- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
National Infant Immunization Week is April 21 – 28, 2018
North GA – National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 21 – April 28, 2018, and North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) urges all Georgians to protect infants from vaccine-preventable diseases by ensuring our little ones and everyone around them are vaccinated and up-to-date on their immunization schedules.
“Because infants are among the most vulnerable in our population, we need to do our part to protect them from exposure to life threatening diseases – and vaccines are our best defense,” said Sheila Lovett, director of the Georgia Immunization Program. “Parents should speak with their pediatrician or health care provider to make sure their child and family are up-to-date on their vaccinations.”
NIIW is a call to action for parents, caregivers and health care providers to ensure that infants are fully vaccinated against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases.
Because some vaccine-preventable diseases, such as pertussis, are highly contagious and can lead to serious complications and death in infants, it’s important for parents (including pregnant mothers) to make sure their families are up-to-date on their vaccinations.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
* Two doses given at least four weeks apart are recommended for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time and for some other children in this age group.
§ Two doses of HepA vaccine are needed for lasting protection. The first dose of HepA vaccine should be given between 12 months and 23 months of age. The second dose should be given 6 to 18 months later. HepA vaccination may be given to any child 12 months and older to protect against HepA. Children and adolescents, who did not receive the HepA vaccine and are at high-risk, should be vaccinated against HepA.
According to CDC, the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in its history. Scientists, doctors and health care professionals give vaccines to children only after long, thorough and careful review. The disease-prevention benefits of vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for most children. Vaccination is the best way to protect others you care about from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The North Georgia Health District encourages everyone – in observance of National Infant Immunization Week – to protect the little ones who cannot yet protect themselves: contact your local county public health department in North Georgia to ensure your infant is up-to-date on vaccinations:
Cherokee County Health Department: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133
Fannin County Health Department: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023
Gilmer County Health Department: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706) 635-4363
Murray County Health Department: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (706) 695-4585
Pickens County Health Department: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821
Whitfield County Health Department: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, (706) 279-9600
For more information on vaccinations, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Area residents who may have been exposed to cat are urged to call Public Health Hotline
Acworth (GA) – Cherokee County Environmental Health officials received word late today that a cat that had scratched and possibly bitten an Acworth, Georgia resident has now tested positive for rabies.
The resident has begun post exposure treatment and health officials are urging area residents to call the toll-free Georgia Public Health Hotline: 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) if within the last three weeks they or their children may have been in direct contact with a black male cat that had a white belly patch. Rabies is almost always fatal if not treated immediately, before symptoms begin.
The cat attacked the resident on Tuesday, April 17 at a mobile home on West Pine Ridge Drive in Acworth, leaving the resident with multiple claw scratches and a possible tooth scratch on the hand.
The Georgia Public Health Laboratory received the specimen for rabies testing on Wednesday, April 18, and the positive result was returned on Friday, April 20.
Health officials continue to urge residents to protect against rabies by maintaining vaccinations in their pets and to be wary of any unfamiliar animals, both domestic and wild.
For more information about rabies prevention and symptoms, call the Cherokee County Environmental Health Office at (770) 479-0444. Rabies information can also be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/rabies.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
The North Georgia Health District wants you to enjoy the April 1st Easter holiday, and one of the ways to protect your family is by avoiding potential food poisoning from contaminated Easter eggs.
While eggs are used all year long, they are especially important for many spring and summertime activities. They are used for cooking festive delights and for decorating and hiding just before the big Easter egg hunt.
Information from the Fight BAC! (“Fight bacteria”) website tells us that eggs are perishable and need to be handled properly to prevent foodborne illness. Occasionally, even eggs with clean, uncracked shells can be contaminated with bacteria, specifically Salmonella Enteritidis. FightBAC! offers these tips on having a safe Easter egg hunt:
Be In-the-Know for Easter Egg Hunt
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- Only use eggs that have been refrigerated, and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.
- When cooking, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add water to at least one inch above the eggs. Cover the pan, bring the water to a boil, and carefully remove the pan from the heat.
- Let the eggs stand (18 minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium). Immediately run cold water over the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator where they can air-dry.
- When decorating, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring, and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.
- Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs chilled on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door.
- Hide the eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria.
- Remember the two-hour rule, and make sure the “found” eggs are back in the refrigerator or consumed within two hours.
- Remember that hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking.
More resources on Easter egg safety, and food safety in general, is always available by visiting these websites: Partnership for Food Education and the USDA. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). TTY 1- 800-256-7072.
The Fight BAC!® website is www.fightbac.org. Gateway to Government Food Safety provides information at www.foodsafety.gov.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
North Georgia – Nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur in the United States every year, costing the American healthcare system nearly $16 billion in direct medical costs alone, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
America’s youth shoulder a substantial burden of these infections. CDC estimates that half of all new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the country occur among young men and women aged 15 to 24.
Sherry Gregory, Infectious Disease Supervisor for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health, said, “April is STD Awareness Month, so we’re placing a special emphasis on how to prevent STDs and on the importance of getting tested and treated for these diseases.”
The high incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the general population suggests that many Americans are at risk of exposure to STDs, underscoring the need for prevention.
Despite this news, there are effective ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat STDs. STD screening and early diagnoses are essential in preventing transmission and the long-term health consequences of STDs.
“We will be conducting STD testing and awareness campaigns at our county health departments and at various community events throughout April, such as HIV and Hepatitis C testing at the Northwest Day Reporting Center in Dalton on April 3rd and 17th and at Dalton State College Gilmer Campus in Ellijay on April 19th” said Gregory. “Details will be posted to our website.”
Contact information for county health departments in the North Georgia Heath District is:
Cherokee County Health Department: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133
Fannin County Health Department: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023
Gilmer County Health Department: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706) 635-4363
Murray County Health Department: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (706) 695-4585
Pickens County Health Department: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821
Whitfield County Health Department: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, (706) 226-2621
The Living Bridge Center, located at 1200 West Waugh Street in Dalton and is the provider of Ryan White Part B and C in the North Georgia Health District, will also participate in the district-wide STD Awareness Month campaign.
Abstaining from sex, reducing the number of sexual partners, and consistently and correctly using condoms are all effective prevention strategies. Safe, effective vaccines are also available to prevent hepatitis B and some types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause disease and cancer. And for all individuals who are sexually active – particularly young people – STI screening and prompt treatment (if infected) are critical to protect a person’s health and prevent transmission to others.
More information about STDs is available at all the above county health departments in North Georgia and on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/std.
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Resource: www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness
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About STD Awareness Month: April is STD Awareness Month, an annual observance to raise public awareness about the impact of STDs on the lives of Americans and the importance of preventing, testing for, and treating STDs. It is an opportunity to normalize routine STD testing and conversations about sexual health.
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