National Infant Immunization Week is April 21 – 28, 2018

North GA – National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 21 – April 28, 2018, and North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) urges all Georgians to protect infants from vaccine-preventable diseases by ensuring our little ones and everyone around them are vaccinated and up-to-date on their immunization schedules.

“Because infants are among the most vulnerable in our population, we need to do our part to protect them from exposure to life threatening diseases – and vaccines are our best defense,” said Sheila Lovett, director of the Georgia Immunization Program.  “Parents should speak with their pediatrician or health care provider to make sure their child and family are up-to-date on their vaccinations.”

NIIW is a call to action for parents, caregivers and health care providers to ensure that infants are fully vaccinated against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases.

Because some vaccine-preventable diseases, such as pertussis, are highly contagious and can lead to serious complications and death in infants, it’s important for parents (including pregnant mothers) to make sure their families are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

* Two doses given at least four weeks apart are recommended for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time and for some other children in this age group.

 § Two doses of HepA vaccine are needed for lasting protection. The first dose of HepA vaccine should be given between 12 months and 23 months of age.  The second dose should be given 6 to 18 months later. HepA vaccination may be given to any child 12 months and older to protect against HepA. Children and adolescents, who did not receive the HepA vaccine and are at high-risk, should be vaccinated against HepA.

According to CDC, the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in its history. Scientists, doctors and health care professionals give vaccines to children only after long, thorough and careful review. The disease-prevention benefits of vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for most children. Vaccination is the best way to protect others you care about from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The North Georgia Health District encourages everyone – in observance of National Infant Immunization Week – to protect the little ones who cannot yet protect themselves: contact your local county public health department in North Georgia to ensure your infant is up-to-date on vaccinations:

Cherokee County Health Department: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133

Fannin County Health Department: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023

Gilmer County Health Department: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706) 635-4363

Murray County Health Department: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (706) 695-4585

Pickens County Health Department: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821

Whitfield County Health Department: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, (706) 279-9600

 For more information on vaccinations, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section.

Area residents who may have been exposed to cat are urged to call Public Health Hotline

Acworth (GA) – Cherokee County Environmental Health officials received word late today that a cat that had scratched and possibly bitten an Acworth, Georgia resident has now tested positive for rabies.

The resident has begun post exposure treatment and health officials are urging area residents to call the toll-free Georgia Public Health Hotline: 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) if within the last three weeks they or their children may have been in direct contact with a black male cat that had a white belly patch. Rabies is almost always fatal if not treated immediately, before symptoms begin. 

The cat attacked the resident on Tuesday, April 17 at a mobile home on West Pine Ridge Drive in Acworth, leaving the resident with multiple claw scratches and a possible tooth scratch on the hand.

The Georgia Public Health Laboratory received the specimen for rabies testing on Wednesday, April 18, and the positive result was returned on Friday, April 20.

Health officials continue to urge residents to protect against rabies by maintaining vaccinations in their pets and to be wary of any unfamiliar animals, both domestic and wild.

For more information about rabies prevention and symptoms, call the Cherokee County Environmental Health Office at (770) 479-0444. Rabies information can also be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/rabies.

The North Georgia Health District wants you to enjoy the April 1st Easter holiday, and one of the ways to protect your family is by avoiding potential food poisoning from contaminated Easter eggs.

While eggs are used all year long, they are especially important for many spring and summertime activities. They are used for cooking festive delights and for decorating and hiding just before the big Easter egg hunt.

Information from the Fight BAC! (“Fight bacteria”) website tells us that eggs are perishable and need to be handled properly to prevent foodborne illness. Occasionally, even eggs with clean, uncracked shells can be contaminated with bacteria, specifically Salmonella Enteritidis. FightBAC! offers these tips on having a safe Easter egg hunt:

Be In-the-Know for Easter Egg Hunt

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• Only use eggs that have been refrigerated, and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.
• When cooking, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add water to at least one inch above the eggs. Cover the pan, bring the water to a boil, and carefully remove the pan from the heat.
• Let the eggs stand (18 minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium). Immediately run cold water over the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator where they can air-dry.
• When decorating, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring, and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.
• Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs chilled on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door.
• Hide the eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria.
• Remember the two-hour rule, and make sure the “found” eggs are back in the refrigerator or consumed within two hours.
• Remember that hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking.

More resources on Easter egg safety, and food safety in general, is always available by visiting these websites: Partnership for Food Education and the USDA. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). TTY 1- 800-256-7072.

The Fight BAC!® website is www.fightbac.org. Gateway to Government Food Safety provides information at www.foodsafety.gov.

North Georgia – Nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur in the United States every year, costing the American healthcare system nearly $16 billion in direct medical costs alone, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

America’s youth shoulder a substantial burden of these infections. CDC estimates that half of all new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the country occur among young men and women aged 15 to 24. 

Sherry Gregory, Infectious Disease Supervisor for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health, said, “April is STD Awareness Month, so we’re placing a special emphasis on how to prevent STDs and on the importance of getting tested and treated for these diseases.” 

The high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the general population suggests that many Americans are at risk of exposure to STDs, underscoring the need for prevention. 

Despite this news, there are effective ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat STDs. STD screening and early diagnoses are essential in preventing transmission and the long-term health consequences of STDs. 

“We will be conducting STD testing and awareness campaigns at our county health departments and at various community events throughout April, such as HIV and Hepatitis C testing at the Northwest Day Reporting Center in Dalton on April 3rd and 17th and at Dalton State College Gilmer Campus in Ellijay on April 19th” said Gregory. “Details will be posted to our website.” 

Contact information for county health departments in the North Georgia Heath District is:

Cherokee County Health Department: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133

Fannin County Health Department: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023

Gilmer County Health Department: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706) 635-4363

Murray County Health Department: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (706) 695-4585

Pickens County Health Department:  60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821

Whitfield County Health Department: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, (706) 226-2621

The Living Bridge Center, located at 1200 West Waugh Street in Dalton and is the provider of Ryan White Part B and C in the North Georgia Health District, will also participate in the district-wide STD Awareness Month campaign. 

Abstaining from sex, reducing the number of sexual partners, and consistently and correctly using condoms are all effective prevention strategies. Safe, effective vaccines are also available to prevent hepatitis B and some types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause disease and cancer. And for all individuals who are sexually active – particularly young people – STI screening and prompt treatment (if infected) are critical to protect a person’s health and prevent transmission to others.

More information about STDs is available at all the above county health departments in North Georgia and on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/std.

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Resource: www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness

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About STD Awareness Month: April is STD Awareness Month, an annual observance to raise public awareness about the impact of STDs on the lives of Americans and the importance of preventing, testing for, and treating STDs. It is an opportunity to normalize routine STD testing and conversations about sexual health.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free United States.
We can make history. End TB.

Learn why we observe World TB Day on March 24th

Each year, we recognize World TB Day on March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB).

*Although TB is preventable and curable, many people in the United States still suffer from this disease. Anyone can get TB, and current efforts to find and treat latent TB infection and TB disease are not sufficient. Misdiagnosis of TB still exists and health care professionals often do not “think TB.”

The U.S. theme for World TB Day 2018 is “Wanted: Leaders for a TB Free United States. We can make history. End TB.” CDC and its domestic and international partners, including the National TB Controllers Association, Stop TB USA, and the global Stop TB Partnership are working together to eliminate this deadly disease. But we need your help.

Be sure to check for more information and resources about World TB Day from the CDC. You can also follow them on Twitter @CDC_TB and Facebook @CDCTB and sign up for email updates through GovDelivery.

*NORTH GEORGIANS: For concerns about a possible TB infection or spread of the disease, be sure to contact your local county health department within the North Georgia Health District in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County. Just click on the LOCATIONS tab above to find them!

 Breastsleeping; Biology and Culture 

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

8 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Dalton Convention Center, 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA 30720

Conference Speaker is JAMES MCKENNA

(B.A., University of California, Berkeley; M.A., San Diego State University; Ph.D., University of Oregon) Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Professor of Anthropology

A total of 6.5 CERPs through IBLCE and 6.5 CPEUs through A.N.D. have been applied for.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

7:15 A.M.  Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:00 A.M. Welcome

8:15 A.M.  A Brief History of Maternal-Infant Sleep in Western  Industrialized Societies: Or Why Infants Have Sleep Problems To Solve (And What To DO About Them) (1.5 hour)

9:45 A.M. Break

10:00 A.M.  The Return of Breastsleeping  Part 1 (1.5 Hour).

11:30 NOON Buffet Lunch/visit exhibits

12:15 P.M.   The Return of Breastsleeping (Part 2)  (1.5 hour)

1:45  P.M. Break/Visit Exhibits

2:00 P.M.   Bio-Cultural Origins of Colic (1 hour)

3:00 P.M. Power break/ Dessert

3:20 P.M.   Long and Short Term Effects of Breastsleeping: An Evidence- Based Medical Perspective   (1 hour)

4:20 P.M. Closing & Evaluation

4:30 P.M. Goodbye Everyone.  Have a Safe Trip Home.

Walk-Ins for Registration are Welcome! Registration is $130.00.

For more information, call the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition at (706) 260-1384 or go to nwgabfcoalition.com

Your One-Stop-Spot for School Students’ State Health Requirements! 

Prepare your child for the upcoming school year! The Pickens County Health Department is conducting a Kindergarten Round-Up Health Clinic on Tuesday, April 17th from 1 to 6 p.m. The health department address is 60 Health Way in Jasper, GA. The required Hearing, Dental, Vision and Body Mass Index (BMI) / Nutrition Screenings will be offered, and Immunizations for School-age Children will be provided. Medicaid (including Amerigroup, CareSource, Peachstate and Wellcare) and Peachcare for Kids will be accepted. For more information or to check on additional insurances accepted, contact the Pickens County Health Department at (706) 253-2821. See YOU at the Kindergarten Round-Up Health Clinic on April 17th at the Pickens County Health Department!

State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC)

Quarterly Meeting

Georgia’s Part C Program | Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!! We want to hear your ideas, concerns, and thoughts related to the Babies Can’t Wait Program.  Would you like to attend the State ICC meeting? Ask your BCW Service Coordinator about limited financial assistance available to help you with related expenses.

Public Comment 

Time is set aside for public comment during each quarterly meeting of the State Interagency Coordinating Council. If you would like to share any thoughts or ideas about Babies Can’t Wait with the Council please choose one of the options below.

1. Written Comment:

   Send written comments, clearly marked “PUBLIC COMMENT” to fax number 770-342-7699 or email to Phyllis Turner, SICC Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or email Jan Stevenson, SICC Chairperson, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. not later than Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Your comments will be read aloud during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

2. Remote Participation:

   Pre-Register to make Public Comment via remote participation by conference line or telehealth during the meeting. (See instructions below for remote participation.) Email Phyllis Turner, SICC Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or email Jan Stevenson, SICC Chairperson, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. not later than Wednesday, April 18, 2018.You will be recognized to provide public comment remotely during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

3. In person:

   At registration and sign-in on the day of the meeting check “Yes” to the question “Would you like to make public comment?” You will be recognized to provide public comment during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

For more information, please email Phyllis Turner, SICC Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

REMOTE PARTICIPATION

For remote participation during the SICC meeting, please use one of the following options:

Free Conference Line 

• Participants can listen to the public portion of the meeting and make public comment by telephone when recognized by the Council Chairperson at the time set aside for Public Comment on the meeting agenda.

  Dial (641) 552-9446, enter access code: 988041

Telehealth (VICS 

• View and listen to the public portion of the meeting by video conference (VICS) by going to one of the following locations around the state. Participants who pre-register can make public comment when recognized by the Council Chairperson at the time set aside for Public Comment on the meeting agenda. See pre-registration instructions under Public Comment via remote participation. District Early Intervention Coordinators and Local Interagency Coordinating Council members will be given an opportunity to provide updates and information in the order listed on the meeting agenda.