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Sweltering temperatures and high humidity can have deadly consequences pdf logo
With temperatures surpassing the 100-degree mark across Southwest Georgia ths week, Public Health Officials are warning residents to take precautions to aviod dehydration, heat stroke and other life-threatening conditions.08/05/08

Extreme Heat: Because most heat-related deaths occur during the summer, and because weather projections for this year indicate a hotter-than-average summer, people should be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death. Overview , Q & A's , Heat Stroke Exhaustion , Extreme Heat Tips

Residents of Southwest Georgia are facing a growing healthcare threat as climate changes pdf logoheat up the region, spawn more and fiercer hurricanes, trigger droughts and wildfires and cultivate an environment for new diseases and viruses to emerge, warns the area’s top public health official.

Health Inspectors say clean up at restaurant involved in E. coli outbreak nears end.pdf logo
07/28/08

CDC confirmation: Colquitt County E. coli cases officially part of the multi-state outbreak
07/16/08

Keep guard up against disease-carrying mosquitoes, urges Public Health Director
07/11/08

Ground beef from restaurant tests positive for E. coli in Colquitt County investigation
07/09/08

New information helping disease investigators “close in” on E. coli source pdf logo
07/08/08

Public Health confirms eighth case of E. coli in Colquitt County disease investigation
. 07/07/08

Restaurant voluntarily closes at request of Public Health officials investigating E. coli cluster in Colquitt County pdf logo
07/03/08

Public Health intensifies E. coli disease investigation in Colquitt Countypdf logo
07/03/08

No new confirmations of E. coli, but on-going investigation finds people still falling illpdf logo
07/02/08

Public Health confirms four cases of E. coli so far, but no common thread yetpdf logo
07/01/08

Public Health investigates apparent disease cluster in Colquitt County
06/30/08 E-coli Factsheetpdf logo

Salmonella in Tomatoes
The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health has identified seven Salmonella Saintpaul cases in Georgia that match the nationwide outbreak. Georgia is one of 23 other states impacted by the outbreak. Six of the state’s cases are in the east metro Atlanta area and one case is in northeast Georgia. There are now 228 confirmed Salmonella Saintpaul cases nationwide..more.
Salmonella factsheet.pdf logo

Dougherty County Health Department assists new mothers with Medicaid reapplications...more

The World Health Organization estimates hundreds of millions of people worldwide are infected with chronic viral hepatitis, inflammation of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and, ultimately, liver failure and death...more

Green Tea Boosts Antibiotics for Superbugs; Egyptian study finds drink increased effectiveness threefold.
HealthDay News, 3/31/08

The third winning recipe in the Hooked on Health recipe contest was submitted by Diane Blackmon, Seminole County Health Department. Greek Tomato Salad

Widespread flu activity now exists in virtually every state, and many of the infections are being caused by some strains not covered by this year's influenza vaccine. In Southwest Georgia District Public Health, two strains of flu – an influenza A virus and an influenza B virus – have been identified. In addition, residents of the district have been falling ill to an intestinal bug that also causes fever.

Drought and Dialysis: Potential Water Quality and Health Issues
Monitoring of water quality in the dialysis unit is even more important during drought
conditions than it is normally.

Georgia is among a number of states whose vaccine supply has been affected by the recent voluntary recall of 10 lots of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine and two lots of a combination of Hib and Hepatitis B vaccine.

Southwest Public Health District’s 14 county health departments will begin offering seasonal influenza vaccinations on Tuesday, Oct. 9, says District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

Each fall, as healthcare providers launch seasonal flu vaccination campaigns to protect the public against debilitating and sometimes deadly influenza, they must combat misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

MMR is a combination vaccine that protects children from measles, mumps, and rubella (also known as German measles). The first dose of the vaccine is usually given to children 12 to 15 months old. The second dose is usually given between 4 and 6 years of age. Factsheet pdf logo

 

This Week's Recipe Winner Shirley Phelp shares with Public Health her

Fruit Salad.

Previous Winners

District Environmental Health Director explains food service certification
By requiring food service establishments to be licensed, county health departments are protecting their communities from exposure to more than 250 types of food-borne illnesses

District 152 State Rep. Ed Rynders will receive the Georgia Public Health Association “Legislator of the Year Award” during a presentation by Southwest District Public Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant during a Lee County Board of Health meeting Dec. 4 at noon at 112 Park Street.

District Environmental Health Director urges private well owners to watch for contamination
Private well owners in the 14-county Southwest Public Health District may be getting a taste of the record drought parching much of the state, says District Environmental Health Director Dewayne Tanner.

Rainy conditions did not dampen participation in Georgia Farm Worker Health Program’s Fall Project 2007 as public health professionals and students and physicians from the Emory School of Medicine conducted exams....more

Governor Perdue’s executive order directs agencies to develop plans to conserve water resources and save taxpayer dollars by using less water and using water more wisely...more

 

Amoebic Infection:
A cluster of waterborne illnesses in Central Florida – including an infection that
claimed the life of a youngster – has prompted a warning by Southwest Georgia District Public Health...more . Factsheet

Third human West Nile Virus case in district confirmed in Miller County

Human case of West Nile Virus in Dougherty County confirmed

Second case of West Nile Virus found in Mitchell County

West Nile Virus:
Press Release, Fight the Bitepdf logo, Fight the Bite en Espanolpdf logo, West Nile Fever Symptoms Q&A, West Nile Fever Repellants, West Nile Fever Fact sheet

Adult Immunization Schedule

Beginning Tuesday, September 4, patients can call health departments in the Southwest Public Health District between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to get an appointment that day, said District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant...press release

Botulism Alert:
Two children in Texas and an Indiana couple who ate Castleberry chili products became seriously ill and have been hospitalized...more.  About Botulism

Risk of rabies exposure goes up with summertime’s increased outdoor activities When outdoor activities increase during the summer months, so do the chances that people will come into contact with stray and wild animals that may be infected with rabies...more

High school seniors planning to attend college should take steps to safeguard their health now by being vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis, say Southwest Georgia Public Health officials. Get vaccinated

Adults often feel that immunizations are for their children and not necessarily for them, but they couldn’t be more wrong, says Southwest Public Health District Immunization Coordinator Sue Dale....more

Southwest Public Health District to offer two WIC Farmers’ Markets programs this summer

Changes in required immunizations for children – Georgia’s immunization requirements for children attending child care and school facilities have been changed to reflect current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices... more  Immunization Schedule

Residents of Southwest Georgia have until August 20 to express their opinions on proposed changes to their local health departments’ Babies Can’t Wait early intervention system...more

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is a relatively rare type of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). It is resistant to almost all drugs...more

Participants in the third annual Kids on the Move event, set for July 20 at Albany State University, will be taking steps to combat childhood obesity, organizers said...more

Southwest Health District warns new parents against dangers of unintentional poisonings.
New parents should make sure that citrus-scented household cleaner, sweet-smelling candles and other innocent-appearing products commonly found in homes are out-of-sight and out-of-reach of their toddlers...press release

After a tornado fact sheet

Food service inspections for Southwest Health District’s 14 counties now available on line The more than 1,000 restaurants doing business in the 14 counties covered by the Southwest Health District now have their most recent food service inspection reports posted on-line...press release

It was one of the coldest days of the year, February 14, 2007, and the District Child Health folks were having a Smoothie! ....more

Southwest Georgia Public Health officials address worries about peanut butter and Salmonella Area residents concerned about a nation-wide outbreak of Salmonella should contact their physician if they are experiencing severe symptoms after recently consuming Peter Pan brand peanut butter with the product code 2111 on the lid.

Georgia Receives Presidential Disaster Declaration for Additional Counties: ATLANTA – President George W. Bush approved a Federal Disaster Declaration today for all nine counties that Governor Perdue requested aid for following the severe weather that hit southwest Georgia last Thursday....press release

Baker County recovery workers and residents urged to get free tetanus vaccinations...more

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factsheet.htm

NEWSLETTER (962KB)  Volume 1, Issue 1 -March 2004

Viral Meningitis Information

Influenza

Smallpox

SARS

West Nile Virus

Avian Influenza