RECENT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Unvaccinated dog euthanized, neighbors are notified
Blue Ridge (GA) – The Georgia Public Health Laboratory has confirmed rabies in a fox that was found dead last week at a residence in McCaysville, Georgia.
Fannin County Environmental Health Specialist Shannon Bradburn stated his office received a report on Friday, March 6 from a resident of Hillcrest Drive in McCaysville that a dog living at the residence was found with the dead fox in the yard that morning.
Bradburn had the fox processed and stored that day and sent the specimen to the public health state lab for testing at the earliest opportunity, which was Monday, March 9. The test result confirming rabies was reported back to Bradburn in the late afternoon of Tuesday, March 10.
The dog was not current on its rabies vaccination; therefore, it was reported on Wednesday, March 11 that the owner had chosen to have the dog euthanized.
No human exposure was reported; however, as a precaution, Fannin County Environmental Health officials canvassed residents in the immediate vicinity with an alert notification flyer advising them of the incident along with a rabies informational brochure on Wednesday, March 11.
Bradburn urges all Fannin County residents to maintain rabies vaccinations in their pets to protect their pets, their loved ones and themselves from rabies.
More information about rabies and its prevention is available at the Fannin County Environmental Health office. Call (706) 695-0266. Or, log on to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/features/rabiessafefamily.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Georgia Department of Public Health’s
Babies Can’t Wait Program Seeks Public Comment
Public Comment Period Until Apr.18, 2015
ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) program invites interested persons to participate in a 60-day public comment period for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015 Annual State Application under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Fiscal Policies. Stakeholders, early intervention providers, parents and members of the public are encouraged to comment and may review the grant application and revised policy online or at locations throughout the state.
Comments will be accepted in four ways:
1. Written comments will be received by mail until Apr. 18, 2015: Babies Can't Wait, Attn: Cynthia Bryant, Part C Coordinator, 2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 11-204, Atlanta, GA 30303-13422.
2. Email comments will be received until Apr. 18, 2015:
3. Facsimile comments will be received until April 18, 2015: State BCW Office Fax: (404-657-2763).
4. In Person comments at a Public Hearing: DPH invites interested persons to attend Public Hearings and present public comments. To allow an opportunity for all to be heard, comments will be limited to five minutes. (See locations listed here at the end.)
The Babies Can't Wait (BCW) Program is Georgia’s statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs, age birth to three, and their families. This program enhances the capacity of families to meet the special needs of their child in order to ensure that each young child with significant developmental delays achieves his or her maximum developmental potential.
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Conference
Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition is looking forward to the 2015 Conference
on Wednesday, March 25th
at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton, GA
with
Dr. Jack Newman!
A total of 6.5 credit hours have been applied for through the following organizations:
GNA, IBCLE, and A.N.D.
“I’m going to Disney World!” said Dr. Nancy Williams on her final day as dental director for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health. After 37 years practicing dentistry, 32 of which were caring for children's teeth, educating parents and children on the importance of oral health and overseeing dental services for the six-county health district based in Dalton, Williams is retiring and will now focus her time on family, friends and travel.
“It’s such a lifestyle change,” Williams said of her retirement. “But it’s simply time for it.”
The trip to Disney World is a prime example of her change of pace.
“My daughter has a work conference down there and asked me to come,” said Williams, “And, I thought, ‘I can go, I really can go!’”
Originally from Florida, Williams received her dental degree from the University of Michigan. A few harsh winters propelled her back down south to Georgia where she began a private dental practice in Kennesaw.
Although Williams was enjoying dentistry, she disliked the business end of private practice; and, after marrying in 1979 and moving to Dalton in 1980, the daily commute to Kennesaw became grinding. As a result, she eventually gave up her practice but soon had the opportunity to use her much-needed skills one day a week in the dental clinic at the Gilmer County Health Department in Ellijay.
Then in 1983, Williams became dental director for the North Georgia Health District. The district dental clinic was in the old Whitfield County Health Department building and was just a small room with one dental chair that she shared with her hygienist.
“We certainly weren't able to see a whole lot of kids back then,” said Williams. “But when the new health department building was constructed in 1996, we were finally able to expand services. We then had two chairs and were able to see many more patients.”
School Immunization Requirements Take Effect in Georgia
North GA – Let’s face it – nobody likes getting shots. But a shot lasts a second; diseases last much longer.
In an effort to protect every adult and child, the Georgia Department of Public Health established Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week, observed February 22-28, 2015, to serve as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Our Preteens and teens are branching out. They go to overnight camps, attend parties and play team sports – they are becoming increasingly social. While these are all fun parts of being a teenager, they can also increase their risk for contracting potentially life-threatening diseases,” said Sheila Lovett, acting director for the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Office. “Let’s help our children grow and protect them every way we can – including their future health and those around them with immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases.”
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health Rule (511-2-2), all students born on or after January 1, 2002, entering or transferring into seventh grade and any “new entrant” into eighth -12th grades in Georgia need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccination (called “Tdap”) AND an adolescent meningococcal vaccination (MCV4). This law affects all public and private schools including, but not limited to, charter schools, community schools, juvenile court schools and other alternative school settings (excluding homeschool).
North Georgia – Timely Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and diagnostics are being provided to women ages 50 to 64 at public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties.
Currently, North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health is offering Clinical Breast Exams, Mammograms and Follow-up Consultations at LOW or NO cost to all women ages 50 to 64 who have limited annual income, limited health insurance or no health insurance.
- Let us help you know your personal risks and risks based on family history.
- Screening includes family health history, self-breast exam, clinical breast exam and mammography.
- Learn how to know your own breasts through periodic self-examination and breast observation.
- Discover how you can make healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise and tobacco cessation.
Learn more by calling your county health department. [Please note: Our county health department phone numbers can be found by clicking on the LOCATIONS tab at the top of our home page.]
Infant Recently Traveled from Overseas
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is confirming the state’s first reported case of measles since 2012. The infected infant arrived in Atlanta from outside of the U.S. and is being cared for at Egleston at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). DPH is working with CHOA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the patient and to prevent further spread of measles.
Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease. It is particularly dangerous for infants who cannot be immunized until they are at least six months old and young children who have only received one dose of measles vaccine.
Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes and respiratory droplets travel through the air. Measles virus can live in the air and on surfaces for two to three hours. Almost everyone who has not been vaccinated will get measles if they are exposed to the virus.
Symptoms of measles include:
- Fever (can be very high)
- Cough, runny nose and red eyes
- Tiny white spots on the inner lining of the cheek – also called Koplik’s spots
- Rash of tiny, red spots that start at the head and spreads to the rest of the body (spots may become joined together as they spread)
Measles generally can be prevented through vaccination. The measles vaccine (MMR) is highly effective, in most cases about 97 percent effective.
Click here for the full article on DPH's website.
County will be the first in Georgia to hold such an event, which aims to help residents get better prepared in case of disasters
By MITCH TALLEY, Whitfield County Director of Communications
If a disaster hit Whitfield County tomorrow, would you be ready?
Less than a third of us could answer yes to that question now, based on a recent federal survey.
But that figure could change dramatically in the coming months, thanks to the Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency and several partners who announced today they will be sponsoring the first-ever Whitfield County’s PrepareAthon! in April.
In fact, Whitfield will become the first county in Georgia to hold such a PrepareAthon!, with three days of special events slated April 24-26 to increase community emergency preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions, and exercises.
“The goal of Whitfield County’s PrepareAthon! is simple,” Whitfield County EMA Director Claude Craig said Monday morning during a press conference at the Dalton Fire Department on School Street to kick off the special event. “Build a more resilient community by increasing the number of individuals who understand which disasters could happen in their community, know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage, take action to increase their preparedness, and participate in community resilience planning.”
Also speaking at the press conference were Terry Thomas, Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV Individual and Community Preparedness Division; Gary Kelley, Georgia EMA deputy director; Keith Stellman, meteorologist, National Weather Service, Peachtree City; and Patrick Core, chief meteorologist with Chattanooga’s WDEF-TV, which has agreed to partner with Whitfield EMA and promote the PrepareAthon! during its newscasts.
Innovative, community-wide Emergency Preparedness Campaign to be announced
Dalton (GA) – The Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and Whitfield County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) remind members of the media they are encouraged to attend the Severe Weather Preparedness Week press conference on Monday, February 2, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. The press conference will be held at the Dalton Fire Department Headquarters at 404 School Street in Dalton.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week this year in Georgia is February 2 – 6, and the purpose of the press conference is to stress the urgent need for individuals and organizations to take action in preparing for emergencies. As a result, EMA director and LEPC chairman Claude Craig will announce an innovative, community-wide emergency preparedness campaign. Whitfield County will be the first county in Georgia to participate in this national campaign developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that encourages local communities to promote awareness to action among its citizens, businesses, faith-based organizations, schools and non-profit organizations.
Officials from FEMA, GEMA, and National Weather Service are expected to speak at the press conference.
For more information about Severe Weather Preparedness Week, visit the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) website at www.ready.ga.gov.
North Georgia- Have you had your flu shot yet? Flu activity is high in Georgia and the peak of the flu season is still ahead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that unvaccinated people get vaccinated*. While some of the viruses spreading this season are different from those in the vaccine, vaccination can still provide protection and might reduce severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death.
North Georgia Health District public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties have flu vaccine and no appointment is necessary. Please contact your local health department for more information (each county health department phone number, address and hours of operation can be found by clicking on our LOCATIONS tab up above).
The CDC also is reminding the public that people with high risk factors who get flu symptoms should contact their healthcare provider to be evaluated for possible treatment with flu antiviral drugs. It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat hospitalized patients, people with severe flu illness, and people who are at higher risk of developing flu complications based on their age or underlying medical conditions.
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*Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2014-2015.htm