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Duplin County health department reports spike in influenza; opioid-settlement planning and food-drive results discussed
Summary
Dr. Tracy Simmons Kaneko told the board influenza A cases in the region have nearly doubled in the last week, WIC funding was restored on Nov. 14, immunization audit findings were addressed, and the county will reconvene its opioid coordination group to develop a resolution and budget for March following a Nov. 18 regional meeting.
Dr. Tracy Simmons Kaneko, representing the Duplin County Health Department, presented the monthly epidemiology report and program updates at the consolidated human services board meeting on Dec. 1.
"The biggest increase that we've seen in the region relates to influenza A," Dr. Kaneko said, reporting that influenza prevalence in Eastern North Carolina has risen sharply and "almost has doubled over the last week." She said influenza A was the primary driver of recent regional respiratory increases.
On the department's budget, Kaneko reported the health department had about 72% of its total budget remaining through the first four months of the fiscal year and that county appropriations accounted for roughly 75% year-to-date through October 2025; she characterized the department's fiscal position as comparable to the prior year at the same point.
Kaneko told commissioners the department received notice on Nov. 14 that WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) would be fully funded and that staff are working to restore public confidence after a statewide decline in referrals and certifications. "We are open for services and doing some outreach," she said.
She reported a recent immunization audit completed on Nov. 6 produced two findings that have since been addressed and that the department is preparing for a BSEP audit by the state the coming Thursday.
Kaneko summarized a Nov. 18 opioid-settlement meeting at the Ed Emery Auditorium attended by about 41 people from regional partners including Trillium Health, the hospital, Duplin County Schools, the sheriff's office, the district attorney's office, and local municipalities and providers. The nine-county needs assessment presented by Recovery Alliance Innovation (RAI) identified three cross-cutting priorities: treatment and clinical services; 24/7 crisis response and resource navigation; and housing and recovery housing. Kaneko said she will reconvene the county opioid coordination group, consider additional stakeholder meetings in January or February, and intends to present a proposed resolution and budget for fiscal year 2026 to the board in March.
Kaneko also noted recent food-security work: the October food drive collected 914 pounds of nonperishable items and an event on Nov. 26 served nearly 400 families. She listed partner organizations that supported the event and said a Christmas food drive is scheduled for Dec. 23.
The board did not take formal votes on health-department program changes at the meeting; Kaneko's next steps include reconvening stakeholders on opioid response planning and preparing materials for the March presentation to the board.
