Georgia Coastal Health District

Chickenpox, a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella virus, has been confirmed in two students attending the Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD) Savannah campus. Additional probable cases are under investigation. Chatham County Health Department and SCAD officials are working together to prevent the spread of the disease by educating students and staff and promoting immunization against varicella.

The most recognized symptom of chickenpox is an itchy rash. Other symptoms include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headache. The virus is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can also be spread by touching or breathing in the virus particles that come from the chickenpox blisters. It takes from 10 to 21 days after exposure to a person with chickenpox for someone to develop chickenpox. A person with chickenpox can spread the disease from one to two days before they get the rash until all their chickenpox blisters have formed scabs.

“We are working closely with Savannah College of Art and Design administration to ensure that we provide appropriate information to all students and faculty,” said Diane Weems, M.D., Health Director for the Coastal Health District. “We want to make sure that people are aware of the symptoms and know that the best way to keep from getting the virus is to get vaccinated and the best way to keep from spreading the virus is to stay away from others until their lesions have turned into scabs.”

Most healthy people recover from chickenpox in five to 10 days; however, infants, adults, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems who have not been vaccinated and get the chickenpox can suffer from mild to serious complications.

For more information on chickenpox go to www.cdc.gov/chickenpox.

More than half – 101 out of 181 – Georgia school districts are now tobacco-free. Emanuel County Schools, Lowndes County Schools and Jenkins County Schools all recently implemented Georgia’s 100% Tobacco-Free School policy leading to this milestone in the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH) work to protect the state’s children from the harmful effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Under the 100% Tobacco-Free School policy no student, staff member or school visitor is permitted to use any tobacco product or E-cigarette, at any time on school property. Eighty Georgia school districts have not signed the policy.

“Tobacco-free schools save lives,” said Jean O’Connor, JD, DrPH, director of Chronic Disease Prevention for DPH. “Ninety percent of Georgia’s smokers started using tobacco before the age of 18, and by eliminating tobacco use—including e-cigarettes—in schools, we can reduce the likelihood children in Georgia will start to use tobacco as well as protect children and adults from the effects of secondhand smoke.”

Tobacco use causes heart disease, cancer, diabetes and premature death. In a young person, smoking can damage the heart and lungs right away and in some cases, the damage never goes away. Studies show that eliminating tobacco smoke in an environment can reduce the incidence of heart attack related hospital admissions by between 10 and 40 percent.

“Young people are extremely sensitive to nicotine and the younger they are when they start using tobacco, the more likely they are to develop addiction to nicotine, and begin a lifetime of chronic disease,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “That makes prevention in Georgia schools right now so critical.”

School districts can get help from local health departments to implement the 100% Tobacco-Free School policy. Each Health District in Georgia has a health promotion coordinator who can present the policy to the local school board and work with school administrators to implement it. In addition, youth empowerment teams will disseminate anti-smoking messages through media and social media.

All Georgians, including students, 13 to 17 years old, can call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at 1-877-270-STOP (7867) or 1-877-2NO-FUME (877-266-3863) and receive confidential counseling on how to quit smoking.

For more information about the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use in young people, click here. To learn more about DPH’s efforts to help schools become tobacco-free, visit the Chronic Disease Prevention section’s Tobacco-Free and Smoke-Free environments website.

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) program invites interested persons to participate in a 60-day public comment period for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015 Annual State Application under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Fiscal Policies. Stakeholders, early intervention providers, parents and members of the public are encouraged to comment and may review the grant application and revised policy online or at locations throughout the state.

Comments will be accepted in four ways:

1.    Written comments will be received by mail until Apr. 18, 2015:

Babies Can’t Wait
Attn: Cynthia Bryant, Part C Coordinator
2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 11-204
Atlanta, GA 30303-13422

2.    Email comments will be received until Apr. 18, 2015:
DPH-MCHDO@dph.ga.gov  (Subject line: Part C or Public Comment)

3.    Facsimile comments will be received until April 18, 2015:
State BCW Office Fax: (404-657-2763)

4.    In Person comments at a Public Hearing:
DPH invites interested persons to attend Public Hearings and present public comments. To allow an opportunity for all to be heard, comments will be limited to five minutes. (See locations listed below.)

Gainesville (2)
March 10, 2015, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Gainesville Health District
440 Prior Street, SE
Gainesville, GA 30501
(770) 531-4053
Contact: Patricia (Dru) Thomas, Early Intervention Coordinator
(770) 531-4053
Dru.Thomas@dph.ga.gov

Clayton (3-3)
March 10, 2015, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Clayton County Library
865 Battle Creek Road
Jonesboro, GA 30236
770-473-3850
Contact: Nicole Wilson
Early Intervention Coordinator
(678) 610-7252
Nicole.Wilson@dph.ga.gov

Columbus (7)
March 12, 2015, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
The Health and Human Services Building
2100 Comer Avenue
Columbus, GA 31902
(706) 327-0645
(800) 527-7344
Contact: Tori Endres, Early Intervention Coordinator
(706) 321-6136
Tori.Endres@dph.ga.gov

Waycross   (9-2)
March 10, 2015, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Waycross Health District
C.N.N. Building
1057 Grove Avenue
Waycross, GA 31501
(912) 284-2552
Contact: Tracy Weeden
Early Intervention Coordinator
(912) 284-2552
Tracy.Weeden@dph.gov

The Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) Program is Georgia’s statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs, age birth to three, and their families. This program enhances the capacity of families to meet the special needs of their child in order to ensure that each young child with significant developmental delays achieves his or her maximum developmental potential.

To learn more about DPH’s Babies Can’t Wait program, please call 404-657-2762 or 888-651-8224 or visit http://dph.georgia.gov/Babies-Cant-Wait.

December 8, 2014 – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed the flu-related deaths of two elderly females in the Coastal Health District – one from Chatham County and one from Effingham County. These are the first confirmed flu-related deaths in the Coastal Health District; however, there have been five additional confirmed flu-related deaths statewide. The Coastal Health District is made up of Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone six months and older get vaccinated against the flu. The influenza virus is very contagious and is spread mainly by droplets from infected people when they cough, sneeze, or talk. While the flu vaccine may not protect against every strain of flu it is still the best protection against the flu. Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu® or Relenza® are an important second line of defense against the flu. Treatment with antiviral drugs is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications or people who are very sick with flu. Antiviral drugs work best when started within two days of coming down with the flu, so it is important to call your doctor as soon as the first symptoms appear.
There are also several simple, everyday precautions people can take to avoid getting and spreading the flu including:
• Cover your cough (try to cough into the crook of your elbow, not your hand).
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water is not available use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Clean common surfaces like countertops and desks.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because germs spread this way.
• Stay home from work or school and away from others when you’re sick.
Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. According to the CDC, symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body which means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

November 19, 2014 – New information from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) shows fewer young people are using tobacco in the state. In fact, the rates are falling steadily and significantly.

Over the past decade, rates of youth who have used any form of tobacco have dropped from 26.1 percent in 2003 to 19.4 percent in 2013. The percentage of high school students who smoked cigarettes on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey, declined from 20.9 percent to 12.8 percent.

Adult smoking rates are also falling, down from 21.2 percent in 2011 to 18.8 percent in 2013. That’s a prevalence rate slightly lower than the U.S. average of 19.0 percent.

More than 1.5 million Georgians aged 18 and older smoke cigarettes. Another 315,000 adults in Georgia use some form of smokeless tobacco like chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus.

“Each year, 11,000 Georgians die from tobacco-related diseases – that’s more than alcohol, cocaine and heroin, AIDS, murders, suicides, auto accidents and fires combined,” said Jean O’Connor, JD, DrPH, chronic disease prevention director, Georgia Department of Public Health. “Tobacco users die on average 10 years earlier than non-tobacco users, so keeping youth from starting to use tobacco is one of the best ways to protect them from tobacco-related illness.”

Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in Georgia. Annually, tobacco-related illness costs more than $5 billion dollars in direct healthcare costs and indirect costs, such as lost wages.

More than half of Georgians who use tobacco want to quit. Quitting is the most important step current tobacco users can take to protect their health and the health of their families. Tobacco use and secondhand smoke cause heart disease, lung disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. The benefits of quitting start immediately. Within 20 minutes of quitting, a tobacco user’s heart rate decreases.

The Georgia Department of Public Health and its partners have set goals to decrease youth smoking to less than 10 percent and adult smoking to less than 15 percent of the population by 2020. To achieve these goals, DPH and its partners are encouraging businesses, schools, and government agencies to create tobacco-free environments and to support tobacco users who want to quit.

Tobacco users across Georgia can work toward meeting those goals with a quit attempt during the Great American Smokeout, Thursday, Nov. 20. The day encourages smokers to quit or to use the day to make a quit plan. Help is available. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line. The Quitline is currently offering free nicotine replacement therapy to Medicaid participants, the uninsured, and certain other groups that qualify.

English: 1-877-270-STOP (877-270-7867)
Spanish: 1-877-2NO-FUME (877-266-3863)
Hearing Impaired: 1-877-777-6534

The Georgia Tobacco Quitline is a free, confidential and effective service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including holidays) to help Georgians quit smoking or using any forms of tobacco, including electronic cigarettes or other electronic nicotine delivery devices.

The following statement is from Diane Z. Weems, M.D.
District Health Director, Coastal Health District
Today, public health was contacted regarding an individual complaining of flu-like symptoms who had recently returned from Nigeria. In an overabundance of caution, the individual was transported to a local hospital. After further investigation of the individual’s travel history, it was determined that this person does not meet the criteria for being at risk from Ebola based on the travel dates to that country. The World Health Organization declared Nigeria Ebola-free on October 20.*
*According to WHO recommendations, the end of an Ebola virus disease outbreak in a country can be declared once 42 days have passed and no new cases have been detected. The 42 days represents twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola (21 days). This 42-day period starts from the last day that any person in the country had contact with a confirmed or probable Ebola case.
For credible information on Ebola:
www.cdc.gov/ebola
www.dph.ga.gov/ebola

July 21, 2014 – Coastal Health District officials want to remind residents to take precautions to avoid mosquitoes which are not only a nuisance but can carry disease such as West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and chikungunya.
WNV is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. About 80 percent of people infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all; however, cases can range from mild to severe. Mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus are more likely to bite during the evening, night, and early morning. EEE is a mosquito-borne virus that causes swelling of the brain. In horses, it is fatal 70 to 90 percent of the time. Horse and large animal owners are encouraged to vaccinate their animals against the virus and to clean out watering sources, such as buckets and troughs, every three-to-four days to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people with chikungunya will develop some symptoms which could include fever, joint and muscle pain, headache, and a rash. There is no specific treatment and most who get it feel better within a week. Unlike the mosquitoes that carry WNV, the mosquitoes that spread the chikungunya virus bite mostly during the daytime.
Mosquito Prevention
The best way to prevent mosquito-related diseases is to avoid mosquito bites. Mosquitoes breed in standing water which is why it is important to remove water-holding containers (buckets, barrels, flower pots, tarps, etc.; drill holes in tire swings so water drains out; keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they’re not being used; change water frequently in pet dishes; change bird bath water at least twice a week; and avoid using saucers under outdoor potted plants.
In addition, following these tips can help lessen the risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes:
• DRAIN all standing water.
• Avoid DAWN and DUSK when mosquitoes are most active.
• DRESS appropriately in long sleeves and pants.
• DEFEND or DEET yourself against mosquitoes with an effective repellent. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide long lasting protection.
• DOORS and windows should be in good condition.