Atlanta – There is no safe amount of lead in a child’s blood. Even small amounts of lead can result in damage to the brain and nervous system, cause behavioral problems, learning difficulties and other medical issues – all of which may be permanent. However, legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Kemp, bolsters protection for Georgia children who may be exposed to lead.

The amount of lead in blood is referred to as the blood lead level, which is measured in micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (μg/dL). The new Georgia legislation lowers the threshold for confirmed lead poisoning from 20 to 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter. The level is now consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“DPH is extremely grateful to the members of the General Assembly and the Governor for their decisive action which allows for a more robust program for identifying and preventing cases of lead poisoning, and protecting the children of Georgia,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., commissioner, Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

Those most at risk include children under six years of age, children living at or below the federal poverty level, pregnant women, and those who live in older housing. Often, there are no obvious symptoms of lead exposure.

A simple blood test can detect lead poisoning. A small amount of blood is taken from a finger or heel prick or from a vein in the arm. Based on your child’s blood lead test results, healthcare providers can recommend follow-up actions and care. DPH strongly urges parents to have their children tested for lead.

Lead can be found in many places in a child’s environment, but lead exposure is preventable. The key is stopping children from coming into contact with lead.

Ellijay, GA – MAKO Medical will end drive-thru COVID-19 testing at their Gilmer County Civic Center Parks and Recreation site in Ellijay after operations on Friday, April 29, 2022. COVID-19 cases are currently decreasing in Georgia and home test kits are now easily accessible; therefore, fewer people are seeking services from these test sites.

MAKO Medical COVID-19 testing will continue to operate in North Georgia at the following two locations:

Public health officials urge people to get tested for COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, if they have COVID-19 type symptoms or have been in recent close contact to a person infected with the virus.

COVID-19 testing is free at the MAKO Medical sites and there are no eligibility requirements other than having a Georgia address and registering at https://mako.exchange/splash/GAmakotesting/. This is PCR testing done by a mid-nasal swab to determine the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19. It is not an antigen or antibody test.

North GA - National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 24 – 30, 2022. Each year, NIIW focuses on the positive impact of vaccination on the lives of infants and children — and this year it’s a priority to ensure that families stay on track for routine checkups and vaccinations following disruptions from COVID-19.

On-time vaccination is critical to help provide protection against potentially life-threatening diseases.

During NIIW, the North Georgia Health District encourages residents to remind their loved ones and community members to schedule children’s routine well-child visits and vaccinations. Contact your Health Department in North Georgia in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County to arrange an appointment for your child, or call your child's private healthcare provider.

Click HERE to learn more about National Infant Immunization Week.

Cherokee County, GA – Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Cherokee County Health Department's Canton and Woodstock Health Centers closed early today, Thursday, April 21st. We apologize for this inconvenience, but both health centers will reopen tomorrow morning, Friday, April 22nd. Please find here on our website the address, phone number and clinic hours for each of these health centers at https://nghd.org/nghd-locations-listing/category/cherokee.

Ellijay, GA – The Mako Medical Drive-thru COVID-19 Test site in Ellijay will be closed on Friday, April 22nd, due to another scheduled event at the Gilmer County Civic Center Parks and Recreation location where the test site operates.

All MAKO Medical COVID-19 testing locations and normal operating hours in North Georgia are:

Public health officials continue to urge people to get tested for COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, if they have COVID-19 type symptoms or have been in recent close contact to a person infected with the virus.

COVID-19 testing is free at these sites and there are no eligibility requirements other than having a Georgia address and registering at https://mako.exchange/splash/GAmakotesting/. This is PCR testing done by a mid-nasal swab to determine the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19. It is not an antigen or antibody test.

Dalton, GA – According to Whitfield County Environmental Health Manager Chad Mulkey, a woman residing near a forested area in southeast Whitfield County reported on Friday, April 8th that two of her dogs killed a skunk as it ate dog food in their pen.

The incident occurred in the Tilton Road, SE and Nance Springs Drive, SE area.

Mulkey instructed the woman on how to refrigerate the skunk over the weekend until he could ship it for rabies testing.

The head was shipped to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory on Monday the 11th and the positive test results were returned late in the day on Tuesday, April 12th.

The dog owner was informed of the results the following morning. Because the dogs had immediately licked her hands where there were open scratches, Mulkey advised her to speak with her personal physician and the Georgia Poison Control Center to determine if preventive post-exposure rabies treatment would be advisable. Generally, this kind of secondary contact through pets is not considered human rabies exposure, buteach case must be considered individually and is a decision between the person and their physician with  recommendations from public health.

Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal. In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans. Rabies can affect both domestic and wild mammals. It is spread to people and among mammal species through direct bites or scratches from the infected animal.

The dogs involved in this case were previously vaccinated against rabies at least twice prior to this incident, so they will only need a booster shot and close observation.

Health officials urge residents to be wary of any unfamiliar animals, both domestic and wild, and to maintain rabies vaccinations in their pets.

For more information about rabies and its prevention, log onto www.cdc.gov/rabies.

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North GA – MAKO Medical drive-thru COVID-19 testing will end in Blue Ridge, Chatsworth and Jasper, as of Thursday, April 14th. The MAKO test sites that will remain open in North Georgia are those in Dalton, Ellijay and Woodstock.

Now that COVID-19 cases are decreasing in Georgia and home test kits have become easily accessible, the volume of residents seeking services from these test sites is declining.

Public health officials continue to urge people to get tested for COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, if they have COVID-19 type symptoms or have been in close contact recently to a person infected with the virus.