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DHHS reports measles decline, updates on PFAS fish-advisory review and dermal exposure work
Summary
State epidemiologist Zach Moore reported 24 measles cases since late December with no recent additions and continuing wastewater surveillance; DHHS is reviewing fish-advisory guidance for PFAS and examining dermal/inhalation exposure evidence to support public guidance.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services provided a public-health update at the Science Advisory Board meeting. State epidemiologist Zach Moore said the state's measles outbreak has not grown recently: "We've had 24, measles cases since the, right at the end of December," he said, and wastewater measles monitoring continues at 36 sites.
Moore also described DHHS work intersecting with environmental exposure questions. He said DHHS staff are discussing new best-practice guidance for fish-consumption advisories (noting recent Great Lakes Consortium guidance) and are evaluating whether and how to incorporate those considerations into PFAS fish advisories for parts of the Cape Fear River. He said DHHS is also reviewing dermal and inhalation exposure literature — particularly around PFOA and showering-related inhalation — to see whether additional guidance is warranted for communities with high PFAS concentrations.
Other public-health items: Moore summarized environmental-justice work with local health departments (13 community health assessments included environmental-justice chapters last year) and announced heat-season surveillance will resume May 1 after more than 5,600 emergency-department visits for heat-related illness last year.
Board members asked whether DHHS would issue guidance on fluoride in light of recent systematic reviews. Moore said DHHS staff had reviewed the NTP monograph and meta-analysis literature and noted concerning associations for neurodevelopment at higher exposures but that the agency has not yet created a formal response document to change state recommended levels.
DEQ and DHHS officials said they will continue to coordinate on community outreach and technical guidance as PFAS monitoring and public-health analyses proceed. The board did not take formal action on DHHS items at the meeting.
