Person County Health Department Investigates Contaminated Wells
Over the last month, the Person County Health Department has been investigating private drinking water wells which are contaminated with chlorinated solvents and gasoline around the Halifax Road and Virgilina Road intersection. The health department has been taking the lead in the investigation by taking water samples and distributing health risk information. This a joint investigation with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the North Carolina Underground Storage Tank Division and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Division.
The Division of Public Health has been providing health risk evaluations for residents. The Health Department is continuing to sample the wells with the State Laboratory of Public Health providing the analysis. As sample results become available, the health department will notify the individual property owners.
The multi-agency team is continuing to investigate to determine the source of the pollutants and to find a long term solution that protects the public health. For more information contact Person County Health Department – Environmental Health Section at 336-597-1790.
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Person County Health Department Investigates Foodborne Outbreak
Beginning Monday evening, Dec. 3, the Person County Health Department began receiving reports of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, primarily in the Roxboro area, said Janet Clayton, the county health director.
Health department staff began interviewing those reporting gastrointestinal illness and determined that those persons had attended a catered luncheon on Friday, Nov. 30, celebrating the opening of a new plant in Roxboro. The symptoms of illness included diarrhea, abdominal cramps, chills, fever, nausea and vomiting over a two-day period. No one has become seriously ill and no one has been hospitalized.
Foodborne illness is suspected, although the exact source has not yet been determined. Samples have been sent to the State Laboratory of Public Health for testing. At this point, no new cases are likely in people who ate the food last Friday.
People who were not at the luncheon and who did not eat that food are not at risk.
The event was by invitation only, so public health officials have been contacting the approximately 400 people on the guest list. To date, over 333 people have been interviewed; 73 reported illness.
The Person County Health Department is being assisted in their investigation by the Orange County Health Department, the N.C. Division of Public Health, and the N.C. Division of Environmental Health.
Environmental health officials from Orange County and from the state are following up with the caterer who provided the food for the event.
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