NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT

Healthy people, families, and communities.
  • NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

    NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rabies Warning banner cats

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Jasper, GA – On Friday, April 19, the Pickens County Environmental Health office was notified that two residents were attacked by a rabies-infected stray cat in the Bethany-Salem area. The incident occurred at a home in the vicinity of Mountain Lake Drive off Henderson Mountain Road, prompting immediate action from county Animal Control.

Upon investigating the incident, Animal Control discovered that the same stray cat that attacked the two individuals in the Mountain Lake Drive area had also bitten another person nearby in the area of South Woods Court. Suspecting rabies, Animal Control took the cat to a local veterinarian for testing.

Subsequent tests confirmed the cat's positive rabies status. Therefore, all three bite victims are now undergoing necessary post-exposure treatment. Reports of stray cats in the area have raised concerns, prompting Pickens County Environmental Health officials to issue an alert urging residents to be vigilant.

 

Family of four smiling, with parents holding their kids on their backs
 
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 Vaccines for Your Children

 
On-time vaccination throughout childhood, especially up to age two, then keeping them on track, is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages. These vaccines are available at our Public Health Departments in CherokeeFanninGilmerMurrayPickens, and Whitfield counties. Click on the name of your county for location, hours of operation, and contact information.
 
 
 
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  Vaccines By Age:

 

Click HERE to learn more from the CDC about the importance of on-time Vaccines for Your Children and how you can keep them on track!

 

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The 2022 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the critical importance of addressing STIs (sexually transmitted infections) as a public health priority. In the United States, over 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported.

According  to CDC estimates, approximately 20% of the U.S. population, or one in five people, had an STI on any given day in 2018. The health care costs associated with STIs acquired that year amounted to nearly $16 billion.

STI Awareness Week aims to raise awareness about STIs, reduce stigma, fear, and discrimination, and provide information on prevention, testing, and treatment. Go to www.cdc.gov/std/saw/about.htm to learn how to Prepare, Talk Test Treat, and Get Yourself Tested. Please also share this information!

Testing and some vaccinations and treatment for STIs are available at our county health departments in North Georgia and at our Ryan White HIV clinics, The Living Bridge Center. Find these locations here at our website home page at nghd.org.

 Bi-Monthly Updates from our Infectious Disease Department!

Please note the April-May Issue of the North Georgia Health District EPINews, a bi-monthly e-newsletter containing relevant epidemiology updates from our Infectious Disease Department that mainly pertain to the health and well-being of North Georgians.

This issue includes the latest Measles Cases update from the Georgia Department of Public Health, the availability of Back to School Immunizations at our county health departments, free Hepatitis C testing at our health departments for all who are eligible, and shout-outs to award-winning staff members for their outstanding work in immunizations and TB! This issue also addresses upcoming national highlights in which we will be participating in April and May, including STI Awareness Week, National Infant Immunization Week, and Hepatitis Awareness Month. These occasions are excellent opportunities to educate residents on crucial issues and the actions they can take to protect and preserve their health and the health of their families and communities. 

Enjoy EPINews! Just tap the graphic below or CLICK HERE and SHARE the link… thank you!

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To read our February-March Issue of EPINews, please click here.