Public Health Coverage

North Carolina causes delay in nationwide health data

The information released by the NCHS is important to understand public health trends.

National health data delay caused by North Carolina

The information released by the NCHS is important to understand public health trends.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL investigative data reporter

What the COVID public health emergency ending means for you

The public health emergency for COVID-19 is ending Thursday. With the public health emergency ending, there will be changes to what data will be collected.

Lawmakers, families fight for harsher punishment to combat fentanyl crisis

Lawmakers and families impacted by the opioid and fentanyl crisis will show up at the legislative building Tuesday morning to push for tighter laws.

Lora Lavigne, WRAL anchor/reporter

Families gather at N.C. State to warn of the dangers of fentanyl

Over 40 families attended the event, many of whom had lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning and overdoses. One group who spoke has been helping those families and are advocating for change.

'I want to save a life' Families raise awareness for fentanyl poisoning at Public Safety and Justice Conference

The Public Safety and Justice Conference was Saturday at NC State's McKimmon Conference Center. Many who spoke had family and loved ones lost to fentanyl, which is responsible for over 8,000 toxicology deaths in teh last three years.

Monica Casey, WRAL Durham reporter

Gov. Cooper talks about gun safety

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper talks about strategies to combat gun violence at a conference for a gun safety group.

New mental health data show 'unsustainable' burden on NC hospitals

Rising mental health-related emergency room visits, more involuntary commitments and longer wait times for psychiatric hospital beds are symptoms of much larger problems within the state's mental health system, health experts say.

Taylor Knopf, North Carolina Health News

Raleigh to host clinic in hopes of improving health outcomes for residents of southeast Raleigh

More than 100 people are expected to participate at a public health fair Saturday morning at Roberts Park Community Center in Raleigh.

Examining the impact of e-cigarettes on teens as FDA pauses Juul ban

The FDA's Juul ban is on hold as of last week, which means e-cigarettes are still being sold at stores around the country.

FDA orders ban on Juul e-cigarettes tied to teen vaping

On Thursday, federal health officials ordered Juul to pull its electronic cigarettes from the U.S. market.

First monkeypox case identified in a North Carolina resident

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday said that a monkeypox case has been identified in a North Carolina resident.

New study debunks myths about children not being affected by COVID-19

A new study released Wednesday concluded that children are highly susceptible to COVID-19, and that it has a greater impact on them than the flu.

COVID-19 is much worse for children than the flu, study shows

A quarter of the children were under the age of six and half of all children studied had to be on a ventilator, according to the study. The majority of children did not have any underlying conditions.

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter

Durham County will use public health funding for research, hiring

Leaders in Durham County are looking beyond the pandemic when it comes to keeping the community safe.

Lora Lavigne, WRAL reporter

Durham public health funding to advance health needs beyond COVID-19

On Monday, the Durham County Board of Commissioners will discuss how to best allocate new funding after the Department of Health and Human Services granted Durham's Department of Public Health $364,074.

Fort Bragg officials warn of possible norovirus cases on base

Fort Bragg says two people have fallen ill after contracting norovirus on base. Officials say there are some protections you should take to make sure you stay healthy.

NC receiving too few doses of COVID 'cure,' local doctor says

There's a coronavirus treatment pill that could reduce hospitalizations by 90%, local doctors say, but some people are refusing the pill.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

Health experts frustrated after public pressure caused NC to reject vaccine mandate for teens

High school seniors in North Carolina will not be required to get a COVID vaccine, according to a recent desicion by the state's Commission on Public Health.

Mako Medical testing sites to remain open

Mako Medical says all of its testing sites in Wake County will remain open. This comes after their website reported some were scheduled to close.

Wake County website back up after day-long outage

The website Wake County residents use to schedule free COVID-19 tests was down for most of the day Tuesday due to a technical glitch.

Wake COVID-19 testing website down as people rush to testing sites

Wake County's COVID-19 testing appointment site crashed on Tuesday morning just as demand for tests peaks.

Survey: Local doctors say it's still too soon to eat indoors, go to movies and concerts

WRAL sent an informal survey to doctors at and medical researchers around the Triangle, asking them what they feel comfortable doing right now.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL Data Journalist

North Carolina falling behind on some vaccination metrics

The state has fluctuated on the list released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL Data Journalist

'Jaw dropping' increase: 17% more died in NC in 2020 over 2019

There were more than 112,000 deaths in the state last year, a 17 percent year-over-year increase. In the previous years, the increase was only 1 to 3 percent, year-over-year.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL Data Journalist