What is Epidemiology?  The word is derived from the Greek epi which means “upon,” demos meaning “people,” and logos which means “science/study (of).”  Epidemiology is the part of the Health Department that studies the health in populations to understand the causes and patterns of health and illness in our community. The information gathered in these studies is then used to help prevent illnesses and improve the health of everyone in our communities.

If there is an outbreak of any disease, our Epidemiology and Environmental Health Departments work together to answer the questions: who? what? when? and why?  They work together to investigate the source of infection to identify the cause, calculate the extent of the outbreak, and recommend and/or implement control measures to stop the spread of disease.

One of the diseases our epidemiologists looked this year at is norovirus.  Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness that generally causes vomiting and diarrhea. You may hear people refer to it as the “stomach flu,” but norovirus is not related to the influenza virus (flu), which is primarily a respiratory illness.

In the winter of 2012-2013, there was a rise in norovirus cases nationally.  Our epidemiologists worked to educate our community about how norovirus is spread and what organizations and individuals can do to help prevent it from spreading.

A list of all diseases/conditions that must be reported to the Health Department can be found here.

Have you ever visited your local Health Department?  Do you know what type of services we provide at our locations?  Each center in Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Counties provide a number of health care services for individuals in our community.  Here are just a few:

Shots (Immunizations):  All children in Georgia schools need to have a Certificate of Immunization.  The Health Department offers all the shots your child needs to enroll in school.  And keep them up-to-date by checking the Immunization Schedule here.

Shots (Immunizations) for Adults:  Staying up-to-date on shots is important for adults, too.  Through immunization adults can ward off illnesses that were once accepted as inevitable.  Check here to see the adult vaccines that are recommended based on your age and risk level.

Travel Immunizations and Consultation:  Planning a trip abroad?  Check with the Health Department for information on any immunizations you may need before leaving.  In addition to providing immunizations, we also offer counseling on the major health risks you may encounter while you travel abroad along with information on how to protect yourself. This includes up-to-date discussion of current health concerns plus, current U. S. Department of State advisories.

Child health checks/school screenings:  Children entering Georgia Public Schools must receive hearing and vision examinations and be issued certificates of completion.  We provide age appropriate hearing, vision and dental screenings for children at all of our Health Centers.   We also provide well child checkups and medical care at no charge for PeachCare members under 19 and Medicaid members under 21.

Women’s Health:  Our Women’s Health program provides eligible women (low income and uninsured) with cancer screenings, along with follow-up and referral if necessary.  Check our Cancer Screening page for additional information.

April 1 – 5 is National Public Health Week.  So what exactly is Public Health?

Public health is about protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country.  Your local Health Department covers Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties.

Join us this week as we look at five specific areas where the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments protect and improve the health of our community:

• Regulating and inspecting restaurants, tourist accommodations and community pools
• Providing certain health care services, including women’s and children’s health and immunizations
• Promoting of healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating and providing health and wellness education
• Tracking and investigating infectious and chronic diseases
• Planning for and responding to various forms of disasters that affect the community’s health

We start today with Regulating and Inspecting.

Environmental Health

Protecting and Improving the Health of our Community through Regulation and Inspection

Did you eat out today?  On a typical day, 44% of adults in the U.S. eat at a restaurant.  More than 50% of school children eat a meal prepared at the school. So odds are you or someone in your family has eaten a meal prepared outside of your home today.

A large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks reported to the CDC is attributed to food service establishments. A food service establishment may be a restaurant, school or institutional cafeteria, mobile food truck, or a catering service.

Through our Environmental Health Services Division, the Health Department inspects and regulates food service establishments. [Tweet this!] All inspections are unannounced and look at a number of items related to food safety, including:

• Employee hygiene practices – washing hands and wearing gloves as appropriate
• Protecting foods from contamination – maintaining clean food contact surfaces
• Food temperature control – ensuring foods are held at the proper temperatures
• Cooking and reheating food – heating and cooling foods to the correct temperature, within specific time frames
• Prevention of cross-contamination – keeping raw meat and eggs separate from “ready to eat” foods, like fresh vegetables that will not be cooked

In addition to restaurants, Environmental Health also inspects tourist accommodations such as hotels, motels, extended stay facilities, and trailer parks.  We check to ensure that linens are changed, glassware and other multi-use items are cleaned correctly, and facilities are free from vermin and insects.

It’s not quite bathing suit season, but our Environmental Health Services Division is already starting to inspect community pools. [Tweet this!] These include pools in neighborhoods, apartment complexes and parks.

Anyone can see the inspection reports for any of these areas here on our website. Check the Environmental Health page to find the link to each of the three inspection types.

Wednesday, March 20, youth across the country – including those in our community – will stand out, speak up and seize control against tobacco.

If you don’t smoke – don’t start.

Click here for information on Tobacco 101 from the Kick Butts community.

If you do smoke – there’s help to quit.

Georgia Tobacco Quit Line:

English: 1.877.270.STOP (7867)
Spanish: 1.877-2NO.FUME (266.3863)
Hearing Impaired: TTY 1.877-6534

Learn from a former smoker, Ms. Tina Long. Ms. Long stopped by the Health Department to talk with Ed Jones, Health Department Health Promotion Coordinator. Read Tina’s interview and story here.

It may be difficult to talk with your children about the possibility of something “bad” happening.   As adults, we know that when we feel prepared, we may be better able to cope with a disaster.  Children are no different.  Working together as a family, you can identify and collect the resources you need to meet basic needs both during and after a disaster.

Here are three easy steps you can do to prepare for an emergency:

1)       Be prepared:  Make your own Ready kit.  Good information can be found on the Ready Georgia website:  http://www.ready.ga.gov/Prepare

2)      Have a Communications Plan:  Your family may not be together when disaster strikes. Make a plan today. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.  http://www.ready.ga.gov/Plan/

3)      Stay informed: Learn about your risk for specific hazards in your community.  Listen to weather updates.  And download the Ready Georgia app:  www.ready.ga.gov/mobileapp

Sesame Workshop, along with its project partners, created Let’s Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies.  Featuring beloved characters from Sesame Street, this website helps children learn how to be prepared in an emergency situation.

Flood Awareness

More people drown in their cars than anywhere else during a flood.  People believe the weight of their car will keep them on the road.  Think about it for a moment.  An aircraft carrier weighs 97,000 tons and it floats.  A foot of water will float many vehicles and two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles – including SUV’s.

Flood and flash flood WATCHES meanflooding is possible, be prepared to move to higher ground and tune in for weather information.

Flood and flash flood WARNINGS mean flooding is occurring and if advised to evacuate, do so immediately, even if on foot.

All floods are not alike.  Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days.  But flash floods can develop quickly, even in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain.  Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path.  Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be very destructive.

The Danger is Real

• The first step is to protect you home and family by purchasing flood insurance (www.floodsmart.gov). Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding.
• Copy important documents and take pictures of possessions.
• Monitor NOAA Weather Radio or other media.
• Don’t walk through a flooded area because 6 inches of moving water can knock you down.
• Don’t drive through flooded areas and stay away from downed power lines.
• Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.
• Watch out for animals that have lost their homes during a flood.  Animals may seek shelter in your home and aggressively defend themselves (especially poisonous snakes).

February is a month for hearts. Arguably the most important organ in our bodies, the heart deserves all the attention it gets. Let every heart you see this month remind you to take care of your own!

Heart disease is often associated with men. But women are also at risk.

Did you know…

Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 4 deaths each year?

Did you know…

Heart disease claimed the lives of more than 300,000 American women in 2008? (last year numbers are available)

Did you know…

We can make a difference?

February is American Heart Month. Friday, February 1st kicked off the month with National Wear Red Day, our chance to raise awareness about heart disease in women. The picture below is our Newton County Health Center Staff showing their support for National Wear Red Day.

Take the remainder of the month to learn about how proper diet and exercise build a strong heart.

For more information on heart disease in women, click on a link below:

The Heart Truth

The American Heart Association

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

^®National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA.