Ensuring Georgia’s medical providers, hospitals, and the general public are prepared for the possibility of Ebola infection in Georgia, no matter how remote, is a top priority of Gov. Nathan Deal’s administration. While only two individuals in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Ebola, both in Texas, the time for preparation and education in Georgia is now, said Brenda Fitzgerald M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

“We are working to ensure that all of Georgia knows what to look for, what questions to ask, and what to do,” Fitzgerald said.

At the direction of the Governor, DPH and its many public health partners have been strengthening outreach efforts across Georgia. Individualized guidance has been distributed to all of Georgia’s licensed physicians, physician assistants, educators and emergency medical services (EMS) providers. Specific guidance is now being sent to medical centers and clinics in each of Georgia’s colleges and universities.

Key Public Health leaders are meeting with state medical and hospital associations and are providing guidance to hospitals for infectious disease exercises. DPH is currently monitoring for, and coordinating testing for suspected Ebola. Georgia state law permits DPH to isolate or quarantine individuals if necessary. Fitzgerald remains in close communication with experts at the CDC.

Public Health officials recognize Georgia’s preparation efforts must extend well beyond the medical community, major institutions and government. All Georgians should wash their hands thoroughly and often, certainly before touching any part of their face.

“Anyone, anywhere who is assisting someone who has fallen ill and who has traveled to an impacted nation in West Africa within 3 weeks, needs to be rapidly isolated from others,” Fitzgerald said, noting that suspicion of Ebola infection warrants clear action if symptoms and travel history align with the guidance.

Signs of Ebola include fever (greater than 101.5°F or 38.6°C) or other symptoms, such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal (stomach) pain, or unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). Symptoms appear in 2 to 21 days after exposure, but the average is 8 to 10 days. Clinicians, or any other person providing assistance, should ask sick individuals about their travel histories to determine if they have traveled to West Africa within the previous three weeks. Travelers, upon returning to the U.S. from affected regions should monitor their health and body temperature for 21 days.

For more information on Ebola protection and prevention, visit cdc.gov/vhf/ebola or dph.ga.gov/ebola.

All Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Department locations will be closed on Monday, October 13 in observance of Columbus Day.

All locations will reopen during normal business hours on Tuesday, October 14.

Click here to find a location near you and the hours of operation.

Every October the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer, making it the second most common cancer in women.

The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it is found and treated early. A mammogram, the screening test for breast cancer, can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments’ Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening (BCCS) Program is helping to ensure that women across our counties have access to regular screenings.  Just last year, with support from Susan G. Komen® and the Kimberly Chance Atkins Foundation, the BCCS Program provided clinical breast exams and mammograms to over 1500 women!

So throughout the month of October, show off your pink and tell the women in your life how important yearly screenings are to their health. For more information on the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, call or visit one of our health centers.

All Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Department locations will be closed on Monday, September 1 in observance of Labor Day.

All locations will reopen during normal business hours on Tuesday, September 2.

Click here to find a location near you and the hours of operation.

Infants and Children

Vaccines today protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including polio, measles, whooping cough and chickenpox.

There are many important reasons to make sure your child is vaccinated:

• Immunizations can save your child’s life.
• Vaccination is very safe and effective.
• Immunizations can protect others you care about.
• Immunization can save your family time and money.
• Immunization protects future generations.

When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions.

Parents can find out more about the recommended immunization schedule by clicking here.

Not Just for Kids

And immunizations are not just for children. Even adults need protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. Every year, thousands of adults in the United States suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized, or even die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccinations.

The specific vaccines adults need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, risk conditions, locations of travel, and previous vaccines. More information on adult vaccinations is available here. You can find information on travel vaccinations here.

Getting vaccinated is an important step we can take to protect ourselves and loved ones from vaccine-preventable diseases. Yet too many adults and children—perhaps even you—are not up to date. Your local Health Department can check to see what vaccinations you may need. Click here to find a location near you.

Viral hepatitis is a silent epidemic in the United States and more than 4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C.  And 85,000 become infected each year.

Approximately 15,000 Americans die from liver cancer or chronic liver disease associated with viral hepatitis each year. Despite these statistics, viral hepatitis is not well known. In fact, as many as 75 percent people with chronic viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected, placing them at greater risk for severe, even fatal, complications from the disease and increasing the likelihood that they will spread the virus to others.

What is Viral Hepatitis?

The word “hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus. In the US, the most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications and certain medical conditions can also cause hepatitis.

Hepatitis C

All Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Department locations will be closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

Please note: On Thursday, July 3, all locations will close at 5 p.m. (This is a change from normal hours for Norcross, Buford, Newton, and Rockdale.)

All locations will reopen during normal business hours on Monday, July 7.

Click here to find a location near you and the hours of operation.

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign to encourage people of all ages to “Take the Test, Take Control.”

Too many people don’t know they have HIV. In the United States, nearly 1.1 million people are living with HIV, and one in six don’t know they are infected. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV. If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medicines regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others.

All Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Centers will offer free HIV testing* on Friday, June 27.   Locate the center nearest you and check their hours of operation.

(Please note that the Newton County Health Center will close at 3 pm on Friday, June 27.)

*While test kits last.

Let’s face it – nobody likes getting shots.  But a shot lasts a second; diseases last much longer.

Beginning this year, there is a new Georgia  Department of Public Health rule that all students born on or after January 1, 2002 entering or transferring into seventh grade and any “new entrant” into 8^th-12^th grades in Georgia need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccination (called “Tdap”) AND an adolescent meningococcal vaccination (MCV4). This law affects all public and private schools including, but not limited to charter schools, community schools, juvenile court schools and other alternative school settings (excluding homeschool).

In an effort to protect every adult and child and raise awareness of the new immunization requirements, the Georgia Department of Public Health established Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week – June 23-27 – to serve as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“As kids get older, the protection they received from vaccines received in childhood lessens.  So preteens and teens need a booster shot known as Tdap,” said Dr. Lloyd Hofer, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Director.  “By immunizing our children, we’re not only protecting them now against vaccine-preventable diseases, but also protecting their future.”

Vaccines are the best defense we have against serious, preventable and sometimes deadly contagious diseases.  They help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and meningitis.  Immunizations also reduce absences both at school and after school activities, and decrease the spread of illness at home, school and the community.

The CDC recommends the following vaccines for teens and preteens:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
• Influenza (flu)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – three doses
• Meningococcal Disease (MCV4)

For More Information

• What is HPV?
• CDC – Preteens and Teen Vaccination