Kim Bennett, RN, Cherokee County Health Department Nursing Supervisor, provides TB education to a new patientDalton (GA) - March 24th is World TB Day. This date commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch stunned the scientific community by announcing his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). On this day, the North Georgia Health District joins other health officials worldwide in not only recognizing this early significant event in TB-control efforts, but we raise awareness about the devastating impact that TB disease has on the economy and health of our world today.Pickens County Health Department TB Nurse Caroline Garrett, RN, is reading a Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)

TB is the second leading killer of adults in the world and is the leading  cause of death in people who are infected with HIV. There were 10,528 reported cases of TB in the US in 2011, and Georgia reported 347 of those new cases. There have been 17 cases in the 6 counties of the North Georgia Health District in the past two reported years.

For the second year in a row the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the global Stop TB Partnership have chosen "Stop TB in my lifetime" as the slogan for World TB Day. This theme encourages people of all ages, all over the world, to make an individual call for the elimination of TB.

Dalton (GA) - The North Georgia Health District, part of the Georgia Department of Public Health, is proud to promote National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 3-9, 2013. During this week, we are asking everyone who lives or works in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties to Be a Force of Nature and better prepare for severe weather threats in our area.

As part of weather-readiness, we as individuals can Be a Force of Nature by knowing the risk, taking action and serving as an example.

Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a nationwide effort to increase awareness of severe weather and to motivate individuals, families, businesses, and communities to take actions that will prepare them in the event of severe weather.

Each year, individuals are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes and other types of severe weather, despite advance warning. In 2012, there were more than 450 weather-related fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries. Severe weather knows no boundaries and affects every individual.

According to David Huskey, district director of Emergency Preparedness, "We are committed to working with leaders in all six of our counties to ensure the safety of each community; however, each individual has an important role to play in this, as well. By taking a few steps now, you can be better prepared and assist in saving lives."

RAPID HIV TESTING IS NOW AVAILABLE IN DALTON AND IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT AT THE WHITFIELD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

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 RAPID HIV TEST IS FREE OF CHARGE.

WALK-IN TESTING TIMES WILL BE ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 9:00 A.M UNTIL 3:00 P.M.

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

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 ABOUT THE RAPID HIV TESTING THAT IS BEING PROVIDED BY PUBLIC HEALTH IN DALTON, CALL (706) 281-2370.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIV/AIDS AND ITS PREVENTION, LOG ONTO THE CDC WEBSITE AT WWW.CDC.GOV/HIV.

The Babies Can't Wait (BCW) Program (http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw) is Georgia’s statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Babies Can't Wait provides a comprehensive, coordinated interagency system of early intervention services for children with developmental delays or disabilities ages birth to three years and their families. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency administrative agency for 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 Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013 Annual State Application under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Child Find, Personnel Management, and Procedural Safeguards Policies, from February 18, 2013 to April 18, 2013.

The proposed Grant Application, and Child Find, Personnel Management and Procedural Safeguards Policies can be reviewed during the public comment period online at (http://health.state.ga.us) and at a number of locations statewide. Comments may be made in writing, via email or facsimile, or at a Public Hearing. Please call 1-800-229-2038 to find out where you can review the Grant Application with BCW’s Child Find, Personnel Management and Procedural Safeguards Policies or to find the Public Hearing location nearest you. Public Hearings will be held from March 25, 2013 through March 29, 2013. Times will vary based on locations, beginning at 4:00 PM and ending at 7:30 PM.

(2)  Email comments will be received until April 18, 2013:

       This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(3)  Facsimile comments will be received until April 18, 2013:

       State BCW Office Fax: (404-657-2763)

(4)  In Person verbal 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.

Written, email, and facsimile comments will be received until, April 18, 2013 and should be sent to:

This announcement is also posted on this website on the Babies Can't Wait page at http://www.nghd.org/BCW/http://www.nghd.org/BCW/

Ellijay (GA) – Gilmer County Environmental Health officials announced today that a local male Siberian Husky came into contact with a raccoon that has now tested positive for rabies.

On February 7, the dog owner found the dog with the dead raccoon on Willard Mountain Road in the area of Big Creek and Doublehead Gap Roads near the Gilmer-Fannin County line.

There was no human exposure to the raccoon.

The raccoon was sent for rabies testing to the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory, and the positive results were returned on February 8.

The dog was current on its rabies vaccination; therefore, the only treatment required was a rabies booster shot and a 45-day observation period.

“This is a happy ending as opposed to what could have been a very unhappy one,” said Andrea Martin, Gilmer County Environmental Health Manager. “And it’s all due to the owners responsibly keeping their pet current on its rabies vaccination.”

Health officials urge residents to prevent the spread of rabies by maintaining current rabies vaccinations in their pets and by avoiding contact with all unfamiliar animals, both domestic and wild.

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.

(ATLANTA) - Georgians have experienced their share of severe weather in recent yearts, with storms causing substantial damage, injury and even death. Statistics reveal weather-related events have killed at least 352 people in Georgia, including two in 2012, and injured countless others.

To encourage Georgians to better prepare for these types of disaster, Governor Nathan Deal has proclaimed the week of Feb. 4-8 as Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Throughout the week, Georgians are encouraged to set aside a few minutes each day to get ready for unexpected events, practice emergency response procedures for all types of severe weather and learn more about threats.

“In recent years, Georgia has experienced record flooding, tornadoes and wildfires,” said Charley English, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA). “Urbanization and population growth increase the potential for these storms to impact more people and structures, so I encourage our citizens to become more aware of severe weather safety measures and to participate in the various awareness programs during Severe Weather Awareness Week.”

As part of the observation, GEMA’s Ready Georgia campaign is urging people statewide to take some simple steps toward preparedness each day.

• Monday, Feb. 4: Family Preparedness Day - Identify a family reconnection place and purchase a life-saving NOAA Weather Radio.
• Tuesday, Feb. 5: Thunderstorm Safety – Check your patio or yard to make sure there is nothing that could blow away during a storm; remove dead or rotting branches from your trees to prevent storm damage.
• Wednesday, Feb. 6: Tornado Safety and Statewide Tornado Drill (issued by NWS) – Identify a safe place in your home where you could take shelter during a tornado.
• Thursday, Feb. 7: Lightning Safety – Learn the 30/30 rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
• Friday, Feb. 8 – Flood Safety (alternate drill date) – Make copies of important documents, seal them in a watertight container/bag and add them to your Ready kit.

Rabies VirusJasper (GA) — Jan Stephens of Pickens County Environmental Health recently announced that a local dog had to be euthanized after fighting with a rabies infected raccoon.

“When the raccoon wandered into the carport of a home in the Hobson Creek area on January 21, the homeowner’s dog fought with it and ran the raccoon up a tree,” said Stephens. “The owner then shot the raccoon and called our office the next day.”

The raccoon was sent to the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing, and the positive result was reported on January 23.

The dog was not vaccinated against rabies and it had puncture wounds on its neck as a result of the incident; therefore, the difficult decision to have the dog “put to sleep” was made on January 30.

No human exposure to this raccoon was reported.

Health officials urge the public to consult with their veterinarian to confirm that their pets are current on their rabies vaccinations.

For more information about rabies, please contact Pickens County Environmental Health at (706) 253-0900 or log onto www.cdc.gov.

NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT 1-2 OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES WILL BE CLOSED TODAY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 DUE TO ANTICIPATED WEATHER-RELATED HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS:

- CHEROKEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT CLINICS IN CANTON AND WOODSTOCK

- FANNIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN BLUE RIDGE

- GILMER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN ELLIJAY

- MURRAY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN CHATSWORTH

- PICKENS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN JASPER

- WHITFIELD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN DALTON

- NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT 1-2 OFFICE IN DALTON

Ellijay (GA) – A 7-year old male Boxer in Ellijay fought and killed a raccoon that has since tested positive for rabies. Because the dog was not current on its rabies vaccination, it is now undergoing a six-month strict quarantine.

There was no human exposure.

Gilmer County Environmental Manager Andrea Martin reported that the fight between the dog and the raccoon occurred on January 16, 2013 at a residence on Raspberry Court off Highway 382 in Ellijay.

The raccoon was tested for rabies at the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory on January 17, and the positive rabies result was reported on January 18.

Health officials urge residents to maintain current rabies vaccinations in their pets, not only for the sake of the pet, but to also protect themselves and their family from rabies.

Rabies that goes untreated is fatal almost 100 percent of the time.

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.

Dalton (GA) – The Whitfield County Health Department was awarded the 2013 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of Injury Prevention. Through the Mini-Grant, the Whitfield County Health Department and the Safe Kids Dalton Coalition work together to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in Whitfield County. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Maternal and Child Health Program fund this grant to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe while riding in motor vehicles.

And it works! Since 2007, at least 229 children in Georgia who were involved in crashes were saved from serious injury or death by car seats, booster seats, and education provided through the Mini-Grant. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children ages 1 to 4 years in passenger cars. Car seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash, and they are most effective when installed and used correctly. Nearly three out of every four car seats are not used properly, placing children at unnecessary risk.

“It’s our responsibility to keep our children safe,” said Gayle Brannon, manager of the Whitfield County Health Department. “The Car Seat Mini-Grant is a great opportunity to help our community and help protect our kids from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes.”