NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT

Healthy people, families, and communities.
  • NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

    NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

WildfireRaccoon-smNorth Georgia - Recent woods and brush fires could cause wild or stray animals to move into residential areas.  Residents are strongly cautioned that contact with such animals could result in rabies exposure. Tell your children not to pet or have other contact with wild or stray animals. Very few wild or stray animals have or carry rabies but it is always best to leave them alone unless you or your pets are attacked. Never approach a wild or stray animal exhibiting abnormal behaviors such as appearing to be friendly, disoriented, sick or aggressive. 
 
USDA Wildlife Rabies Surveillance found a raccoon two months ago in Whitfield County that was positive for rabies; no human or domestic animal exposure occurred. The USDA recently distributed oral rabies vaccine baits for wildlife in Whitfield County to reduce rabies in raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes and bobcats.  
 
One of the easiest ways to protect your family is to ensure all pets have a current vaccination for rabies.  These vaccinations are inexpensive and are very effective in protecting your pets and your family in the event of an encounter with a wild animal.  
 
Report any potential rabies exposure such as a bite or scratch from a wild or stray animal to your local county Environmental Health office for investigation and advisement. Phone numbers for all our county Environmental Health offices can be found by clicking on the above LOCATIONS tab. Contact with bats or finding a bat in your home should be reported immediately. Your environmental health office can have animals tested for rabies if there is exposure.
 
Vaccinating your pets, avoiding contact with wild or unknown animals and teaching your children to avoid such contact will prevent rabies exposures. Human rabies treatments must be administered quickly after exposure and can be expensive.
 
For more information about rabies and its prevention, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.

North Georgia  - Due to smoky conditions that may occur in your area because of wildfire, public health officials of the North Georgia Health District urge residents to take precautions.

Smoke from a brushfire or wildfire is a mix of gases and particles from burning vegetation and other materials that can be harmful even to people who are healthy if there is enough smoke in the air. According to the Centers forBCMJ 52Vol10 cdc forest fire
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, including:

  • Coughing
  • Trouble breathing normally
  • Stinging eyes
  • A scratchy throat
  • Runny nose
  • Irritated sinuses
  • Wheezing and shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Headaches
  • An asthma attack
  • Tiredness
  • Fast heartbeat

 

Older adults, pregnant women, children, and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions may be more likely to get sick if they breathe in wildfire smoke.

If possible, limit your exposure to smoke. Here are some tips to help you protect your health:

  • When a brushfire or wildfire occurs in your area, watch for news or health warnings about smoke.
  • If you are told to stay indoors, stay indoors and keep your indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is very hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one - seek shelter elsewhere if you do not and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed.
  • Follow your doctor's advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
  • Avoid smoke exposure during outdoor recreation.

For more information about protecting against wildfires, log onto the CDC website at  https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/.

BreastCancerAwarenessPinkShirts Fannin smOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Fannin County Health Department staff wear pink to urge residents to learn what they can do for themselves and loved ones to prevent breast cancer or to find it early. Deaths from breast cancer have declined over time but is still the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. Early detection is key! Contact the Fannin County Health Department for more information at (706) 632-3023 or log onto www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast.

Thirty years ago this month Ronald Reagan signed into law landmark legislation, the Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act (now known as IDEA), that created the Infants and Toddlers with disabilities Program. . . Click on the video below and help us celebrate! To learn more about public health Children's Medical Services, see the attached flyer, contact your local county health department (see above LOCATIONS tab) or call the North Georgia Health District at (706) 529-5757.

Celebrating 30 yearsEI 30 Years Web Thumbnail