Buncombe County is facing an outbreak of bacteria-related illness in the wake of Helene triggered by one type of microorganism that is far outpacing others and likely brought on by hand hygiene and food handling issues.
Since the storm, there have been 16 cases of gastrointestinal illness in Buncombe related to four common, powerful bacteria, according to North Carolina Health and Human Services data obtained by Asheville Watchdog. One in particular, campylobacter, caused 13 of the cases.
For the past five Octobers, the median number of campylobacter cases has been five. The 13 cases occurred between Oct. 1-19 alone, according to the data. Those include seven in the third week of the month.
“There has been an increase in campylobacter cases above baseline in Buncombe County in October,” the NCDHHS Division of Public Health’s Communicable Disease Branch told Buncombe health officials in an Oct. 24 email summarizing its findings.
“Campylobacter typically is the most common reportable [gastrointestinal] illness in Buncombe County. Based on patient interviews that the [communicable disease] nurses have conducted, this increase does appear to be storm related with a variety of potential sources including deficiencies in appropriate hand hygiene, food handling, and/or cleaning of food preparation surfaces,” the NCDHHS notice said.
Buncombe had requested a report from NCDHHS following anecdotal evidence of an outbreak, according to the agency’s officials.
Five days after the NCDHHS report was sent, Buncombe County Health and Human Services Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore addressed the outbreak in a public briefing, ensuing news release, and email to local health care providers.
“Following a major flooding event like we experienced with Hurricane Helene, there is an increased risk of gastroenteritis,” Mullendore said.
Research shows a hurricane and flood often bring with it several waves of sickness and injury, as The Watchdog reported Oct. 11.
Gastroenteritis is an illness that involves the stomach and/or the intestines. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping, headaches, muscle aches and fever. It can be caused by norovirus, hepatitis, cryptosporidium, E. coli, salmonella, shigella, giardia and campylobacter.
Why people are getting it is less clear, but there are a number of likely culprits.
Data tracked by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shows occurances of bacteria infections since Oct. 1. // Screenshot of NCDHHS report
“The risk of gastroenteritis increases for a variety of reasons, including contact with sewage or water that has been contaminated with human or animal waste, decreased ability for appropriate hand hygiene and safe food handling practices, lack of consistent refrigeration due to power outages; flooding can also wash organisms from livestock into areas where fruits and vegetables are grown, contaminating the produce,” Mullendore said.
City of Asheville’s Water Resources lab staff is conducting daily testing throughout the damaged water distribution system for total coliform, E. coli and chlorine, the state noted in its report.
“E. coli and total coliform have not been detected in the distribution system,” according to the Oct. 24 email.
By Oct. 30, those bacteria were still absent from test results.
There were no E. coli cases in Buncombe County in October, according to the report.
Regardless of the source, health officials don’t know if the spike in cases is an anomaly or the beginning of a trend.
“It’s too early to know if this is the start of an increasing trend, a return to baseline, because these levels fluctuate routinely, or just a blip,” Mullendore said. “Epidemiologists at the state are continuing to monitor this data.”
‘Certainly unprecedented’
Systems to track diseases in North Carolina have existed for years, but Helene means experts are taking a more focused approach, keeping an eye on diseases that are more likely following a natural disaster.
“It’s definitely not business as usual,” state epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore told The Watchdog.
North Carolina State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore // Photo provided by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
“We’re looking at the syndromes, the infections, that we know are likely following a disaster. And I don’t know when it’s going to end … In terms of lack of access to basic services, this is certainly unprecedented in North Carolina. So, you know, we’re still worried.”
The state works closely with Buncombe County HHS to track disease outbreaks. According to Moore, the recent report was created because Buncombe told the state about reports of gastrointestinal cases. These cases are reported by local health care providers, including Mission Hospital, which has a dedicated epidemiologist.
This is the first report the state has generated for Buncombe and potentially one of many to come, Moore said. Without access to potable water, basic sanitation or stable living situations, the risks of infections will linger.
“People don’t have access to these things now and in some cases, in some locations, they’re not going to for a while,” Moore said.
Focused tracking of these diseases will remain intact for as long as the need exists, Moore said, noting if Buncombe needs more data and guidance in the future, “we’ll create it.”
How to minimize your risk
Buncombe issued this guidance for avoiding sickness Oct. 28:
Use safe water:
Use bottled or disinfected water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth.
If boiling: bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute.
If using bleach: add eight drops of bleach per gallon, wait 30 mins.
Avoid well water until disinfected and tested.
Practice hand hygiene:
Wash hands with soap and clean water, or use sanitizer (60% alcohol).
Key times: before eating or preparing food, after bathroom use, after animal contact.
Sanitize food prep areas:
Clean surfaces with soap and safe water.
Use bleach solution (1 tbsp bleach per gallon of water) for sanitizing.
Follow food safety:
Discard unrefrigerated meat/dairy.
Cook food thoroughly and consume it hot.
Avoid raw foods unless you’ve peeled them yourself.
If sick with diarrhea:
Stay hydrated with safe water.
See a doctor if you experience severe symptoms (e.g., high fever, dehydration).
Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Andrew R. Jones is a Watchdog investigative reporter. Email arjones@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s local reporting during this crisis is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
SUMMARY: Jim Jenkins, a North Carolina baseball trailblazer and Negro Leagues player, exemplified resilience and excellence both on and off the field. His sons recall his superior skills—hitting, running, and catching—and how he faced challenges due to his skin color. Beyond baseball, Jenkins was a community father, teaching youths fundamentals and helping those in need. He shared a friendship with legend Hank Aaron, often attending Braves games with his family. His legacy endures through his children, who honor not just his athletic achievements but his kindness and humanity, inspiring future generations to carry on his impact.
James “Jim” Jenkins had a profound impact on the game of baseball as a trailblazer known in the Carolinas.
SUMMARY: A scientist reflecting on the politicization of science warns that ideological influence undermines objectivity, breeds mistrust, and hampers public understanding. The FY2026 budget proposal cut NIH funding by about 40%, saving taxpayers $18 billion, but only 1.5% of the total federal budget, while increasing defense spending by 13%. These cuts severely impact states like North Carolina, where science drives $2.4 billion in tax revenue and thousands of jobs. The cuts target indirect costs vital for research infrastructure and diversity efforts, mistakenly seen as ideological rather than essential scientific practices. The author calls for unity to prioritize facts over politics and protect scientific progress for societal and economic health.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-15 02:01:00
North Carolina’s U.S. House members voted along party lines on two Republican-backed bills: the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), which cuts \$1.6 trillion in government spending, and the “Rescissions Act of 2025” (H.R. 4), which eliminates \$9.4 billion from entities like USAID and public broadcasting. Republicans called it a purge of waste, citing spending on drag shows and foreign projects. Democrats criticized the cuts as harmful and symbolic, calling the effort fiscally irresponsible. H.R. 1 passed 215-214; H.R. 4 passed 214-212. No Democrats supported either. A few Republicans broke ranks and voted against their party on each bill.
(The Center Square) – North Carolinians in the U.S. House of Representatives were unwavering of party preference for two bills now awaiting finalization in the Senate.
Republicans who favored them say the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, known also as House Resolution 1, slashed $1.6 trillion in waste, fraud and abuse of government systems. The Rescissions Act of 2025, known also as House Resolution 4, did away with $9.4 billion – less than six-tenths of 1% of the other legislation – in spending by the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Corp. for Public Broadcasting (PBS, NPR), and other entities.
Democrats against them say the Department of Government Efficiency made “heartless budget cuts” and was an “attack on the resources that North Carolinians were promised and that Congress has already appropriated.”
Republicans from North Carolina in favor of both were Reps. Dr. Greg Murphy, Virginia Foxx, Addison McDowell, David Rouzer, Rev. Mark Harris, Richard Hudson, Pat Harrigan, Chuck Edwards, Brad Knott and Tim Moore.
Democrats against were Reps. Don Davis, Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee and Alma Adams.
Foxx said the surface was barely skimmed with cuts of “$14 million in cash vouchers for migrants at our southern border; $24,000 for a national spelling bee in Bosnia; $1.5 million to mobilize elderly, lesbian, transgender, nonbinary and intersex people to be involved in the Costa Rica political process; $20,000 for a drag show in Ecuador; and $32,000 for an LGBTQ comic book in Peru.”
Adams said, “While Elon Musk claimed he would cut $1 trillion from the federal government, the recissions package amounts to less than 1% of that. Meanwhile, House Republicans voted just last month to balloon the national debt by $3 trillion in their One Big Ugly Bill. It’s fiscal malpractice, not fiscal responsibility.”
House Resolution 1 passed 215-214 and House Resolution 4 went forward 214-212. Republican Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky were against the One Big Beautiful Bill and Republican Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Nicole Malliotakis of New York and Michael Turner of Ohio were against the Rescissions Act.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article presents a straightforward report on the partisan positions and voting outcomes related to two specific bills, highlighting the contrasting views of Republicans and Democrats without using loaded or emotionally charged language. It neutrally conveys the Republicans’ framing of the bills as efforts to cut waste and reduce spending, alongside Democrats’ critique of those cuts as harmful and insufficient fiscal discipline. By providing direct quotes from representatives of both parties and clearly stating voting results, the content maintains factual reporting without promoting a particular ideological stance. The balanced presentation of arguments and absence of editorializing indicate a commitment to neutrality rather than an intentional partisan perspective.
