Rutherford County Health Department

12/04/2025

Due to the possibility of inclement weather overnight, the Foothills Health District will operate on a 2 hour delay tomorrow, December 5th. We will open at 10:30 am.

Thank you for understanding and please travel carefully!

12/02/2025

📣 Measles Update from the Foothills Health District

The South Carolina Department of Public Health has reported 14 new measles cases in the Upstate region, bringing the total associated with the outbreak to 76 cases. Many of these cases are in areas close to the North Carolina border, including Spartanburg County, which neighbors Rutherford County.

🔹 At this time, there are no measles cases in Rutherford County or within the Foothills Health District.
We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in communication with state partners.

Why this matters for our community:

Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Because we share a border and regional travel is common, staying informed and protected is important.

What You Can Do:

Check your vaccination status. The MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing measles.

Watch for symptoms if you have recently traveled to or spent time in the Upstate SC region:
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, irritated eyes
• Rash appearing a few days after fever

Call ahead before visiting a healthcare provider if you suspect measles exposure or symptoms — this helps protect others from potential exposure.

The Foothills Health District will continue to track updates, share information promptly, and support our community in staying safe and healthy.

📣 Actualización sobre el sarampión del Distrito de Salud de Foothills

El Departamento de Salud Pública de Carolina del Sur ha reportado 14 nuevos casos de sarampión en la región de Upstate, elevando el total del brote a 76 casos. Muchos de estos casos están en áreas cercanas a la frontera con Carolina del Norte, incluida Spartanburg County, que limita con el condado de Rutherford.

🔹 En este momento, no hay casos de sarampión en el condado de Rutherford ni dentro del Distrito de Salud de Foothills.
Seguimos monitoreando la situación de cerca y mantenemos comunicación constante con nuestros socios estatales.

Por qué esto es importante para nuestra comunidad:

El sarampión es altamente contagioso y puede permanecer en el aire hasta dos horas después de que una persona infectada abandone un área. Debido a que compartimos frontera y es común viajar entre regiones, es importante mantenerse informado y protegido.

Lo que usted puede hacer:

Verifique su estado de vacunación. La vacuna MMR es segura y muy eficaz para prevenir el sarampión.

Esté atento a los síntomas si ha viajado recientemente o pasado tiempo en la región de Upstate SC:
• Fiebre
• Tos
• Secreción nasal
• Ojos rojos o irritados
• Erupción cutánea que aparece unos días después de la fiebre

Llame antes de acudir a un proveedor de atención médica si sospecha exposición o síntomas de sarampión — esto ayuda a proteger a otros de una posible exposición.

El Distrito de Salud de Foothills continuará monitoreando las actualizaciones, compartiendo información de manera oportuna y apoyando a nuestra comunidad para mantenerse segura y saludable.

12/01/2025

11/28/2025

🍽️ Love your leftovers—but keep them safe too!

Whether you’re savoring holiday dishes or just enjoying a home-cooked meal, following the right steps helps protect your family from food-borne illness.
Food Safety and Inspection Service

✅ Quick Tips for Safe Leftovers:

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours (or within 1 hour if the room temp is above 90 °F).

Store foods in shallow containers to help them cool quickly.

Eat refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days, or freeze them for 2-6 months for best quality.

When reheating leftovers, be sure they reach an internal temperature of 165 °F.

🧼 Remember: You might love your leftovers—but bad bacteria don’t. Good food safety habits mean more enjoyment, less risk.

For more details about safe food handling and storage, visit https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/leftovers-and-food-safetyor reach out to us at Foothills Health District.

Stay safe, stay thoughtful—and enjoy your meal again tomorrow!

11/27/2025

🦃🍁 Happy Thanksgiving from Foothills Health District!
Today we give thanks for our incredible community, our dedicated staff, and all who work every day to support the health and well-being of Rutherford and McDowell counties.
We are grateful for you.
Wishing you a safe, healthy, and joyful holiday! 🤎

🦃🍁 ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias de parte del Distrito de Salud de Foothills!
Hoy damos gracias por nuestra increíble comunidad, nuestro personal dedicado y todos los que trabajan cada día para apoyar la salud y el bienestar de los condados de Rutherford y McDowell.
Estamos agradecidos por ustedes.
¡Les deseamos un feriado seguro, saludable y lleno de alegría! 🤎

11/26/2025

🦃 Holiday Closure:
Foothills Health District will be closed Nov. 26–28 for Thanksgiving.
We’ll reopen Monday, Dec. 1.
Have a safe and happy holiday! 🍁

🦃 Cierre por el Día de Acción de Gracias:
El Distrito de Salud de Foothills estará cerrado del 26 al 28 de noviembre por el feriado.
Reabriremos el lunes 1 de diciembre.
¡Que tengan un feriado seguro y feliz! 🍁

11/25/2025

📢 Public Health Update: Measles in Upstate South Carolina (Picture curtesy of SC DPH)

South Carolina DPH reports a continued measles outbreak in the Upstate, with 52 cases confirmed as of November 21. Cases remain concentrated in Spartanburg County, and no hospitalizations have been reported.

📍 What to know:
• Nearly all cases are in people who are not vaccinated.
• Most cases are in children and teens.
• Measles is extremely contagious and can lead to serious complications.

💉 Protect Yourself:
Make sure you and your children are up to date on the MMR vaccine.
If you develop symptoms—fever, cough, red eyes, or rash—call your healthcare provider before arriving.

We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available. Stay safe and stay informed.

— Foothills Health District

📢 Actualización de Salud Pública: Sarampión en el Upstate de Carolina del Sur (Foto cortesía del DPH de Carolina del Sur)

El Departamento de Salud Pública de Carolina del Sur (DPH) informa un brote continuo de sarampión en la región del Upstate, con 52 casos confirmados al 21 de noviembre. Los casos siguen concentrados en el condado de Spartanburg y no se han reportado hospitalizaciones.

📍 Lo que debe saber:
• Casi todos los casos son en personas no vacunadas.
• La mayoría de los casos se encuentran en niños y adolescentes.
• El sarampión es altamente contagioso y puede causar complicaciones graves.

💉 Protéjase:
Asegúrese de que usted y sus hijos estén al día con la vacuna MMR (sarampión, paperas y rubéola).
Si presenta síntomas—fiebre, tos, ojos rojos o sarpullido—llame a su proveedor de salud antes de llegar.

Continuaremos compartiendo actualizaciones a medida que haya más información disponible. Manténgase seguro e informado.

— Distrito de Salud de Foothills

11/25/2025

✨ FREE Community Distribution Event – Today! ✨
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Bethel Baptist Church (Fellowship Hall)
479 Main St, Ellenboro – across from the Wash Tub

Bethel Baptist Church, together with the Foothills Health District, United Way, and the ICC Nursing Program, is hosting a FREE community distribution event open to everyone!

🍎 Free Food Distribution
Providing fresh food items for individuals and families.

🧥 Free Cold-Weather Clothing Giveaway
Coats, hats, gloves, and more to help keep you warm this winter.

🩺 Free Flu Vaccines
Stay healthy this season with no-cost flu shots.

Stop by anytime between 11am and 3pm to pick up what your family needs. Please share to help spread the word! ❤️

11/24/2025

💙 Happy Public Health Thank You Day!
Join us in thanking the public health heroes who:
• Respond to outbreaks
• Provide essential clinical services
• Ensure safe food & water
• Support families & children
• Prepare for emergencies
• Promote healthier communities

To our Foothills Health District team and partners—we appreciate you today and every day.

💙 ¡Feliz Día de Agradecimiento a la Salud Pública!
Únase a nosotros para agradecer a los héroes de la salud pública que:
• Responden a brotes
• Brindan servicios clínicos esenciales
• Garantizan alimentos y agua seguros
• Apoyan a familias y niños
• Se preparan para emergencias
• Promueven comunidades más saludables

A nuestro equipo del Distrito de Salud de Foothills y a todos nuestros socios—los apreciamos hoy y todos los días.

11/24/2025

🍂🦃 Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips from Foothills Health District 🦃🍂
Getting ready for a big gathering? We want your feast to be delicious and safe. Here are some quick reminders from FoodSafety.gov you can trust:

🔹 Keep it clean – Wash your hands well (20 seconds with soap!), and sanitize surfaces and utensils, especially after handling raw turkey.

🔹 Prep smart – Handle raw meat & poultry separately from produce and ready-to-eat foods. Don’t rinse your raw turkey (it can spread bacteria!).

🔹 Cook thoroughly – Use a food thermometer. The turkey is safe when it reaches 165 °F in these three spots: thickest breast, innermost thigh, innermost wing.

🔹 Keep food safe after serving – Food left out at room temperature is only safe for ~2 hours before it must be refrigerated. If it’s over 90 °F (picnic, hot car, etc.), refrigerate within 1 hour.

Enjoy your time with family and friends—and let’s keep our traditions healthy and safe!

11/21/2025

🌟 THANK YOU, FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY! 🌟

We are so grateful for the incredible support from our community partners including Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, Fountain Electric, and Watts, local residents, and dedicated Foothills Health District employees who helped make our Holiday Food Drive a huge success!

Because of your generosity, we were able to prepare more than 60 Thanksgiving casserole meal kits—all of which were shared between our Rutherford County and McDowell County Health Departments. These kits are available in the lobbies of each department for anyone in need.

Your donations also helped us fully restock both of our onsite food pantries, which provide support for community members, patients, and anyone in need throughout the year.

🧡 Your kindness directly feeds our neighbors and strengthens our community.
Thank you for making a meaningful impact this holiday season—and for continuing to show what it means to care for one another here in the Foothills.

11/19/2025

📢 PUBLIC HEALTH NOTICE: Increase in Norovirus Cases in Rutherford County, NC

We are seeing an uptick in Norovirus (“stomach bug”) cases here in Rutherford County. Norovirus is very contagious and spreads easily through close contact, contaminated food/water, or touching contaminated surfaces.

🦠 Common Symptoms (usually begin 12–48 hours after exposure):
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Headache & body aches
• Low-grade fever
• Dehydration

⛔ If you’re feeling sick:
• Stay home—do NOT go to work, school, or childcare.
• Stay home at least 48 hours after symptoms end, as you can still spread the virus.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Contact your healthcare provider if symptoms last more than 3 days or if you’re at higher risk for severe illness.

🧼 Prevent the Spread:
• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water—hand sanitizer does NOT work well against Norovirus.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces with a bleach-based solution (1,000–5,000 ppm).
• Do not prepare food for others while sick or for 48 hours after recovering.

Keeping our community healthy starts with staying home when sick and practicing good hand hygiene. Thank you for helping protect our neighbors, workplaces, and schools.

Learn more:

Learn how to prevent catching and spreading norovirus.