[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6239413,"mediaKeyId","3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35","parentId",3337786,"title","State finds brief detection of a rare 'clade 1' in local wastewater; no confirmed Pitt County patients","audioSeconds",76,"startMs",5035000,"endMs",5111000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35&start=5035&end=5111","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35/thumbnail_5035000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6239413/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/State-finds-brief-detection-of-a-rare-clade-1-in-local-wastewater-no-confirmed-Pitt-County-patients","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6239413-f16d3c4991f141f77ec8638d99603566/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160160&Signature=JsmpC0FStUNsKFKZYkQCu5YRLmvspI9WbiRaU3GJFp7PIgTG4fFtVNW87e1zB7OgDbB0L~cxdBA67BMEsZwGbtqm2Kl2OsAlIXzOu6aZCxRI5xlsHHDWIjuUmCg2Ou7a7QJ7JvpbX5f2FAzc~cC10GrQk7z~vdGno3BikzbXyT-NsWzxygkX7P8DpGDlV884wahy6MwAK5u2LHnyFl0ksVCgyIO~ki7wGF8IggU0QR2D0jYLu8xGdUHHW84tSBylMmlf7ifhdAhDpAaKaXtpwz47r~f-Xt~CYjU3AoMO97k-LU3o5O3ZQgx6nGsxy6yDzKiLq9u~8ZiuziUHaD6Zag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pitt County, NC","date","2025-05-16T08:47:04.88Z","article","Pitt County health officials reported that state surveillance testing briefly detected a rare \"clade 1\" signal in the county’s wastewater system but that follow‑up testing did not find ongoing community detection.

Health staff said the state notified the department after identifying the clade in a wastewater sample and that an earlier sample had shown a higher concentration; subsequent samples tested negative. The state had previously detected the same clade in only a small number of U.S. locations and said the pattern often indicates transient shedding from a traveler rather than sustained community transmission.

\"No patients in Pitt County, but it might not be a Pitt County resident,\" the health director said, explaining the detection could reflect a nonresident who used local hospital or university facilities or travelled through the area. The department and state asked clinicians to remain alert and report any suspicious cases to public health for follow‑up; no confirmed human cases in the county or in North Carolina were reported at the time of the board meeting.

The department continued routine wastewater monitoring after the initial signal and did not detect the clade in subsequent samples, and officials characterized the event as a transient detection that triggered heightened situational awareness.

Board members were informed and asked to share the public guidance with local providers; no emergency actions or restrictions were recommended.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 05 13 Pitt County Board of Health Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","State testing detected a rare 'clade 1' signal in local wastewater during late‑March/April samples; follow‑up samples were negative and the department said no linked local patients were identified.","taxTitle","Pitt County, North Carolina","taxId",14194,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6239416,"Pitt County Health Department adopts $16.03 million FY25‑26 budget, funds gap covered by fund balance",1366,2559000,3925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35&start=2559&end=3925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35/thumbnail_2559000.jpg","/articles/6239416/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-Health-Department-adopts-1603-million-FY2526-budget-funds-gap-covered-by-fund-balance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6239416-cecbf83216606370a6ca8bebb8251ecb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160160&Signature=XU3BLppwTYR6NXB6aF1zzewLZHA0d3twlzpvkXcqPRIzFELDFnG6nZTDSkxGp7NAJ7opllM7r8Isg9q8fjWsqshcLOycNoCa5joKLpomEdquHDwrvqHTaZXon26IAGgWOY-n3gPXy-rrAtj~u1Wy8Dew6-Bpefy8-1ZZymyInR5prtohitfOYlm95XiSeWnDChz2GuL1H411KFrOARLRYqIx9NIRwI1FBhn5ju31nGseDG20Zd24eZcQtA0uh9D9geay15HLyOOY~0WndtWiJkF1KEDD6GZZyUJr3tQ36Lnl7kDeeJglsQjUV3mfumQ6b1NEBc1HOIsh6ylUJ-eztg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pitt County Board of Health voted to approve the Pitt County Health Department’s recommended fiscal year 2025‑26 budget of $16,031,131 during the May meeting.

Health Director Wes Gray presented the request and explained the recommended budget is slightly below the department’s original request of $16,111,634 because a requested advanced practice provider position was not funded. \"The fiscal year 25, 26 budget, our request was 16,111,634. A recommended budget this year is $16,031,131,\" Gray said.

Gray outlined the department’s revenue mix: projected Medicaid reimbursements, state and federal pass‑through funding via DHHS, fees, other grants, a county general‑fund appropriation and a planned use of fund balance. The recommended budget relies on about $5.6 million from the department’s fund balance (the department reported a roughly $15 million fund balance overall) and approximately $3.2 million in county general‑fund support; DHHS funding was presented at roughly $4.1 million.

Board members and staff discussed the fund‑balance strategy and sustainability. Gray told the board the department intends to maximize third‑party billing and cost‑settlement payments to replenish fund balance and limit future county requests. County finance staff present said the fund balance has grown historically and that auditors expect larger balances to be expended over time.

Gray also highlighted several grant and funding risks that could affect future budgets: a possible reallocation that could reduce the county’s TB grant from roughly $41,000 by about $19,000 under proposed state formula changes; uncertainty about the federal/state tobacco prevention grant (a five‑year CDC award that lacked a fifth funding year), which the state proposed temporarily covering with JUUL settlement funds for FY25‑26; and a delay or gap in USDA funds for breastfeeding peer counseling activities covering October–May that DHHS is managing on a short timeline.

The board moved and seconded the budget and approved it by voice vote (all members present said \"aye\"). The motion passed and the budget was adopted as presented.

Gray asked the board to note the department’s plan to continue seeking grants and to prioritize maximizing Medicaid and other third‑party revenues to sustain programs without increasing the county appropriation.

The board also approved three administrative policy updates and the minutes for the previous meeting during the same session; those votes were taken separately from the budget vote.","The Pitt County Board of Health approved the health department’s recommended FY25‑26 budget of $16,031,131. The plan uses an increased portion of the department’s fund balance while keeping county general‑fund support level; leaders flagged risks to specific state and federal grants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6239421,"Pitt County child fatality team reports 2023 reviews, urges expanded prevention outreach",535,1634000,2169000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35&start=1634&end=2169","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35/thumbnail_1634000.jpg","/articles/6239421/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-child-fatality-team-reports-2023-reviews-urges-expanded-prevention-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6239421-0bbebb8c507bb8c028efe856abab23fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160160&Signature=Lr2VIhWhcpG4u3M13ewDFQQcOxqEnYDltD3OQDjEQlTQO7ueaGSnsOckJ8YxY3PTngcpTRDD2nPfe4il64kewbFwQwZ1UXBhVeZny7ofGZ-oIaWZ6H4LV9fQ9XnUWx0dSSVI0ONrkD5SVwGIpgKeUBLrh095Gf8aWinHbmfuee8SfZegmf5F4q9EegeXSl8Pg7HLendp-XoJqWuNh-tAXnmMDth6~TJVdTtJEoCLwsPczeiTy472KQ9xTBpotCry-ou0Qab44Qpvpv-O~ERUil2e3iCSo~rE0Xe3c8A9b2Wai2JFo3XM~M9ScWqdEn7dQ~RPowUK-sWguFlRPXXc3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vashtie, coordinator of Pitt County’s women’s and children’s health education programs, presented the local Child Fatality Prevention Team annual update at the Board of Health meeting in May.

She told the board the state’s child fatality system was restructured by law in 2023 and that the local team must begin mandatory case reporting to the new statewide system on July 1, 2025. \"The local team reviews child deaths and study ways to prevent future child fatalities,\" she said.

Vashtie said the county identified 31 child deaths in 2023 and that the subcommittee chose seven cases for deep review; the remaining deaths were predominately related to prematurity or birth defects. Causes covered by the local team’s reviews included unsafe sleep, suicide by firearm, motor vehicle crashes, drug overdose, sudden unexpected infant death and violence involving firearms.

The presentation catalogued current prevention activities and gaps: a safe‑sleep program that distributes Pack 'n Plays for $10 and provides community education; gun‑lock and safe‑storage efforts by the Department of Social Services, ECU Firearm Safety Coalition and East Carolina Injury Prevention; and school‑based violence and anti‑bullying training needs. Vashtie said the local team is not yet fully staffed and listed openings for representatives from the Community Action Agency, school system, Guardian ad Litem and childcare/Head Start.

The team also plans a community training event tied to Firearms Awareness Day on June 2 and is collaborating with Children's Hospital Family Wellness and Prevent Child Abuse for a morning session of presentations and training.

Board members asked about the report lag and sampling period; Vashtie explained the reviews are typically about one year behind because of case adjudication and medical records closure. She urged continued prenatal and newborn education and outreach to improve early prenatal care and preconception health.

The update was accepted as information; no formal board action was taken during the meeting.","Local Child Fatality Prevention Team described statutory changes, mandatory reporting starting July 1, 2025, recent review results and ongoing prevention work including safe‑sleep crib distribution and firearm safety collaborations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6239424,"ECU dentist urges caution but endorses continued community water fluoridation",1112,97000,1209000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35&start=97&end=1209","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3337786-08e4d0e7f9a2c987d3c7e9f769de8f35/thumbnail_97000.jpg","/articles/6239424/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/ECU-dentist-urges-caution-but-endorses-continued-community-water-fluoridation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6239424-b1b5f276faebfb76aa4d809561c5931f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160160&Signature=cedpRZoOU5vXpYqfAXRtlKdaO9tAtqMJtx2dSQtFSNmL0PKAaI3c3~BXP48HJB~HkQ5fCeKY5lXAWYB0-2z1wUA3ftO6SDJsn4o8Sv0olRXYi6cM-NwlSmgq4qUJuwWyO5mRWKPCCFo0TguY0FZCsTKxXgwRJxAT5p--GgQCkChk6ooScid3pIRQnwNoJkipSE2vZUKA2FQUwwpHjQUhWVrfn68EGp~Mww2BLYgq3cPiVxIh8lTKSM4U~GNJDFtdLqp6gGp9wT-moDIyY9DUK8vdZYp1tMRRqvl3l8r1cN9ihkSshHOalGAyUeOASexAu6Llz9aYz0Y6DXCmQoG3xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Mark Moss, a Greenville resident and faculty member at East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, reviewed the scientific evidence on community water fluoridation and its safety during the Pitt County Board of Health meeting in May.

Moss told the board that community water fluoridation continues to reduce tooth decay and is particularly helpful for children in lower‑income families. \"The benefits of fluoride are greater in low income families,\" he said, and noted that fluoridation helps narrow the social gradient in tooth decay seen in communities without fluoridated water.

Moss summarized recent safety debates, including work by the National Toxicology Program and a systematic review published in JAMA that prompted public concern about links between fluoride and child IQ. He said those analyses mainly identify risks at concentrations substantially above the U.S. recommended level and that the available studies from U.S.‑like exposure ranges do not show a consistent IQ effect. \"The levels that we are exposed to are probably not there,\" he said, while also calling for more high‑quality research and controlled toxicology studies.

He described dental fluorosis — staining of developing teeth resulting from excess fluoride exposure — as the clearest adverse effect to watch and emphasized parental guidance about toothpaste dosing: a smear for children under 3 and a pea‑size amount for ages 3–6. He advised that water systems are engineered to hold fluoride near the U.S. optimal level of 0.7 milligrams per liter and noted that North Carolina currently has a high percentage of public water supplies at optimal levels.

Board members asked about local and statewide political interest in ending fluoridation and how long it would take to see changes if a community ceased fluoridation. Moss said it can take five to seven years to detect an increase in tooth decay after cessation and that policy debates have been active in other parts of the state. He declined to recommend immediate elimination and said he would not support stopping at this time.

The presentation included references to CDC guidance on community water fluoridation, the National Toxicology Program review, and recent peer‑reviewed analyses; Moss recommended monitoring evidence as new research emerges.

For now, the board received the presentation as information and did not take formal action on fluoridation policy.","Dr. Mark Moss reviewed evidence on community water fluoridation, saying benefits for preventing tooth decay — especially among lower‑income children — remain robust while recent studies linking fluoride at high levels to lower IQ are inconclusive for U.S. exposure levels.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State finds brief detection of a rare 'clade 1' in local wastewater; no confirmed Pitt County patients

Pitt County Health Department adopts $16.03 million FY25‑26 budget, funds gap covered by fund balance

Pitt County child fatality team reports 2023 reviews, urges expanded prevention outreach

ECU dentist urges caution but endorses continued community water fluoridation