public health

Cases of cyclosporiasis have more than doubled in North Carolina over the past week. And so far, investigators haven't identified the primary source of the outbreak.

A parasitic illness that can cause explosive diarrhea has sickened at least 240 people in North Carolina since May, with 150 of those in Wake County. State health officials say Cyclospora is typically spread through contaminated food like raw vegetables and fruit, or water and often takes about a week for symptoms to appear. The illness is treatable with antibiotics, and people can reduce their risk by washing fresh produce and washing your hands.

Many Latino residents still face significant barriers to accessing health care.

North Carolina health officials are investing $10 million in 39 emergency medical service agencies across the state to expand behavioral health and substance use treatment services in rural communities.

In a brief filed this week in a North Carolina federal court, the U.S. Department of Justice argued that plaintiffs are trying to bypass statutory mechanisms designed to prevent "double-dipping" on disability benefits and court awards. Meanwhile, hundreds of military veterans and family members harmed by the toxic water prepare to gather on the U.S. Capitol lawn for a two-day demonstration that begins on Wednesday.

South Carolina health officials have confirmed another 29 measles cases since Friday, bringing the total number of people infected by the outbreak to 876. Cases have continued to climb since the outbreak began in October in Spartanburg County. For the first time, the state says a resident in Sumter County has been infected. Cases have begun to spread to North Carolina with at least seven cases in Mecklenburg County. The majority of infected people have been unvaccinated children and teenagers.

As 2025 comes to a close, we take a look at the public health developments shaping life in Mecklenburg County and what residents should know heading into 2026. Later in the show, we turn to mental health during the holidays, including exploring the impact of financial stress and practical coping tools.

Thanks to vaccinations, measles in the United States was eliminated in 2000. But, measles is making a comeback and one of the hot spots is the upstate of South Carolina. We discuss the rise in measles here, how it compares to other parts of the country and what this means for public health.