RECENT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Health officials urge: Maintain rabies vaccinations in pets!
Chatsworth (GA) – Two Murray County dogs were exposed to a rabies-infected skunk and one of the dogs was put down because it was not vaccinated against rabies.
Murray County Environmental Health Manager Jason Osgatharp reported that on Tuesday, August 19, the skunk was found in a pen with the dogs at a residence located on Crandall Ellijay Road, about four miles northeast of Chatsworth.
The skunk was sent to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing and on Wednesday, August 20, the lab confirmed the positive results for rabies.
Though the one dog that was unvaccinated was put to sleep, the other dog was current on its rabies vaccination; so it only required a booster shot and will be observed under quarantine for sixty days.
There was no human exposure in this incident.
Osgatharp urges residents to maintain rabies vaccinations in their pets to protect their pets, their loved ones and themselves from rabies. He stated that a local opportunity to get pets vaccinated will be at the Discount Vaccine Clinic being held this Saturday, August 23 in Chatsworth (please click on photo at top right for details).
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 at hwww.cdc.gov/features/rabiessafefamily.
Public Health Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics offer 4-in-1 Flu Shot & High-Dose!
Drive by and arm against four strains of flu this fall at a Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic in north Georgia.
Fast, safe, and convenient, the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics are conducted annually in the North Georgia Health District by public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and *Whitfield Counties. These clinics are designed to serve people quickly and efficiently as they remain in their vehicles.
This year, the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics will offer the 4-in-1 quadrivalent flu vaccine.
Quadrivalent flu vaccine is similar to the more commonly used trivalent flu vaccine; but, instead of protecting against just three strains of influenza, quadrivalent flu vaccine is designed to protect against four different strains of flu, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses.
Also, *Fluzone High-Dose influenza vaccine will be available to people ages 65 and older. Fluzone High-Dose influenza vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibodies) contained in regular flu vaccine to provide extra protection for people whose immune systems have become weaker with age.
- *Update, 9/16:The Whitfield County Health Department's Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic will only serve people ages 65+ with the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine. Click here for more details.
The cost of the quadrivalent flu shot will be $25 and the Fluzone High-Dose flu shot will cost $50. Cash, checks, Medicare and Medicaid plus Aetna and BlueCross BlueShield Health Insurance will be accepted. The Cherokee County Health Department will also accept credit cards.
Georgia Department of Public Health Reminds Georgians of National Immunization Awareness Month
August is a busy month: planning the last family vacation, back-to-school shopping, registering for classes, moving off to college and school enrollment. Recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds Georgians to stay up-to-date and get a head start on vaccinations required for school.
“August is a great time of year to engage the community regarding vaccinations”, said Steven Mitchell, director of the Immunization Office of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Parents are refocusing on preparing their kids for school and it is our goal to make vaccinations a priority for both parents and students.”
August serves as a reminder that people of all ages require timely immunizations to protect their health. New this year, students born on or after January 1, 2002 and entering the seventh-grade need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster and adolescent meningococcal vaccinations. Every child in a Georgia school system (Kindergarten -12th grade), attending a child care facility, or a new student of any age entering a Georgia school for the first time is required by law to have a Georgia Immunization Certificate, Form 3231. Below are the immunizations required for child care and school attendance:
- Diphtheria - Mumps
- Tetanus - Rubella
- Pertussis - Hepatitis A and B
- Polio - Hib disease (up to age 5 years)
- Measles - Varicella
- PCV13 (up to age 5 years) - Meningococcal Conjugate
The Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition has recognized Shaw Industries and its facilities in Calhoun, Georgia with the 2014 Georgia Breastfeeding Business Award for Lactation Support. This award acknowledges breastfeeding-friendly employers who establish and maintain comprehensive, high-quality lactation support in the workplace.
Shaw’s manufacturing plants in Calhoun were nominated for the award by community members statewide, and the plants received more community member votes from the Dalton-Calhoun area than from any other part of the state.
Human resources managers, nurses, and supervisors understand the need to comply with the guidelines for breastfeeding mothers returning to work under the 2010 revisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)*. Shaw plant managers exceeded guideline expectations by setting up lactation rooms in several plants very quickly and efficiently, often utilizing creative solutions.
Manufacturing corporations use many creative solutions to support nursing mothers while addressing unique workplace challenges related to space and time limitations. Their solutions deal with environmental hazards, inflexible breaks, and limited space for milk expression. Space options include setting aside small storage areas or office space, or constructing small spaces in quieter areas of the plant. Partitions and other barriers can be used to create private single-user or multi-user spaces.
“Balancing work and family is both important and challenging,” said Paul Richard, vice president of human resources for Shaw Industries. “Shaw is pleased to support our associates who are also nursing moms. They tell us it really helps in the transition back to the workplace, which can be critical to our efforts to support the talented women in our workforce.”
Morganton (GA) – A fox that has tested positive for rabies bit a resident of Morganton in Fannin County, Georgia.
According to Fannin County Environmental Health officials, the incident took place early in the morning on Thursday, July 3 at a home on the north side of Dry Branch Road in Morganton. The resident was in the yard tending to chickens when the fox bit the resident’s leg and upper arm. The resident’s spouse shot the fox and brought it to the environmental health office later that morning.
A health official prepared the fox for rabies testing and delivered the specimen to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory on Thursday. The test results came back as positive later that day.
On Thursday afternoon, county environmental staff, Shannon Bradburn and Monica Hodskins, canvassed the neighborhood with flyers regarding the incident and with rabies information.
The resident will soon begin post rabies exposure treatment, which includes an initial shot of rabies immune globulin and four shots of rabies vaccine administered over a two-week period.
Rabies that goes untreated is fatal almost 100 percent of the time; therefore, if a person or domestic animal is bitten by an animal in Fannin County, residents should report it immediately to Fannin County Environmental Health at (706) 632-3024.
Health officials also continue to urge residents to maintain rabies vaccinations in pets.
For more information about rabies and rabies protection, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/features/rabiessafefamily/.
Jasper (GA) – A Pickens County dog has been euthanized because it was not vaccinated against rabies and came into contact with a rabies-infected animal.
Jan Stephens of Pickens County Environmental Health reported there was a fight between the dog and a raccoon in the Henderson Mountain Road area of Pickens County on Tuesday, July 1. The raccoon was shot and environmental health sent the head to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing. Test results came back the following day that the raccoon was positive for rabies, and since the dog was not vaccinated against rabies, it was euthanized.
The other household animals at the residence were current on their vaccinations so the only requirement for them was a rabies booster shot.
Georgia state law requires that ALL dogs and cats receive rabies shots on a regular basis for the protection of other animals and their owners. An unvaccinated animal that is exposed to a rabid bat or other rabid animal may also become rabid and expose family members and pets to the disease before it is discovered.
Rabies that goes untreated is fatal almost 100 percent of the time.
A vaccinated pet is the best protection for everyone.
Additionally, anytime a person or domestic animal in this area receives an animal bite, it must be reported to Pickens County Environmental Health at (706) 253-0900.
For more information about rabies and rabies protection, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/features/rabiessafefamily/.
Is your child ready for the upcoming school year? The Pickens County Health Department will conduct a Back-to-School Bash Health Clinic on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The health department is located at 60 Health Way in Jasper, GA. The required Hearing, Dental, Vision and BMI/Nutrition Screenings will be available: Total cost for screenings is forty dollars. Also, immunizations will be provided for school-age children. There is a charge for vaccines. Medicaid is accepted as well as Amerigroup, Peach State, PeachCare and WellCare. Participating community partners will include Georgia State Patrol, Pickens Emergency Medical Services and the Pickens County Fire Department. For more information, please call (706) 253-2821.
Make sure your child is prepared for the upcoming school year! The Cherokee County Health Department will conduct a Back-to-School Health Clinic on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 from 2 to 6 p.m. at public health centers in both Canton and Woodstock. The required Hearing, Dental, Vision and BMI/Nutrition Screenings will be available: Total cost for screenings is forty dollars. Also, immunizations will be provided for school-age children. There is a charge for vaccines. Medicaid is accepted as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, PeachCare, WellCare, Amerigroup, Peach State and Aetna Insurance. The Canton Health Center is located at 1219 Univeter Road in Canton, and the Woodstock Health Center is at 7545 North Main Street in Woodstock. For more information, please call (770) 345-7371 in Canton or (770) 928-0133 in Woodstock.
New School Immunization Requirements in Georgia
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 this year – Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week, June 23-27 to serve as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Preteens are becoming increasingly social. They go to overnight camps, attend parties and play team sports – they’re beginning to interact with a larger social circle. While these are all fun parts of being a teenager, they could also increase their risk for contracting potentially life-threatening diseases,” said Steven Mitchell, director for the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Office. “Couple this with the new school immunization requirements and it’s the ideal time to make sure your preteen is up-to-date on their vaccinations and protected for their future.”
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 8th-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).
National HIV Testing Day is Friday, June 27, and North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health is continuing to remind people of all ages to "Take the Test, Take Control".
The health district will provide free rapid HIV testing on June 27 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Whitfield County Health Department at 800 Professional Boulevard in Dalton. Free prevention supplies will be available along with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) related information. Any additional testing day events in the health district will be posted here on the district website.
Too many people don't know they have HIV. In the United States, nearly 1.1 million people are living with HIV, and almost one in six don't know they are infected. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV. If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medicines regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others.
More information is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at hivtest.cdc.gov/press_files.