A second Pickens County cat has been confirmed by the State Public Health Laboratory as having rabies. Earlier in the year, a rabid raccoon attacked several unvaccinated cats belonging to a family living on Paradise Lane in Jasper, Georgia. On September 16, the first cat tested positive for rabies. The remaining cats were either destroyed or placed in a double enclosure pen for a quarantine period of six months. Two family members received a series of post-exposure rabies treatments at a local hospital.

North Georgia Health District officials announced today the arrival of their first shipment of H1N1 influenza injectable vaccine, which totaled 4,100 doses. H1N1 vaccine will be administered to the priority groups through the health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties beginning Tuesday, November 3. The health departments will provide the vaccine during their normal operating hours, which are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays except on Fridays when the clinics close at 11:30 a.m.

The Cherokee County Health Department will conduct a special H1N1 Flu Shot Clinic on Tuesday, November 3 at the Cherokee County Recreation Center from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The recreation center is located at 7545 Main Street in Woodstock. (Google Map Driving Directions)