Georgia Coastal Health District

Due to the potential for severe weather associated with Tropical Storm Nicole, the Camden, Glynn, and Liberty County Health Departments will suspend operations Thursday, November 10. At this time, all other county health departments and Coastal Health District offices plan to be open and operational Thursday.

All clinics and offices will be closed Friday, November 11, in observance of Veteran’s Day.

The Coastal Health District Chronic Disease Prevention Program will hold blood glucose screening events at health departments throughout the month of November, which is Diabetes Awareness Month. The screenings are free and no appointment is necessary. Those getting screened will also receive information about the Diabetes Prevention Program and upcoming “Eating Healthy over the Holidays” virtual sessions.

The following screening events have been scheduled:

Bryan County Health Department, 430 Ledford Street, Pembroke
Tuesday, November 8
8- 11 a.m.

Glynn County Health Department, 2747 Fourth Street, Brunswick
Wednesday, November 9
1 – 4 p.m.

Camden County Health Department, 905 Dilworth Street, St. Marys
Thursday, November 10
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

McIntosh County Health Department, 1335 Ga Hwy. 17, Townsend
Thursday, December 1
1 – 4 p.m.

Liberty County Health Department, 1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville
Monday, November 14
1 – 4 p.m.

Bryan County Health Department, 66 Capt. Matthew Freeman Drive, Richmond Hill
Tuesday, November 15
8 – 11 a.m.

Effingham County Health Department, 802 Hwy. 119 South, Springfield
Thursday, November 17
1 – 4 p.m.

Long County Health Department, 584 N. Macon Street, Ludowici
Thursday, November 17
2 – 5 p.m.

Chatham County Health Department, 1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah
Tuesday, November22
 1 – 4 p.m.

Diabetes affects more than 30 million people in the United States and more than one out of every three adults have prediabetes. People with prediabetes have blood glucose levels higher than normal and are more likely to get type 2 diabetes. Making modest lifestyle changes can help lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The Coastal Health District Chronic Disease Prevention Program provides the tools our residents need to help combat diseases like diabetes that can lead to serious health complications.

More information about prediabetes and diabetes, please visit our website at coastalhealthdistrict.org/diabetes.

As the spooky season kicks into high gear this weekend, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends the following tips to help ensure everyone has a safe, fun time while making the rounds at fall festivals, trunk-or-treats, parties, and the traditional door-to-door hunt for goodies.

Costumes

• Be sure costumes, masks, wigs, beards, and other accessories are flame-resistant.
• Add reflective tape to costumes, bags, and accessories to increase visibility.
• Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses that can be purchased without a prescription. These may not fit properly and could cause scratches, sores, and other eye injuries.

Pedestrian Safety

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child.
• Caution children against running out from between parked cars, or across yards where obstacles may be hard to spot.
• Stick to walking areas that are well-lit and free of obstacles.
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick to see and be seen.
• Never walk near lit candles, luminaries or pumpkins.
• Avoid distractions from electronic devices.

Safe Homes

• Only trick-or-treat at homes where the parents know who lives there.
• Visit homes that have outdoor lights as a sign of welcome.
• Remove potential obstacles for trick-or-treaters from your own lawn, walkway, porch, and steps.

Treats

• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. If you have any doubt about the safety of a treat, throw it out.
• Examine treats for choking hazards before allowing them to be eaten.
• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as individual packs of raisins, trail mix, or pretzels.
• For party guests, offer fruits, vegetables, and cheeses, and avoid sugary beverages.
• Drink more water and brush and floss after eating sugary treats to control the formation of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and plaque.

If you aren’t feeling well, skip the Halloween parties and activities. In addition to being the spooky season, it is flu season. DPH recommends everyone six months old and older get the flu vaccine as soon as possible. Additionally, DPH recommends everyone six months old and older be up to date with COVID vaccination and booster shots.

If you have not gotten a flu shot yet, do not wait any longer. Flu activity is already widespread in Georgia – earlier than we’ve seen in recent years.

“Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine – not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications,” says Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., DPH commissioner. “It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so now is the time to get a flu shot.”

Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person, and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.

Flu vaccine is widely available at public health departments, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics and pharmacies. To find a location near you click on https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/. Flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as COVID vaccine, so it’s a good time to get your updated booster, too.

In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend the use of antiviral drugs that fight the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines and are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

There are other tried and true measures you can take to help prevent the spread of flu:

• Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and warm water. Alcohol based gels are the next best thing if you don’t have access to soap and water.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm to help prevent the spread of the flu.
• Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes.
• If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever, without the use of a fever reducer, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or work.
• If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from common areas of the house and other people as much as possible.

For more information about flu and how to prevent it, log on to dph.ga.gov/flu. You can monitor Georgia weekly influenza reports at https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/influenza/georgia-influenza-activity. The reports are updated on Fridays.

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.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has launched an online, centralized scheduling tool and helpline to locate and make appointments for mpox vaccine. To schedule a mpox vaccine, visit https://gta-vras.powerappsportals.us/en-US/. You may also call the Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line at (888) 457-0186.

The scheduling tool allows you to choose a first or second dose of Jynneos™ mpox vaccine from a dropdown menu. Because mpox vaccine supply remains limited, you will be asked to answer a series of questions that help DPH prioritize vaccine to individuals who may have been exposed to mpox. The questions follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for administering mpox vaccine.

The mpox scheduling tool simplifies finding vaccine and scheduling a mpox vaccination anywhere in the state by having all available appointments in one place instead of having to search individual health department websites. The availability of vaccines will be updated regularly to reflect the allocation of vaccine that Georgia receives from the federal government.

The mpox virus can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex. While more than 90% of those affected in the current global outbreak are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has mpox can be infected.

If you think you may have mpox , seek testing as soon as possible. To avoid potential spread of mpox to others, stay isolated until your rash has healed, and a new layer of skin has formed.

There are things you can do to protect yourself from getting mpox:  

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like mpox.
• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with mpox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

For more information about mpox, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/mpox.

ATLANTA –The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to closely monitor the current outbreak of monkeypox in the state. As of today, there are 625 confirmed monkeypox cases in Georgia. Testing and vaccination are available in health districts throughout the state; however, vaccine supplies from the federal government remain limited.

The monkeypox virus can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex. 

More than 90% of the people with monkeypox in the current outbreak generally report having close, sustained physical contact with other people who have monkeypox. While many of those affected in the current global outbreaks are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.

Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads but has not been identified to be a common mode of transmission in this outbreak or for monkeypox in general.

The risk of contracting monkeypox is based on exposure – an individual must be exposed to enough virus to become infected. What is currently known about monkeypox transmission indicates that sharing bedding or towels with someone who is infected with monkeypox would carry more risk than passing encounters with money or a door handle or other environmental surfaces.

Most settings where people congregate such as workplaces, schools, grocery stores, gas station, or public transportation are not considered high risk settings for monkeypox transmission. It is important to remember that monkeypox is not transmitted like COVID and typically takes skin-to-skin or other close contact to transmit. Unlike COVID or measles, this means far lower risk to persons that may be in a room with someone with monkeypox, but who do not have contact with the infected individual. 

There are things you can do to protect yourself from getting monkeypox:  

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.

• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

For more information on monkeypox, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/monkeypox or https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.