An unvaccinated Boxer belonging to a family on Damascus Road in Pickens County, GA tested positive for rabies on December 6. As a result, environmental health officials had to recommend post rabies exposure treatment to people who most recently handled the dog before it was euthanized on December 5.

Almost thirty people were evaluated for rabies exposure in this case because the dog had been present during a Thanksgiving family gathering. There was no indication of exposure to those persons; however, six other people, including two veterinary technicians and four family members, were considered potentially exposed. Five have begun post-exposure rabies treatments, but one family member has declined to undergo post-exposure preventive treatments.

WITH THE PEAK OF THE FLU SEASON FAST APPROACHING, FLU SHOTS ARE NOW REDUCED TO $10 AT PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN CHEROKEE, FANNIN, GILMER, MURRAY, PICKENS AND WHITFIELD COUNTIES!

DON'T LET THE FLU GET THE BEST OF YOU THIS SEASON. COME RIGHT AWAY TO ONE OF THESE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO GET YOUR LOW-COST $10 FLU SHOT! YOU MAY PAY WITH CASH, CHECK, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, STATE CIGNA OR STATE UNITED HEALTH CARE INSURANCES - AND NOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE ACCEPTING BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD BLUECHOICE PPO INSURANCE!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL YOUR LOCAL COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT:
CHEROKEE: CANTON (770) 345-7371/WOODSTOCK (770) 928-0133 GILMER (706) 635-4363 / PICKENS (706) 253-2821 FANNIN (706) 632-3023 / MURRAY (706) 695-4585 WHITFIELD (706) 226-2621

During this year’s National Influenza Vaccination Week, December 4-10, North Georgia Health District officials remind residents how important it is that they receive an annual flu shot.

Since flu viruses are constantly changing and immunity can decline over time, annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection, even during years when the particular flu viruses the vaccine protects against remain the same as in the previous season.

Getting vaccinated is the single best way for people to protect not only themselves against flu, but their loved ones as well; and an annual flu shot is the most effective tool to continuously prevent the flu and flu-related complications that could become quite serious.

On Thursday, Governor Deal will renew Georgia's commitment to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, developing and delivering more effective treatment, and finding a cure, by proclaiming December 1, 2011 to be World AIDS Day in Georgia. Georgia will join countries around the world to recognize World AIDS Day. The first ever global health day, World AIDS Day unites people in the fight against HIV, shows their support for people living with HIV, and commemorates those who have died.

The North Georgia Health District's Living Bridge Center is observing World AIDS Day this year by providing free HIV Testing and Counseling on December 1st from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lower level of the Pope Student Center at Dalton State College. This particular testing will involve no needles. Instead, the Orasure, or oral test method, will be used. In addition to free HIV testing and counseling, the Living Bridge Center staff will provide participants with goody bags in recognition of World AIDS Day.

Two Woodstock residents are undergoing post-exposure rabies treatment after each may have come into contact with rabies during separate incidents last week.

Glen Gordy of Cherokee County Environmental Health stated that in the first incident, a person was feeding bread to geese in Dupree Park on October 30 at about 3 p.m. when two stray dogs approached and started fighting over the bread. The person tried to stop the fight and was bitten on the hand. The dogs then ran off and have not been seen since.

click image for full-size poster

Saturday November 12, 2011 from 11am to 3pm

at the Creative Arts Guild in Dalton, GA

This event will be fun for the whole family! 

Among the events will be an inflatable bounce house and healthy snacks will be served!

Health departments within the North Georgia Health District will soon conduct Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics. There is no easier way to protect against the flu because the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics are specially designed to process people quickly and conveniently as they remain in their vehicles.

The drive-by clinics will also be an opportunity for North Georgia Health District health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties to test their ability to quickly administer medications to the public in a widespread public health crisis, such as pandemic influenza. Therefore, residents who receive a flu shot at their local drive-by clinic will not only find the experience to be fast and efficient, but they also will be assisting in a mass emergency preparedness drill for their county.

Cherokee County Environmental Health officials announced today that yet another raccoon in the county has tested positive for rabies. This makes a total of seven confirmed cases of rabies for the county this year, including four other raccoons, a dog and a fox.

In this most recent case, Cherokee County Environmental Health Specialist Glendon Gordy reported that on August 10, two dogs attacked and killed a raccoon at a Sardis Circle residence in Canton. The head of the raccoon was sent to the Georgia State Laboratory for rabies testing, and the positive result was received by county health officials on August 12.

To help keep our local communities safe, the North Georgia Health District is proudly joining the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during August to participate in National Immunization Awareness Month.

National Immunization Awareness Month is the perfect time to catch up on our immunizations and to remind family, friends and coworkers to catch up on theirs.