- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Ellijay (GA) – A fox that has now tested positive for rabies attempted to attack two hikers in Gilmer County on Sunday, July 19.
Gilmer County Environmental Health officials reported that a man and woman were walking along a road in the Eagle Mountain section of Coosawattee River Resort when a fox started coming towards them in a menacing manner. The man kicked the fox twice in the head and it landed in a ditch. The stunned fox got up and was approaching them again when a local woman saw what was happening and drove over the fox with her car.County environmental health was notified of the incident on Monday, July 20, and they prepared the specimen for shipment to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. The lab confirmed on Tuesday, July 21 that the fox had tested positive for rabies.
It appeared the man who kicked the fox incurred no scratches or bites in the incident; however, as a precaution, environmental health officials have encouraged him to seek medical advice from his physician to determine his level of exposure.
Ray King, director of environmental health for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health, said, “Rabies exists in wildlife populations, so, naturally, rabid animals periodically come into contact with humans.”
King advises the public to be cautious when encountering either wild or domestic animals that are exhibiting unusual behavior and report them to animal control or their county environmental health office.
It is critical to also report any attacks or bites by a stray or wild animal.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Waleska (GA) – A Waleska couple was recently attacked by a fox that has now tested positive for rabies.
Cherokee County Environmental Health officials said the fox attacked the couple on Sunday, July 12 as they were in the yard of their home located off Chickasaw Drive in the Lake Arrowhead area. The woman was scratched on her leg and the man was bitten.
The fox was shot and animal control collected the body, which was picked up by environmental health staff on the following Monday and shipped to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing.
The laboratory reported on Wednesday, July 15 that the fox was positive for rabies.
Meanwhile, following health officials’ recommendations, the couple has begun post-exposure rabies treatment.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Ellijay (GA) – Gilmer County Environmental Health officials have reported that five local residents were either exposed or potentially exposed to rabies in separate incidents on July 4th.
According to Andrea Martin, manager of Gilmer County Environmental Health, the first exposure took place mid-morning of the 4th as a couple in the Mountain Creek Hollow subdivision in Talking Rock, Georgia was attacked by a raccoon. The wife was bitten and scratched by the raccoon on her leg, and then as the husband fought off the animal, he was also scratched.The couple immediately went to Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper to receive treatment while two of their neighbors searched for the raccoon in the subdivision.
Soon, the neighbors spotted the raccoon as it ran out of the garage of a nearby home after having attacked the homeowner, who then kicked the animal with his leg. One of the neighbors shot and killed the raccoon and turned it over to Martin on Monday.
“The Department of Natural Resources called to report the incident early Monday morning,” Martin said. “I immediately went to pick up the raccoon to prepare it for shipment to the state public health lab for rabies testing.”
Later on Monday, another incident was reported to Martin that had also happened on July 4th and involved a bat in the Coosawattee River Resort community.
Martin stated, “A resident was on his front porch early that evening when he spotted the bat in a recessed lighting fixture. He first tried to shoo the bat away with a broom, but when it didn’t budge, his adult son, who was visiting the home that day, turned on the light and the bat flew out and around to the back of the house.”
Later that night, the wife who lives in the home went through doors leading to the back porch from a guest room that remains closed to the rest of the house. When entering back inside the room, she saw a dead bat on the floor.
“It is believed this was the same bat that had earlier flown from the front porch to the back of the house and had died while clinging to the doors leading to the back porch from that guestroom,” said Martin. “Then, when the wife opened the doors, it fell inside without her noticing it until she walked back into the room. The husband, using very protective precautions, picked up the dead bat and brought it to me on Monday.”
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
One-Stop-Spot for Schools' State Health Requirements
School will be back in session before you know it! Is your child ready? The Whitfield County Health Department will conduct two Back-to-School Health Clinics to help get them ready. Join us at the health departmen
t from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on either Tuesday, July 28th or Tuesday, August 4th.
t from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on either Tuesday, July 28th or Tuesday, August 4th.At the Whitfield County Health Department Back-to-School Health Clinics, 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). Acceptable methods of payment are Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (immunizations only), Peachcare, WellCare, Amerigroup, PeachState, Cigna and Aetna Insurance.
The Whitfield County Health Department is located at 800 Professional Boulevard in Dalton. For more information, call (706) 226-2621.
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