Chatsworth (GA) – A Chatsworth dog fought and killed a raccoon that has now tested positive for rabies. The dog is current on its rabies vaccinations so will only need a booster shot and to undergo a 45-day quarantine at home, but health officials are warning neighbors that multiple raccoons have been spotted near the property where the incident occurred and to take extra precautions against rabies.

Murray County Environmental Health Manager Jason Baum said on Wednesday, January 2, a resident on Center Hill Church Road in Chatsworth reported that the dog living at the residence had gotten into a fight with the raccoon on the property and killed it.

The Georgia Public Health Laboratory informed health officials that the raccoon tested positive for rabies.

There was no human exposure in this incident.

Baum and his staff have distributed to neighboring homes in the area fliers that alert residents to the exposure and urge them to get pets boosted or vaccinated against rabies.

Murray County residents can get more information about rabies and its prevention by calling their county environmental health office at (706) 695-0266, or by logging on to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website page, Rabies Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rabies/public/index.html.

Last year, Georgia experienced one of the worst flu seasons in recent history. This year, even before the typical peak of flu season, the CDC reports that Georgia is already experiencing high and widespread numbers of flu-like illnesses and confirmed cases.

Don’t fall victim to the flu, North Georgians – vaccinate before it’s too late!

North Georgia Health District officials urge residents to vaccinate before the peak of flu season, which usually begins in this region by mid-January and lasts through the end of February, possibly longer. It takes a couple of weeks for flu vaccine to reach its full protective potential within the body, so now is a critical time to get the shot for those who still need one.

Influenza can be a serious disease that leads to hospitalization and sometimes death. Regardless of race, age, gender or ethnicity, anyone can get sick from the flu. Those especially at risk are adults 65 years of age and older, children younger than 5, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or other long-term medical conditions. 

Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from the flu, but flu vaccine is the best protection.

Both regular quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against the four strains of flu virus that are most commonly circulating this season, and high dose flu vaccine for people age 65 and older are available at local health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties (click on the name of your county for health department contact information). The health departments accept several forms of health insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid so that vaccination is cost-free to the client. For people without healthcare coverage, regular flu vaccine is $25 and high dose flu vaccine is $65. 

Symptoms of seasonal flu may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, tiredness and/or muscle aches. People who might have flu –particularly if they are in the groups listed above at risk for severe disease and complications – should seek medical care and start antiviral medication as soon as possible.

In addition to a flu shot, there are simple things anyone can do to help prevent getting or spreading the flu:

• Wash your hands and your children’s hands frequently, especially after contact with other people.
• Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue afterward, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve if no tissues are available.
• Clean your hands after you cough or sneeze, even if you use a tissue. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available and your hands are not visibly dirty.
• When possible, stay home if you get the flu.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

But most importantly, before flu season peaks, people should make it a top priority to go to or call their county health department or health care provider to be vaccinated. For more information on immunization, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website at http://dph.georgia.gov/influenza-what-you-need-know.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month!

Get Screened at your Public Health Department in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website

                         (Click Here                                                             Click Here                                                         (Click Here                      .

You can prevent cervical cancer by getting screened regularly, starting at age 21.

“I was busy working, traveling, and enjoying life. I completely forgot to pay attention to my health,” said actress Cote de Pablo. “Too much time passed since my last Pap.

“By the time I was tested, things didn’t look too good. We thought I might have cervical cancer.

“I was lucky! After lots of worries—no cancer.

“I’ve always been very close to my mother. When we finally got good results, she broke down. And that’s when I realized it’s not just about me. It’s about your loved ones, too. Get checked for cervical cancer.”

Screening Tests

Two tests(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm) help prevent cervical cancer(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/) or find it early—

• The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, which are cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.
• The human papillomavirus (HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes.

Screening Options

You should get your first Pap test at age 21. If your test result is normal, you can wait three years for your next test.

If you’re 30 years old or older, you have three options—

• You can continue getting a Pap test only. If your test result is normal, you can wait three years for your next test.
• You can get an HPV test only. If your test result is normal, you can wait five years for your next test.
• You can get both an HPV and Pap test together. If your test results are normal, you can wait five years for your next tests.

If you have a low income or do not have health insurance, you may be able to get free or low-cost cervical cancer screening through CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Find out if you qualify.(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/screenings.htm)

HPV Vaccine

The HPV vaccine(https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine.html) protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. HPV can also cause cancers of the penis in men, and anal and head and neck cancers in both men and women.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls who are 11 to 12 years old, but can be given as early as age 9 and until age 26.

Make an appointment today for your or your child’s vaccination. If you don’t have insurance, or your insurance does not cover vaccines, CDC’s Vaccines for Children program(https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html) may be able to help.

Learn More About Cervical Cancer

CDC’s Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign has many resources for women. Watch the new Knowledge Is Power: Cervical Cancer video and check out the Inside Knowledge symptoms diary,(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge/publications/symptoms_diaries.htm) cervical cancer fact sheet,(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge/publications/fact_sheets.htm) and survivor stories.

By Raymond King, Director of Environmental Health, North Georgia Health District 1-2

Recent rains have led to flooding in many areas of north Georgia. Once floodwaters have receded and the most immediate safety hazards have passed, it will be time to address the secondary health issues that can develop as a result of floodwater pollutants.

Be sure to protect your home, family and business by following these environmental health guidelines.

Keep Away from Floodwaters
Avoid any contact with floodwaters, such as swimming, after a flood. Floodwaters can contain large amounts of contaminants of all kinds, which can be hazardous. Fishing and other non-contact activities would not be affected.

Sanitize Flooded Areas

Floors, walls, equipment and furniture that have been covered with floodwaters should be cleaned and sanitized to kill any bacteria or viruses. Wear gloves, eye protection and boots when working with contaminated areas and items. Items should be cleaned with soap and water, rinsed and then sanitized with a solution of a quarter cup of household bleach and one gallon of water. Do not mix bleach with any ammonia product and work in well-ventilated areas.

Mold

Mold is the most long-lasting effect of flooding. Unless a home's structural materials are completely dried, mold will grow behind the walls and under the floors. Do not replace sheet rock and other materials until the wood is dry, or mold will grow. If mold is already growing, spray the area with a household bleach solution. Keep the area vented and wear eye protection, gloves and boots. Contact your local county environmental health staff for more information about mold.

Well and Spring Contamination

If a well or spring was covered with floodwaters, it must be considered contaminated. Do not drink or prepare foods with water from a well until it is disinfected and tested. Buy bottled water to drink and use for cooking.

The first recovery step is to pump out the well thoroughly, letting it run for at least 24 hours or until the water has no obvious color or smell. An outside faucet may be left on to run slowly for long periods of time so no damage will occur to the well pump.

Disinfect well water systems with two gallons of plain household bleach. Remember to not drink, bathe or cook with the water while bleach is in the system. Pour the bleach into the well or spring. Run all faucets until the bleach smell comes through in the water, then shut them off. Let the bleach stay in the water system for at least eight hours. To rid the system of bleach, turn on an outside faucet and let it run until all the bleach is gone, which may take 24 hours or longer. Only use an outside faucet to discharge the bleach water. Once the bleach is gone, make sure that the well or springhouse is sealed.

It may take two or more bleach disinfection procedures to rid the well or spring of contamination. For more information, contact the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office in your county.

Septic System Failures

In most cases of septic system failure, the only thing that can be done is to wait for the water levels in the soil to fall. If sewage comes to the top of the ground, the tank could be pumped for temporary relief. Usually, it does not take long for the system to function properly again. If flooding washed away the soil around the system, the system may need to be repaired or replaced. Call the local environmental health office with questions about a septic system.

Spoiled Food and Food Poisoning

If any floodwaters have touched foods, throw them out. If the temperature in a refrigerator was at 60 degrees or higher for more than two hours, do not eat the food inside. There's no reliable way to tell if food will make you sick by looking at it or smelling it. When in doubt, throw it out.

More information

For more information about preventing health hazards after a flood, please call your local environmental health office (see contact info by clicking on above LOCATIONS tab) or visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. 

Stock photo

Ellijay, GA – Gilmer County Environmental Health officials are urging residents near the intersection of Boardtown Road and Chatsworth Highway in Ellijay, Georgia to call for a rabies risk assessment if they or their children may have been in contact with an orange tabby cat that has now tested positive for rabies.

The phone number for local environmental health is (706) 635-6050, or if calling after hours, the Georgia Poison Control Center toll-free number is 1-800-222-1222.

On Monday, December 3^rd, a local resident picked up the cat after finding it in their carport. The cat was behaving sickly and dragging its back legs.

The county environmental health office was notified and sent the cat to the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing on Tuesday. The lab confirmed the animal was positive for rabies on Wednesday. 

Since the resident who handled the cat was not bitten or scratched, no treatment was required, and no other human exposure is known, at this time. However, environmental health staff will be canvassing that area today, distributing notices to residents to call them or the Georgia Poison Control Center if they or their children were potentially in contact with the cat within the past two weeks.

Residents are also being notified that several stray cats are in that area, and these cats should be avoided due to the high risk of rabies exposure.

All residents are urged to avoid wild or feral animals and to maintain rabies vaccinations in pets. If a pet receives an initial one-year vaccine, it can receive a three-year rabies vaccination the following year.

A bite or scratch from any wild mammal should cause concern and be reported to a health care provider and the local environmental health office.

Children should be warned to avoid contact with wild animals and any stray dog or cat, and they should report any contact with these animals to an adult right away.

For more information about rabies and its prevention, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.

 Our health departments in North Georgia provide a variety of Children's Health Care services!

Health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties provide health care services to children from birth to 21 years of age. The goal is to give your child the best care available by providing services from an experienced and dedicated staff.

Just a few of these provided services are mentioned below - to learn more about other services for children provided at your county health department in North Georgia, click on the name of your county in the above paragraph:

• Immunizations for children
• Immunizations for child caregivers
• Hearing, vision and dental screenings
• Car seat education program

School Health Requirements are Easily Available at Health Departments in North Georgia

Ensure your child meets all Georgia's health requirements for school registration....  Click here to view all the state's school health requirements, and then call or come to your county public health department in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County to get your child up-to-date! This is your one-stop spot to take care of all your student's school health requirements. The health departments offer the required Hearing, Dental and Vision screening, BMI/Nutrition screening and Immunizations. Prices are affordable and various forms of Medicaid and health insurance are accepted. 

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The following is an overview of services provided for Children With Special Needs at our County Health Departments in North Georgia. For general information about each of these services, please read below - for access to more indepth information, click right HERE!

Children’s Medical Services

Referrals to Children’s Medical Services are provided throughout the year for families who are financially unable to obtain specialized medical care in various areas such as hearing, neurology, cardiac, plastic surgery, orthopedic, and follow-up burn care.

Babies Can't Wait (BCW)

Babies Can't Wait is Georgia's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and for their families.

Children 1st

Children 1st identifies children who are at risk for poor health and developmental outcomes so that needed interventions can be made to ensure the best health and development of the child.

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Click HERE to learn about Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services and see if you are eligible to sign up for WIC!

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Go HERE to learn about our DENTAL SERVICES for Children provided at many of our health departments in North Georgia!

 It's Time for Winter Weather Preparedness

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Even here in North Georgia, winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds. It's time for Winter Weather Preparedness in Georgia. Get prepared right away!

What you should know about Winter Weather

• Know what to do before, during, and after a winter storm.
• Listen to local officials.
• Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
• Stay off the road during and after a winter storm.
• Have a carbon monoxide alarm in place, especially if using alternative heating devices.
• Use safe heating devices.

General

• Make a plan to connect before a #WinterStorm by text, e-mail, social media & cell: www.ready.gov/plan #WinterSafety
• Learn how to stay safe before, during, & after winter storms & extreme cold by visiting: www.ready.gov/winter #WinterSafety
• Talk with your family about how to get prepared for extreme #cold weather: www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts/winter-storms-extreme-cold
• Before a winter storm, know what to do “When the Sky Turns Gray.” Watch this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVpGJ_Xl__w  #WinterSafety
• Follow weather alerts in up to 5 locations using the @fema app. Learn more: https://youtu.be/DtF18YHjG-I  #WinterSafety
• Stay safe during winter weather. Monitor weather alerts and have a preparedness kit ready. www.ready.gov/kit #WinterSafety
• Prepare for winter storms and cold weather with the kids by playing the disaster master game: www.ready.gov/kids/games.  Password hint: SLEET
• Snow Prep tips: check on neighbors, charge cell phones, find flashlights (check batteries) and follow local officials online. #WinterSafety
• Talk to your job *before* it snows about weather policies and procedures. #WinterSafety

 Spread Good Cheer for the Holidays, NOT the Flu! 

Last year, Georgia experienced one of the worst flu seasons in recent history. Don’t fall victim to the flu this year, North Georgians – vaccinate before it’s too late! This holiday season, the North Georgia Health District encourages all residents 6 months of age and older to get a yearly flu vaccine.

Take time this season to schedule an appointment with your public health department in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County to get your flu vaccine or contact your health care provider.

“It’s important that Georgians understand the best way to protect against influenza is to receive an annual flu vaccine,” said Sheila Lovett, Immunization director for the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Because Georgia saw one of the highest spikes in influenza cases last year, it’s more important than ever to get yourself and your family vaccinated.”

What is new this flu season?  

• Flu vaccines have been updated to better match circulating flu viruses
• Any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine is recommended
• Ask your health department or health care provider about what vaccine is right for you Influenza can be a serious disease that leads to hospitalization and sometimes death. Regardless of race, age, gender or ethnicity, anyone can get sick from the flu. Those especially at risk are adults 65 years of age and older, children younger than 5, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or other long-term medical conditions. A flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu. With flu season beginning as early as August and sometimes lasting until May, it is never too late to vaccinate.

The recent National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 2-8) emphasized the importance of receiving an annual flu vaccination. Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from the flu. This winter, make it a top priority to call your county health department or health care provider and make an appointment to get vaccinated. For more information on immunization, visit: http://dph.georgia.gov/influenza-what-you-need-know.

When raising children, every parent could use a helping hand, but some parents are in need of special assistance with the health issues their children with special needs face. Our dedicated Child Health Services staff is committed to helping parents and their children with disabilities or serious health problems. As part of North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health, we are based in Dalton and serve residents in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties. Please see our contact information down below.

Click HERE to see all the Child Health Services we offer to Children with Special Needs and to their families, or choose individual services below to review and link directly to more details:  

• Children 1st is the entry point into all public health programs and services for children, from birth to 5 years old. Children 1st screens children and families who may be at-risk for poor developmental outcomes and need additional support to thrive. All referrals are made in an effort to help the child grow up healthy and provide the family with the necessary tools to be successful. Learn more about Children 1st.

• Babies Can’t Wait serves children from birth to their 3rd birthday, along with their family, if the child has developmental delays or disabilities, regardless of family income.Learn more about Babies Can’t Wait.

• Children’s Medical Services supports families caring for children with special health care needs. CMS works with health care providers and community partners to make sure children and youth with chronic medical conditions have access to timely and quality health care services. Learn more about Children’s Medical Services.

• Early Hearing Detection & Intervention handles referrals of infants who don’t pass the hospital hearing screening to ensure that they are rescreened and referred for diagnostic audiological evaluation, if needed. Learn more about Early Hearing Detection & Intervention.

 ---------- Refer a Child for a Free Health Screening ---------- 

Anyone can make a referral for any child up to age five to receive a free health or developmental screening. Click on the button below and submit a referral now!

Click HERE to access Guidelines for Completing the form.

Contact us for more information about Children with Special Needs services in North Georgia!

North Georgia Health District

Dalton, Georgia  30720

Phone: (706) 529-5763

With the number of things that can go wrong in the home kitchen, steering clear of food safety blunders can be challenging. Whether it’s prepping a new dish, or prepping for more guests at your table, the USDA’s food safety experts keep food safety simple. Now, the North Georgia Health District is teaming up with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to provide food safety tips and resources.

“Thanksgiving dinner is one of the largest meals we prepare each year,” said Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Carmen Rottenberg. “Don’t cut corners and put your family at risk for foodborne illness by forgetting to wash your hands after handling the raw turkey, and always remember to use a food thermometer to be sure its cooked to 165 degrees.”

Food poisoning is a serious public health threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that millions of people suffer from foodborne illness each year, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Recent USDA research found that 34 percent of Americans may have someone at high risk for foodborne illness in their home.

To help your guests avoid getting sick this Thanksgiving, follow these simple steps:

20 seconds of hand washing
The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Handwashing is especially important when handling raw meats. Unfortunately, in a recent USDA study, participants failed to wash their hands sufficiently a shocking 97 percent of the time. Without proper handwashing, a well-intentioned home cook could quickly spread bacteria around the kitchen. Hand washing should always include five simple steps:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel.

Say no to ‘bird baths’
Say no to ‘bird baths.’ That is, do not rinse or wash your turkey. Doing so can spread bacteria around the kitchen, contaminating countertops, towels and other food. Washing poultry doesn’t remove bacteria from the bird. Only cooking the turkey to the correct internal temperature will ensure all bacteria are killed.

Do not forget to wash your hands before and after seasoning your bird too. Forty-eight percent of participants in our recent study contaminated their spice containers when seasoning poultry. If you’ve held raw turkey, make sure to wash your hands completely before seasoning, and if you rub around those spices on the bird by hand, make sure to wash your hands completely afterwards.

Take an accurate temp inside, cook the stuffing outside the turkey
Don’t rely on those pop-up thermometers to determine if your turkey is safe! Take the bird’s temperature with a food thermometer in three areas — the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing and the innermost part of the thigh — and make sure all three locations reach 165°F. If one of those locations does not register at 165°F, then continue cooking until all three locations reach the correct internal temperature. In recent USDA research, 88 percent of participants did not cook their poultry to the safe internal cooking temperature of 165°F.

When stuffing is cooked inside the turkey’s cavity, it must be checked with a food thermometer and reach 165°F as well. The density of stuffing can mean that while the turkey’s breast, wing and thigh have registered 165°F, the stuffing temperature can lag behind. Turkeys are tricky enough, so it’s easier to keep things simple and cook the stuffing outside the bird.

Use the two-hour rule to avoid foodborne illness
Everyone loves to graze during Thanksgiving, but when perishable food sits at room temperature, it is sitting in a temperature range where bacteria love to multiply. This range, between 40-140°F, is known as the ‘danger zone.’ If foods have been left out at room temperature for more than two hours they should be discarded.

Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
If you have questions, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) to talk to a food safety expert from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, in English and Spanish. If you need help on Thanksgiving Day, the Meat and Poultry Hotline is available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also chat live at AskKaren.gov during the hotline’s hours of operation.

Consumers with food safety questions can visit FoodSafety.gov to learn more about how to safely select, thaw and prepare a turkey. For more Thanksgiving food safety tips, follow FSIS on Twitter @USDAFoodSafety or on Facebook at Facebook.com/FoodSafety.gov.