- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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Our Health Departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties will be closed from Thursday, March 28th at 1 PM thru all day Friday, March 29th, but we look forward to serving you again on Monday, April 1st! All public health services in North Georgia will be closed on Friday. Find our services on our home page at nghd.org.
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- Written by: Georgia Department of Public Health
- Category: Press Room
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 22, 2024
Increase in Measles Cases and Outbreaks in the U.S. and Globally
MMR Vaccine is Safe and Effective in Preventing Measles
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging parents to make sure their children are up to date with their measles vaccinations. Measles vaccination is important for all children to prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission, but it is especially important for families with children planning to travel outside of the United States.
Among 58 measles cases reported in the U.S. so far in 2024, 54 (93%) were linked to international travel. Most cases reported this year have been among children over the age of 12 months who had not received MMR vaccine. In Georgia, there have been two reported cases of measles in 2024. The individuals were unvaccinated, from the same family, and had traveled outside of the country.
Measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can stay in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person is there so you can become infected by simply being in a room where an infected person once was.
Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine which is safe and highly effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles, one dose is 93% effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12-15 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years old. At least two weeks before traveling internationally, infants aged 6 to 11 months should have one dose of MMR vaccine and children aged 12 months and older should have two doses of MMR vaccine. Parents should consult with their child’s healthcare provider to ensure they are up to date with their MMR vaccines and any additional vaccines that may be needed.
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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"We are delighted to announce that one of our own, Tammy Bowling, RN, BSN, TB Program Coordinator for North Georgia Health District 1-2, has been selected as a 2024 CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champion! Her dedication to all aspects of TB elimination, from overseeing her district’s TB program, to case management, to mentoring and educating staff, to involvement in committees concerning TB policies, procedures, protocols, and much more, makes Tammy a TB champion that goes above and beyond! Way to go, Tammy – Congratulations!!" - Ashley Deverell, RN, BSN, district Infectious Disease Director
Learn How to Think, Test, Treat TB. Click HERE!
The CDC stated online: "Congratulations to the 2024 CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champions for your contributions to preventing and controlling TB in the United States. We are sharing these inspiring success stories through CDC's website, X, and Facebook accounts, and hope that they help and inspire others."
North GA - Each year, the North Georgia Health District joins the CDC and healthcare partners around the globe in recognizing World TB Day on March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB). Learn more about the History of World TB Day.
World TB Day is a day to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world. The CDC, along with our partners and colleagues around the world share successes in TB prevention and control and raise awareness of the challenges that hinder our progress toward the elimination of this devastating disease.
The CDC and its domestic and international partners, including the National TB Controllers Association, Stop TB USA, We Are TB, the TB Elimination Alliance, and the global Stop TB Partnership, are working together to eliminate this deadly disease.
Find information about how to Think, Test, and Treat TB, and learn more about the CDC’s global efforts to prevent, find, and cure tuberculosis.
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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Ellijay, GA —The Gilmer County Health Department was recently awarded the Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization Award, recognizing their exceptional efforts in 2023 to protect the public against vaccine-preventable diseases.
This award, named after Walt Orenstein, a highly esteemed professor of medicine and associate director of the vaccine center at Emory University, honors those who exemplify standards for child, adolescent, and adult immunization practices, which are a national strategy to protect the public against vaccine-preventable diseases and provide guidelines and resources for immunization providers.
The award was presented to the Gilmer County Health Department and one other health department at the recent Immunize Georgia Conference held in Atlanta by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The conference aims to educate healthcare providers on the latest recommendations and best practices in immunization services and to give public health immunization champions special recognition for their leadership and influence in immunizing Georgians.
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- Sick Raccoons Reported in Gilmer County
- Our Emergency Preparedness Newsletter, March-April 2024 Issue
- Tips for Staying Safe During Severe Weather this Spring!
- Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week
- CELEBRATING IBCLC DAY ON MARCH 6TH!
- March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
- Cherokee County Sexual Health Survey
- Introducing our District E-Newsletter: EPI News!
- Georgia Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Feb 5 - 9
- Cherokee, Gilmer, Pickens, Whitfield County Health Departments Awarded Car Seat Mini-Grant