The Coastal Health District of Georgia serves the counties of Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long & McIntosh

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Bat Tests Positive for Rabies in Savannah

October 6th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Chatham News, News |

A bat in the Savannah area has tested positive for rabies after biting the hand of a local resident. The individual is receiving post-exposure rabies treatment and expected to fully recover. The Chatham County Health Department’s Environmental Health office reminds all residents to avoid contact with wild animals and ensure pets are properly vaccinated.

The bat’s exact home location isn’t known. The resident hit the bat with their car on a commute from downtown Savannah to Whitemarsh Island and was bitten when removing the bat from the car windshield. The resident then notified the health department so the animal could be tested for rabies.

Several species of wild animals that are native to coastal Georgia – including raccoons, foxes, and bats – can carry rabies. Rabies is a potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals. Following these tips can protect you and your family from rabies:

  • Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
  • Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines after 12 weeks of age, followed by a booster shot within one year and vaccination every 1-3 years depending on veterinary recommendation and vaccine used.
  • Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
  • Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
  • Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.

Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth, and paralysis. If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact Chatham County Animal Services at 912-652-6575 and the Chatham County Environmental Health office at 912-356-2160.

Chatham County Meningitis Vaccine Booster Clinic Scheduled for Oct. 15

October 5th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Chatham News |

For high school juniors, time is running out to comply with a new requirement that all 16-year-old students in 11th grade get a meningitis booster shot. That’s why the Chatham County Health Department is holding a special Saturday clinic to help area students get up to date with this required vaccine.

The clinic was originally planned for October 1st but was canceled because of Hurricane Ian. The clinic will now be held Saturday, October 15th at Windsor Forest High School in Savannah.

Space is limited and appointments are required. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the Chatham County Health Department at 912-356-2441. A parent or guardian must accompany the child to the appointment. Patients with insurance should bring a copy of their insurance card to the clinic. Insurance will be billed when available, but there will be no out-of-pocket cost for the vaccination regardless of insurance status.

“We really hope parents will take advantage of this clinic and book a spot if their child needs the meningitis booster,” said Dr. Sierra Peebles, Nurse Manager of the Chatham County Health Department. “We don’t want any student to miss school because they don’t have required vaccines. Our goal is to help kids get up to date so they have the protection they need and no disruption to their school year.”

The meningococcal booster shot helps prevent meningococcal disease, a bacterial infection that is very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours. Meningitis is a swelling of the brain and spinal cord and can result in brain damage, hearing loss, or worse. Disease levels increase in adolescence starting around age 11, and peak around age 19 years. Georgia students already receive a meningococcal vaccination before entering 7th grade, and this new booster will provide added protection during these peak years of risk.

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Beach Water Advisories Lifted for Tybee and St. Simons Islands

October 4th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Chatham News, Glynn News, News |

Updated October 5, 2022

The Glynn and Chatham County Health Departments have lifted the beach water advisories on St. Simons and Tybee Island.

Advisories have been lifted for:

  • Middle Beach at Center Terrace, which extends from Lovell Street to 11th Street on Tybee Island.
  • Fifth Street Crossover Beach, which extends from Cedar Street to 9th Street on St. Simons Island.

The advisories were issued on October 4, 2022 after routine water quality tests showed a high level of enterococci bacteria which increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness in swimmers. Subsequent water samples taken showed that the bacteria levels had dropped below Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended limits. Therefore, the advisories have been lifted.

October 4, 2022

The Chatham County Health Department has issued a beach water advisory for Middle Beach at Center Terrace, which extends from Lovell Street to 11th Street on Tybee Island.

The Glynn County Health Department has issued a beach water advisory for the Fifth Street Crossover Beach, which extends from Cedar Street to 9th Street on St. Simons Island.

The Department of Natural Resources – Coastal Resources Division tests water samples at Glynn County and Chatham County beaches throughout the year. The test screens for enterococcus (pronounced: en·ter·o·coc·cus) bacteria, which are found in humans and some wildlife. When a beach is under advisory, it means the level of bacteria found in the water is above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended standards. Periodic advisories are not unusual, and sources of the bacteria could include animal waste, storm water runoff, or boating waste.

The advisory does NOT mean the beach is closed. Beach water advisories alert the public of a possible risk of illness associated with water contact in the advisory areas. The Health Department recommends you do not swim or wade in the water in the areas under advisory.

Fish and other seafood caught from these areas should be thoroughly washed with fresh water and thoroughly cooked before eating, as should fish or seafood caught from any waters. The areas will be re tested this week, and the advisories will be lifted when the bacteria levels meet the EPA’s recommended standards.

For the most up-to-date information about beach water advisories along the Georgia coast, visit gahealthybeaches.org to access the Georgia Beach Map App. The app includes information about beach water-testing segments and the latest bacteria counts.

Weather-Related Closures

September 27th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Bryan News, Camden News, Chatham News, Effingham News, Glynn News, Liberty News, Long News, McIntosh News, News |

Rain and wind from Hurricane Ian are expected to impact portions of the Coastal Health District later in the week, beginning in the southernmost part of the district. As a result, the following adjustments have been made to operational schedules:

  • The Camden County Health Department is suspending operations Wednesday, September 28th through Friday, September 30th.
  • Health Departments in all other counties of the Coastal Health District – Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh – will suspend operations on Thursday, September 29th and Friday, September 30th.
  • All District offices will also close Thursday and Friday.

The Coastal Health District expects to resume normal operations on Monday, October 3rd.

Bryan County Offers School Vaccine Clinic Tuesday, Sept. 27

September 23rd, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Bryan News |

The Bryan County Health Department is holding a special one-day vaccine clinic to help area schoolchildren get up-to-date on required immunizations.

The event will be held at the Richmond Hill Clinic at 66 Captain Matthew Freeman Drive on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. by appointment.

All vaccines required for school attendance will be available (while supplies last), including:

  • the Tdap and meningococcal vaccines needed for 7th grade, and
  • the meningococcal booster needed for 11th grade.

A parent or guardian must accompany the child to the appointment.

Click here to schedule an appointment for the Richmond Hill clinic.

Beach Water Advisories Lifted on St. Simons Island

September 14th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Glynn News, News |

Updated September 14, 2022

The Glynn County Health Department has lifted the beach water advisories for Fifth Street Crossover Beach (Cedar Street to Ninth Street) and South Beach at the Lighthouse (Ninth Street to the pier).

The advisories were issued on September 14, 2022 after routine water quality tests showed a high level of enterococci bacteria which increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness in swimmers. Subsequent water samples taken showed that the bacteria levels had dropped below Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended limits. Therefore, the advisories have been lifted.

September 13, 2022

The Glynn County Health Department has issued two beach water advisories on St. Simons Island. Advisories have been issued for:

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  • Fifth Street Crossover Beach – Cedar Street to Ninth Street
  • South Beach at Lighthouse – Ninth Street to the Pier

The Department of Natural Resources – Coastal Resources Division tests water samples at Glynn County beaches throughout the year. The test screens for enterococcus (pronounced: en·ter·o·coc·cus) bacteria, which are found in humans and some wildlife.

When a beach is under advisory, it means the level of bacteria found in the water is above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended standards. Periodic advisories are not unusual, and sources of the bacteria could include animal waste, storm water runoff, or boating waste.

The advisory does NOT mean the beach is closed. Beach water advisories alert the public of a possible risk of illness associated with water contact in the advisory areas. The Health Department recommends you do not swim or wade in the water in the area under advisory. Fish and other seafood caught from the area should be thoroughly washed with fresh water and thoroughly cooked before eating, as should fish or seafood caught from any waters.

The areas will be re-tested this week, and the advisories will be lifted when the bacteria levels meet the EPA’s recommended standards.

Liberty Co. Health Dept. Hosts Evening COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Sept. 22

September 14th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in COVID-19, Liberty News, News |

The Liberty County Health Department is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Thursday, September 22, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the health department at 1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville. The clinic will offer the new bivalent booster shot by Moderna, which is authorized for people aged 18 and older. All other Moderna vaccines will also be available, with primary vaccine doses for everyone aged 6 months and older. There is no out-of-pocket cost for COVID-19 vaccination through public health.

“We’re excited to offer the reformulated vaccine and want to make it easy for people to get boosted,” said Jennifer Mele, Nurse Manager of the Liberty County Health Department. “Not everyone can get to the health department during the workday, so we’re offering a special COVID vaccine clinic with appointments later in the day.”

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is also available during regular clinic hours each Tuesday.

Click here to schedule an appointment online, or call the Health Department at (912) 876-2173.

The bivalent booster shot targets the original strain of COVID plus two of the Omicron subvariants. This new formula means better protection against the currently circulating virus. You can get the Moderna bivalent booster if you are at least 18 years of age and it has been at least two months since you completed your initial vaccination, or since your last booster shot.

Bivalent Booster Shots Now Available in the Coastal Health District

September 7th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Bryan News, Camden News, Chatham News, COVID-19, Effingham News, Glynn News, Liberty News, Long News, McIntosh News, News |

Stronger protection against COVID-19 is available in the Coastal Health District as all 8 county health departments now offer updated booster shots. These reformulated booster vaccines target the original strain of the COVID-19 virus plus the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Most new cases reported in Georgia are caused by the BA.5 variant, which means the redesigned booster shots will offer better protection against the currently circulating virus.

“It’s not uncommon for vaccines to be tweaked as viruses mutate,” said Dr. Lawton Davis, Health Director of the Coastal Health District. “You don’t get the same flu shot every fall because the vaccine is redesigned each year to be a better match to the dominant variants. These reformulated COVID boosters follow the same progression, with better protection against the COVID we have now, and not just the COVID of two years ago.”

The redesigned boosters are called “bivalent” because they target more than one variant of COVID. The bivalent booster by Pfizer is authorized for ages 12 and older, and the bivalent booster by Moderna is authorized for ages 18 and up. You can get the booster if it has been at least two months since you completed your initial vaccination, or since your last booster shot.

Only individuals who have completed their primary vaccination series (two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson) are eligible to receive the bivalent booster. For people getting their first COVID vaccines, the original vaccine will continue to be used. Those who have recently received Novovax are not yet eligible for any booster at this time.

Appointments for COVID-19 vaccination, including bivalent boosters, can be scheduled online at chdcovidvax.org or by calling your local county health department.

Beach Water Advisories Lifted on St. Simons Island

August 30th, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Glynn News, News |

Updated August 31, 2022

The Glynn County Health Department has lifted the beach water advisories for Fifth Street Crossover Beach (Cedar Street to Ninth Street) and South Beach at the Lighthouse (Ninth Street to the pier).

The advisories were issued on August 30, 2022 after routine water quality tests showed a high level of enterococci bacteria which increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness in swimmers. Subsequent water samples taken showed that the bacteria levels had dropped below Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended limits. Therefore, the advisories have been lifted.

The Glynn County Health Department has issued two beach water advisories on St. Simons Island. Advisories have been issued for:

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  • Fifth Street Crossover Beach – Cedar Street to Ninth Street
  • South Beach at Lighthouse – Ninth Street to the Pier

The Department of Natural Resources – Coastal Resources Division tests water samples at Glynn County beaches throughout the year. The test screens for enterococcus (pronounced: en·ter·o·coc·cus) bacteria, which are found in humans and some wildlife.

When a beach is under advisory, it means the level of bacteria found in the water is above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended standards. Periodic advisories are not unusual, and sources of the bacteria could include animal waste, storm water runoff, or boating waste.

The advisory does NOT mean the beach is closed. Beach water advisories alert the public of a possible risk of illness associated with water contact in the advisory areas. The Health Department recommends you do not swim or wade in the water in the area under advisory. Fish and other seafood caught from the area should be thoroughly washed with fresh water and thoroughly cooked before eating, as should fish or seafood caught from any waters.

The areas will be re-tested this week, and the advisories will be lifted when the bacteria levels meet the EPA’s recommended standards.

Beach Water Advisory Lifted on Jekyll Island

August 23rd, 2022 by CHD Communications

Posted in Glynn News, News |

Updated August 24, 2022

The Glynn County Health Department has lifted the beach water advisory for Oceanview Beach, which is from Brice Lane to the Beach Pavilion on Jekyll Island.

The advisory was issued on August 23, 2022, after routine water quality tests showed a high level of enterococci bacteria which increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness in swimmers. Subsequent water samples showed the bacteria levels had dropped below Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended limits. Therefore, the advisory has been lifted.

August 23, 2022:

The Glynn County Health Department has issued a swimming advisory for Oceanview Beach, which is from Brice Lane to the Beach Pavilion on Jekyll Island.

graphic showing the beach water advisory signs [JPG, 2.57 MB]

The Department of Natural Resources – Coastal Resources Division tests water samples at Glynn County beaches throughout the year. The test screens for enterococcus (pronounced:
en·ter·o·coc·cus) bacteria, which are found in humans and some wildlife.

When a beach is under advisory, it means the level of bacteria found in the water is above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended standards. Periodic advisories are not unusual, and sources of the bacteria could include animal waste, storm water runoff, or boating waste.

The advisory does NOT mean the beach is closed. Beach water advisories alert the public of a possible risk of illness associated with water contact in the advisory areas. The Health Department recommends you do not swim or wade in the water in the area under advisory. Fish and other seafood caught from the area should be thoroughly washed with fresh water and thoroughly cooked before eating, as should fish or seafood caught from any waters.

The area will be re-tested and the advisory will be lifted when the bacteria levels meet the EPA’s recommended standards. For more information, visit our Beach Water Testing page.

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