- Written by Georgia Department of Public Health
- Category: Media Releases
Infant Recently Traveled from Overseas
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is confirming the state’s first reported case of measles since 2012. The infected infant arrived in Atlanta from outside of the U.S. and is being cared for at Egleston at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). DPH is working with CHOA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the patient and to prevent further spread of measles.
Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease. It is particularly dangerous for infants who cannot be immunized until they are at least six months old and young children who have only received one dose of measles vaccine.
Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes and respiratory droplets travel through the air. Measles virus can live in the air and on surfaces for two to three hours. Almost everyone who has not been vaccinated will get measles if they are exposed to the virus.
Symptoms of measles include:
- Fever (can be very high)
- Cough, runny nose and red eyes
- Tiny white spots on the inner lining of the cheek – also called Koplik’s spots
- Rash of tiny, red spots that start at the head and spreads to the rest of the body (spots may become joined together as they spread)
Measles generally can be prevented through vaccination. The measles vaccine (MMR) is highly effective, in most cases about 97 percent effective.
Click here for the full article on DPH's website.
- Hits: 3140
- Written by Mitch Talley, Whitfield County Director of Communications
- Category: Media Releases
County will be the first in Georgia to hold such an event, which aims to help residents get better prepared in case of disasters
By MITCH TALLEY, Whitfield County Director of Communications
If a disaster hit Whitfield County tomorrow, would you be ready?
Less than a third of us could answer yes to that question now, based on a recent federal survey.
But that figure could change dramatically in the coming months, thanks to the Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency and several partners who announced today they will be sponsoring the first-ever Whitfield County’s PrepareAthon! in April.
In fact, Whitfield will become the first county in Georgia to hold such a PrepareAthon!, with three days of special events slated April 24-26 to increase community emergency preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions, and exercises.
“The goal of Whitfield County’s PrepareAthon! is simple,” Whitfield County EMA Director Claude Craig said Monday morning during a press conference at the Dalton Fire Department on School Street to kick off the special event. “Build a more resilient community by increasing the number of individuals who understand which disasters could happen in their community, know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage, take action to increase their preparedness, and participate in community resilience planning.”
Also speaking at the press conference were Terry Thomas, Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV Individual and Community Preparedness Division; Gary Kelley, Georgia EMA deputy director; Keith Stellman, meteorologist, National Weather Service, Peachtree City; and Patrick Core, chief meteorologist with Chattanooga’s WDEF-TV, which has agreed to partner with Whitfield EMA and promote the PrepareAthon! during its newscasts.
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- Written by Contact: Jennifer King, 706-280-9115 / Jennifer.King@dph.ga.us or Mitch Talley, 706-463-0175 / mtalley@whitfieldcountyga.com
- Category: Media Releases
Innovative, community-wide Emergency Preparedness Campaign to be announced
Dalton (GA) – The Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and Whitfield County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) remind members of the media they are encouraged to attend the Severe Weather Preparedness Week press conference on Monday, February 2, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. The press conference will be held at the Dalton Fire Department Headquarters at 404 School Street in Dalton.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week this year in Georgia is February 2 – 6, and the purpose of the press conference is to stress the urgent need for individuals and organizations to take action in preparing for emergencies. As a result, EMA director and LEPC chairman Claude Craig will announce an innovative, community-wide emergency preparedness campaign. Whitfield County will be the first county in Georgia to participate in this national campaign developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that encourages local communities to promote awareness to action among its citizens, businesses, faith-based organizations, schools and non-profit organizations.
Officials from FEMA, GEMA, and National Weather Service are expected to speak at the press conference.
For more information about Severe Weather Preparedness Week, visit the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) website at www.ready.ga.gov.
- Hits: 3114
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
North Georgia- Have you had your flu shot yet? Flu activity is high in Georgia and the peak of the flu season is still ahead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that unvaccinated people get vaccinated*. While some of the viruses spreading this season are different from those in the vaccine, vaccination can still provide protection and might reduce severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death.
North Georgia Health District public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties have flu vaccine and no appointment is necessary. Please contact your local health department for more information (each county health department phone number, address and hours of operation can be found by clicking on our LOCATIONS tab up above).
The CDC also is reminding the public that people with high risk factors who get flu symptoms should contact their healthcare provider to be evaluated for possible treatment with flu antiviral drugs. It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat hospitalized patients, people with severe flu illness, and people who are at higher risk of developing flu complications based on their age or underlying medical conditions.
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*Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2014-2015.htm
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