- Written by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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The North Georgia Health District offices and all Public Health Departments, Programs, and Services in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties will be CLOSED on Tuesday for the Fourth of July. MAKO COVID-19 Testing in Dalton will also be CLOSED. Regular hours will resume the following Wednesday. Happy 4th!
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- Written by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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Chatsworth, GA – Murray County Environmental Health officials have reported a possible rabies exposure incident involving a young child in the Will Evans Road area. The incident occurred on the evening of Thursday, June 15, and was reported to Environmental Health the following morning.
According to reports, the child was playing with a sibling in their yard when a fox appeared. The child was startled and fell upon seeing the fox, which then charged toward the child. The child kicked the animal, and the parents cornered it before calling the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR officers arrived and put the fox down.
After the incident, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) examined the child, who had sustained an abrasion on their foot from kicking the fox while wearing sandals. Jason Baum, Murray County Environmental Health Manager, advised the child's mother of the steps needed if the animal tested positive for rabies.
On Wednesday, June 21, the Georgia Public Health Lab confirmed that the fox had tested positive for rabies. Baum recommended that the child begin the post-exposure vaccination process, and the mother took the child to the ER that night.
Baum also recommended that other family members who were there seek advice from Georgia Poison Control regarding their possible exposure to the virus during the incident and any treatment recommendations. However, Baum deemed their risk of exposure and the family cat's risk to be low based on the circumstances.
Environmental Health officials are distributing notices in the area advising residents to be cautious of wild animals, including strays, especially those that exhibit strange behaviors, and to ensure their pets and livestock are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. If residents have sightings or exposures to such animals, they should call the Murray County Environmental Health office at (706) 695-0266.
We want to remind the public of the importance of vaccinating their pets against rabies to prevent the spread of the virus. Our thoughts are with the child and their family during this difficult time.
Read Rabies Notice to Residents Near Area of Incident
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- Written by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
North Georgia - In honor of the federal holiday, Juneteenth, observed annually, our district and county offices will be closed on Monday, June 19th. This includes all public health services and programs in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties. We will resume our services the following day.
MAKO Medical COVID-19 testing in Dalton will remain open on Monday - please learn more HERE.
Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day. It was first recognized as a national holiday last year in celebration of June 19, 1865, the date when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free the remaining enslaved people in the United States.
Please learn more about Juneteenth as a national Day of Observance by clicking on the Presidential Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2021.
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- Written by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
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CORRECTION: The Pickens County Environmental Health office will reopen on TUESDAY, June 20th, due to the Juneteenth state holiday on Monday. The office closed at 12 PM today, Fri., June 16, for water repairs. Visit nghd.org/nghd-locations-listing/item/pickens-county-eh for office hours and services.
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