- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Press Room
Ellijay (GA) – A raccoon that was recently found in a residential area of Ellijay in Gilmer County, Georgia has now tested positive for rabies.
The raccoon was out during the daytime on May 9 and appeared to be sickly as it wandered in the campground area of Coosawattee River Resort, a gated community in Ellijay. A resident, concerned about the danger the raccoon might have posed to people and pets in the neighborhood, shot the animal so it could be tested for rabies.
The raccoon was tested by the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory on May 10 and the positive results were reported on May 11.
There was no known human or domestic animal exposure to the raccoon.
Health officials are continuing to remind the public to avoid all wild animals and pet owners should maintain rabies vaccinations in their pets. If a pet receives an initial one-year vaccine, it can receive a three-year rabies vaccination on the following year.
Rabies is prevalent in wild animals such as raccoons and skunks but can be found in coyotes, foxes, bats, bobcats and other wild carnivores. Rodents and opossums are rarely found with rabies, but a bite from any wild mammal should cause concern and be reported to a healthcare provider and the local environmental health office.
Children should be warned to avoid contact with wild mammals and any stray dog or cat and to report any contact with these animals to an adult right away.
For more information about rabies and its prevention, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Request for Proposals Due May 31, 2017
NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT - The Living Bridge Center is requesting proposals for 2 separate items: 1) The Installation of New Flooring, 2) Renovation/Construction in the building located at 1200 West Waugh, Suite A, in Dalton Georgia. Proposals will be evaluated to determine the most advantageous based on vendor experience and qualifications as well as total cost. Sealed proposals are due no later than 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. Proposals are to be mailed or hand delivered to the attention of Stephen Tonya, Financial Operations & Services Manager of the North Georgia Health District - Please see attachments for all details, including mailing instructions and specifications.
- Hits: 3032
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
National Infant Immunization Week starts April 22!
North Georgia – Giving babies the recommended immunizations by age two is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases.
The week of April 22-29, 2017 has been declared National Infant Immunization Week, and health departments within the North Georgia Health District in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties are helping to ensure that children are protected against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases by the age of two. The health departments not only provide these vaccines, but they also encourage parents to make vaccinating their children a priority and urge them to talk to family and friends about protecting their children with vaccines. Vaccines and all information are available at the local health department. Click on the LOCATIONS tab above to find the address and phone number for each of our county health departments.
Currently, the United States has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in its history.
Vaccine-preventable diseases still circulate in the United States and around the world, so continued vaccination is necessary to protect everyone from potential outbreaks. Even when diseases are rare in the U.S., they can be brought into the country, putting unvaccinated children at risk.
Most parents vaccinate their children, resulting in high vaccine coverage rates in the U.S.
When people are unvaccinated, outbreaks of diseases like pertussis (whooping cough) and measles can—and do—return.
It is important to vaccinate children on time, according to the childhood immunization schedule, to provide the best protection early in life, when babies are vulnerable and before they are likely to be exposed to diseases.
Since 1994, National Infant Immunization Week has encouraged parents, caregivers, and health care professionals to participate in increasing the awareness of the importance of immunizing children before their second birthday. Refer to the Georgia Department of Public Health's website for immunization scheduling at https://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-schedules.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
East Ellijay (GA) – A raccoon attacked a Gilmer County dog on March 9, 2017 and test results have now confirmed the raccoon was infected with rabies.
The raccoon came into a residential yard off Walnut Street near East Ellijay City Hall, close to Georgia Highway 515 North. After attacking the dog that lived on the premises, the raccoon was killed and the head was submitted to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory, which reported the positive rabies results on March 14.
There were no other animal or human exposures to the raccoon.
Since the dog had been previously vaccinated against rabies, it was revaccinated and placed in a 45-day home observation period during which the owner must report any illness to the Gilmer County Environmental Health Office.
Rabies is caused by a virus and is transmitted by a bite of a rabid animal through its saliva. Humans who are exposed to rabies must receive preventive treatments within a short period of time. Once rabies symptoms start to develop, the disease is almost always fatal. Humans normally start to develop symptoms in one to three months after exposure, but this incubation period can be shorter or longer.
Pet owners are strongly advised to keep their dogs and cats up to date on their rabies vaccinations. If a pet receives an initial one-year vaccine, it can receive a three-year rabies vaccination on the following year.
Rabies is prevalent in wild animals such as raccoons and skunks but can be found in coyotes, foxes, bats, bobcats and other wild carnivores. Rodents and opossums are rarely found with rabies, but a bite from any wild mammal should cause concern and be reported to your physician and local environmental health office.
Most humans who die of rabies in the United States acquired it from rabid bats. If you find a bat inside your home, do not handle it or release it to the outdoors; the bat will need to be tested for rabies if there is any chance of human contact. People are sometimes bitten in their sleep by rabid bats without knowing it.
All livestock species are susceptible to rabies including llamas and alpacas. Last year, a cow in an adjacent county was found to have rabies. Livestock animals that have regular close contact with humans or are very valuable, such as horses and show cows, should be vaccinated against rabies each year. Livestock owners are advised to consider rabies when an unknown illness occurs in an animal with possible neurological symptoms. Always have such animals examined by your veterinarian. Livestock animals usually acquire rabies from wild carnivores such as raccoons, bats and skunks.
Warn your children to avoid contact with wild mammals and any stray dog or cat and to report any contact with these animals to you right away.
For more information about rabies and its prevention, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
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