Health

Reach Out and Read
The Henderson County Department of Public Health participates in the Reach Out and Read childhood literacy program. Offered at over 2,500 sites across the nation, Reach Out and Read® was created to make early literacy a standard part of pediatric primary care. At each well-child visit from six months through five years of age, providers give parents a free age-appropriate book and guidance on the importance of reading aloud to their child.

E-cigarettes & Vaping

E-cigarette use poses a significant – and avoidable – health risk. Besides increasing the possibility of addiction and long-term harm to brain development of young people and respiratory health, e-cigarette use is associated with the use of other tobacco products that can do even more damage to the body. Even breathing e-cigarette aerosol that someone else has exhaled poses potential health risks.

The Department of Public Health provides a variety of health services, both to keep you healthy, and if you are sick, to get you well. If you have questions, please contact us at (828) 692-4223. 

Check out brochures about our services and additional community resources. Please visit Community Data to read the Community Health Assessment and the State of the County Health Report.

Protecting your home from ticks involves checking and treating your pets, creating tick-safe zones in your yard, and keeping deer away.

Tick Bite Assessment Tool - an interactive tool that will assist individuals on removing attached ticks and determining when to seek health care, if appropriate, after a tick bite.

Mosquito-borne diseases, which are spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, can lead to serious illness in people. They also carry diseases and parasites like heartworm, West Nile virus, and the Eastern equine encephalitis that can affect your dogs and horses. In Western North Carolina, the three most common viruses transmitted to both people and animals are:

Following these tips will help to protect you, your family, your friends, and your community from mosquito-borne illnesses. The more steps you take, the more protected you are!

Find diseases by name, categories of disease (such as foodborne illnesses and vector-borne diseases), and selected disease topics (such as veterinary public health and tick bite prevention) in this A-Z list from the Epidemiology Section of NC Public Health.

P: (828) 671-3011  |  F: (828) 697-4504

The cost for a screening or a TB skin test required for employment is $14. There is no charge if the client is symptomatic for TB or has been determined to be a contact with someone with active TB. For a client with a positive skin test, a Communicable Disease Nurse will offer counseling, chest X-rays, medical referrals, contact tracing and testing, and provide medication. Tuberculosis Control Services are provided at no cost to the client.

We can provide nurses trained in grief counseling for families affected by the death of an infant from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Home visits are available. To access this service, call 828-692-4223 and ask for the SIDS counselor. Counseling is available in English and Spanish. Additional help for grieving families can be found at First Candle.