Ellijay (GA) – On June 24, a dog at a Gilmer County farm on Anderson Creek Road, located off Roy Road, fought with a raccoon that has now tested positive for rabies.

The dog was treated for multiple wounds to the face and head sustained during the fight, and the owner was referred to a physician to be evaluated for treatment because he had touched the dog’s wounds where saliva from the raccoon may have been present.

According to Gilmer County Environmental Health Manager Andrea Martin, the dog’s owner had been unable to break up the fight between the animals, so he shot the raccoon and took it to the VCA Appalachian Animal Hospital in East Ellijay. VCA prepared the raccoon for rabies testing and Martin shipped the specimen to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory on June 25. The lab reported the positive results for rabies on June 26.

Martin was pleased to announce that the dog was current on its rabies vaccination, which alleviates concerns about rabies infection in the animal.

“Since the dog's vaccination was current, the only recommendation we had to give was a booster shot and a 45-day observation period,” said Martin. “This is a much better outcome than when we’ve had to recommend either euthanasia or a strict, costly six-month quarantine because a rabies-exposed pet was not vaccinated.”
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It is vital that rabies vaccinations are regularly maintained in pets, not only for the safety of pets, but also for the protection of people who may handle them. Health officials recommend that pets receive the first rabies vaccination at 3-months old then another shot one year later. In subsequent years, owners have the option to provide pets with one-year or three-year rabies shots.

For more information about rabies, please contact Gilmer County Environmental Health at (706) 635-6050 or log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov.

June is Men’s Health Month and we are reminded of the importance of properly educating men and boys about what they can do to be proactive about their health.

The statistics are troubling. At birth, males outnumber females 105:100. By age 65-74, the ratio shifts to 80:100. Even worse, men often experience a lower quality of life than women.

Some other staggering statistics:

● 1/6 of American men will get prostate cancer.

● 50% of men will develop cancer in their lifetime.

● Testicular cancer is most common in men ages 15-35. It is 100% curable when caught and treated early.

There are, however, simple steps men and boys can take to significantly improve their health. Things like exercising moderately for 30 minutes, five days a week, drinking eight glasses of water every day, and eating a varied diet that includes a lot of fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

The infographic below highlights some of the most important facts related to this issue, with actionable steps that should be taken to address this challenge (resource http://online.nursing.georgetown.edu/).

National HIV Testing Day is June 27, 2013

      Download Poster here:       Natl HIV Testing Day 2013 poster.pdfIN RECOGNITION OF HIV TESTING DAY, THE NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE FREE RAPID HIV TESTING AT THE WHITFIELD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THURSDAY, JUNE 27 FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

THE WHITFIELD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS LOCATED AT 800 PROFESSIONAL BOULEVARD IN DALTON.

THE RAPID HIV TEST IS QUICK, CONFIDENTIAL AND REQUIRES ONLY A FINGERSTICK. TEST RESULTS WILL BE PROVIDED DURING THE SAME OFFICE VISIT. COUNSELING, FOLLOW-UP AND REFERRAL WILL BE PROVIDED, AS NEEDED.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) RECOMMENDS THAT EVERYONE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 64 BE TESTED FOR HIV AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME, AND THOSE AT INCREASED RISK -- SUCH AS GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN, INJECTION DRUG USERS, OR PERSONS WITH MULTIPLE SEXUAL PARTNERS -- SHOULD BE TESTED AT LEAST ANNUALLY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (706) 281-2370.

ATLANTA (GA) – The Babies Can't Wait (BCW) Program is Georgia’s statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs, ages birth to three, and their families. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency for administration of the BCW system. As required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C section 34 CFR §§303.110-303.113, “the State must publish its Part C application or policy in a manner that will ensure circulation throughout the State at least 60-days prior to the date on which the application or policy is submitted and allow an opportunity for public comments on the application or policy for at least 30 days during that 60-day publication period. In order to meet this requirement, BCW invites interested persons to participate in a 60-day public comment period for the revised Fiscal Policies, May 2013. The public may review the revised policy online (http://health.state.ga.us) or at locations throughout the state, including these sites in the North Georgia Health District listed below: 

Dr. John "Jack" Kennedy, Interim Health Director, North Georgia Health DistrictDalton (GA) – Staff of the North Georgia Health District welcome John “Jack” Kennedy, M.D., M.B.A., as the district’s interim health director. 

Dr. Harold Pitts recently resigned as district health director after having served in that position since 2005. Dr. Kennedy is the director of the Cobb & Douglas Public Health District and will concurrently provide interim leadership of the North Georgia Health District until a permanent health director is named.

“I am excited about getting to know everyone so we can pursue our public health mission together,” said Kennedy. “I appreciate the warm welcome I have received here.”

Born in Providence, RI and reared in Richmond, VA, Kennedy practiced general surgery in the United States Air Force and, subsequently, in Marietta for 26 years where he also served as the founding board chairman of the Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb. Presently, in addition to directing the Cobb & Douglas Public Health District, Kennedy serves as an Affiliated Professor in the Office of Applied Public Health at Rollins School of Public Health, part of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University.

Kennedy is a graduate of Duke University where he received both his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and his M.D. degree. He received an M.B.A. from the Michael Coles School of Business at Kennesaw State University. Kennedy completed his surgical internship and surgical residency at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals.

He and his wife, Maurine, have lived in Marietta since 1986 and have two adult children.

The North Georgia Health District, part of the Georgia Department of Public Health, is based in Dalton and includes Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties. For more information, call (706) 272-2342.

The North Georgia Health District has announced that Medbank is celebrating its 10th year in Whitfield County! Whitfield County's Medbank is a prescription drug assistance program Pictured from left to right are Rep. Bruce Broadrick, volunteer pharmacist; Susan Relaford, director; Betty Stinson, 10-year volunteer; and Tracy Marshall, program assistant.currently operating under the Whitfield County Health Department. Since opening its doors locally in May 2003, Medbank has collaborated with over 140 area doctors in assisting more than 4,000 eligible Whitfield County residents receive nearly 32 million dollars in essential prescription medications. Medbank is located at 420 Hamilton Street in Dalton and the phone number is (706) 281-2363. For more information, please link directly to Medbank's page here at http://nghd.org/Whitfield-County-Health-Department/medbank.html.

Rabies VirusEllijay (GA) - A six-month old, mixed breed puppy has been euthanized after a rabid raccoon attacked it at a residence on Roy Road in east Gilmer County. The incident occurred about ten miles from the Fannin County line.

No human exposure to the virus occurred.

According to Gilmer County Environmental Health Manager Andrea Martin, the puppy was attacked by the raccoon on the evening of May 8 while the dog sat on the front porch of its owner’s home. The owner shot the raccoon. It was then prepared for rabies testing by VCA Appalachian Animal Hospital.

Martin shipped the specimen to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory on May 9, and the raccoon was reported as positive for rabies on May 10.

The puppy had received its first rabies vaccination on April 20, however, the initial shot takes 28 days to become fully protective; therefore, the dog was considered to be unvaccinated. The owner chose to have the dog euthanized instead of placing it under a six-month quarantine, due to the severity of the dog’s injuries and level of exposure.

Recently, thousands of passengers aboard a pleasure cruise ship were sickened with a stomach virus transmitted through their foods. While not all such outbreaks can be stopped, there is a public health professional dedicated to protecting you and your family from these and many other types of diseases.

As Earth Day approaches on April 22, the North Georgia Health District and health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties celebrate the positive impact environmental health specialists have on our daily lives.

What if no one inspected the restaurants where your family dines? Or, imagine if no one inspected and sampled the pool where your children swim. Where would you go with a complaint about an environmental health or safety hazard? What if your child was found to have elevated levels of lead? Who makes sure your septic system is properly sized and installed? These are only some of the services provided by your local public health environmental specialists. They are part of your county health department but are the unseen professionals making your world a healthier and safer place to live and work. Their primary task is to prevent diseases and conditions that could affect your health and ensure a safe and healthy environment through education, policy development, and regulation.

Dalton, (GA) – National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 20 - 27, 2013. The North Georgia Health District (NGHD), part of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), urges residents in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties to remember their little ones by speaking with a healthcare provider or doctor to make sure their babies are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

“Young children need champions in their lives to keep them protected,” said Marie Smith, district immunization and child health coordinator. “Parents think of car seats, safety locks, baby gates and external ways to keep our babies safe, but forget that one of the best ways to protect our children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations.”

Originally recognized in 1994, NIIW provides an invaluable opportunity for our community to remind people how important it is for children to be vaccinated. It is a call to action for parents, caregivers and healthcare providers to ensure that infants are fully vaccinated against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases.

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. 

April is STD Awareness Month, a time to get yourself tested for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and it's time for people both young and old to understand the importance of getting tested.

Some of the most common STDs are chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhoea.  Around 3 million new cases of chlamydia are  reported each year, with adolescent women being the most commonly affected.

But STDs like chlamydia are passed through unprotected sex, and can often be prevented by using condoms.    

While chlamydia can be treated with the use of antibiotics, STDs like HIV/AIDS are for life and will require continual treatment.  

It is thought 1 in 5 Americans living with HIV don’t know they have it, and that’s why it’s so important to know early HIV symptoms and get tested.

At the STD Awareness Month website there is a whole host of resources to provide clinics with posters and leaflets that will give patients all the information they need, from ongoing HIV research to the benefits of condoms.

And at the It's your sex life website you can find out everything you need to know about STDs, condoms and the dangers of unprotected sex.

Both websites will give you the facts and clear up any questions you might have. But of course, there is no better time to visit your healthcare provider or local health department and get yourself tested, so get checked today.  Why not go to the link below and find out by entering your ZIP code where you can access your nearest HIV or STD testing locations? Log on today to http://www.national-awareness-days.com/std-awareness-month.html!