheboro, NC
July 29, 2010 2:30 PM-
7:00 PM Park Crossroads
Christian Ch Ramseur 2057
Parks Crossroads Ch. Rd.,
Ramseur, NC
August 05, 2010 11:30 AM-
4:00 PM Klaussner
Furniture Asheboro 405
Lewallen St., Asheboro,
NC
August 16, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM Asheboro Friends
Meeting Asheboro 230 E.
Kivett St., Asheboro, NC
August 17, 2010 1:00 PM-
5:30 PM Randolph Cnty
Government Asheboro 725
McDowell Rd., Asheboro,
NC
August 21, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Level Cross UMC
10142 US 220 Bus.,
Randleman, NC
August 24, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM St. Johns
Lutheran Ch Asheboro
505 S. Park St.,
Asheboro, NC
August 28, 2010 8:30 AM-
6:30 PM American Legion
Post #81 Liberty 604 S.
Greensboro St., Liberty, NC
August 29, 2010 1:30 PM-
6:00 PM Hopewell United
Methodist 4520 Hopewell
Church Road, Trinity,
NC
September 04, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM First Christian
Baptist Church
Randleman 326 W. Academy
St., Randleman, NC
September 07, 2010 9:30 AM-
2:00 PM North Carolina
Zoo Education Center
Asheboro 4401 Zoo
Parkway, Asheboro, NC
September 14, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Randolph Cmnty
Coll Asheboro 629
Industrial Park Dr.,
Asheboro, NC
September 16, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM First UMC
Asheboro 224 N.
Fayetteville St.,
Asheboro, NC
September 28, 2010 2:00 PM-
7:00 PM First Baptist
Church Asheboro 133 N.
Church St., Asheboro, NC
October 05, 2010 8:30 AM-
2:00 PM Eastern Randolph
HS Ramseur 390 Eastern
Randolph Rd., Ramseur,
NC
October 07, 2010 9:00 AM-
2:00 PM Randleman HS
Randleman 4396 Tiger
Den Rd., Randleman, NC
October 16, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Level Cross
UMC 10142 US 220
Bus., Randleman, NC
October 23, 2010 9:00 AM-
1:30 PM First UMC
123 N. Fayetteville Street,
Liberty, NC
November 16, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Randolph Cmnty
Coll Asheboro 629
Industrial Park Dr.,
Asheboro, NC
November 18, 2010 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM First UMC
Asheboro 224 N. Fayetteville
St., Asheboro, NC
November 18, 2010 8:15 AM-
12:45 PM Trinity High
School 5746 Trinity
High School Road,
Trinity, NC
November 22, 2010 8:30 AM-
2:00 PM Southwestern
Randolph HS Asheboro
1641 Hopewell Friends
Rd., Asheboro, NC
December 03, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Randolph
Hospital Asheboro 364
White Oak St., Asheboro,
NC
December 11, 2010 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Level Cross
UMC 10142 US 220 Bus.,
Randleman, NC
January 20, 2011 2:00 PM-
6:30 PM First UMC
Asheboro 224 N.
Fayetteville St.,
Asheboro, NC
February 01, 2011 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Randolph Cmnty
Coll Asheboro 629
Industrial Park Dr.,
Asheboro, NC
February 12, 2011 10:00 AM-
2:30 PM Level Cross
UMC 10142 US 220 Bus.,
Randleman, NC
February 22, 2011 8:15 AM-
1:45 PM Trinity High
School 5746 Trinity
High School Road,
Trinity, NC
March 07, 2011 8:30 AM-
2:00 PM
Southwestern Randolph HS
Asheboro 1641 Hopewell
Friends Rd., Asheboro,
NC
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