Georgia Coastal Health District

This November, health department staff will travel across the Coastal Health District to provide free HIV testing, prevention education, and community resources.

Individuals who receive an HIV test will have the opportunity to receieve a $25 gift card per household – limited to the first 25 eligible participants at each event, while supplies last. We will also distribute educational matierals, swag bags, and information about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis.)

November Testing Schedule

• Tuesday, November 10, 2026
  • Canden County Health Department, 9am-12pm
  • Glynn County Health Department, 1pm-4pm
• Thursday, November 12, 2026
  • McIntosh County Health Department, 9am-12pn
• Tuesday, November 12, 2026
  • Long County Health Department, 9am-12pm
  • Liberty County Health Department, 1pm-4pm
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026
  • Bryan County Health Department – Pembroke, 9am-12pm
  • Bryan County Health Department – Richmond Hill, 1pm-4pm
• Thursday, November 19, 2026
  • Effingham Couunty Health Department, 9am-12pm
  • Chatham County Health Department – Eisenhower & Midtown locations, 2-6pm

The following press release was issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health on October 13, 2026:

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed measles in an unvaccinated Macon County resident, bringing Georgia’s 2026 total to 22 cases, compared to 10 cases in all of 2025.

The individual is isolating at home, and unvaccinated close contacts are quarantining. Although the individual has no known travel history, they had contact with a confirmed measles case from Pennsylvania, where an ongoing measles outbreak has surpassed 1,100 cases.

DPH is working to identify others who may have been exposed.

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is the best protection against measles.

“The MMR vaccine is safe and effective. Measles spreads quickly, and vaccination now can help prevent further spread,” said Cherie Drenzek, DVM, MS, state epidemiologist. “One dose provides about 93% protection against measles, and two doses increase protection to about 97%.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for children: the first at 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years. Infants 6–11 months old traveling internationally should receive an early dose before travel, followed by two additional doses after their first birthday. Parents should consult their healthcare provider with questions about vaccination.

Vaccination also helps protect people who are too young or medically unable to receive the vaccine.

Measles symptoms typically appear 7–14 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a red rash that begins on the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

Anyone with measles symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately. DO NOT go to a doctor’s office, hospital, or public health clinic without calling ahead to report your symptoms. Healthcare providers who suspect measles should notify public health immediately.

For more information about measles, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/measles-georgia or https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.

In an effort to encourage community members to get moving this fall, the Coastal Health District’s Chronic Disease Prevention Team is launching Walk-tober Fest.

Walk-tober Fest gives community members a chance to get outside and chat with Coastal Health team members. Whether it inspires a new neighborhood walking club, a walking work meeting, or simply a fresh breath of air, the goal is to help everyone find simple ways to move more.

It’s easy to spend most of the day sitting still. National data indicates that people spend roughly 87% of their time indoors and average over four hours a day looking at their phones. In Georgia, that sedentary routine is reflected in health reports, with nearly a quarter of adults doing no physical activity outside of their regular job.

Walk-tober Fest aims to combat these trends by making physical activity accessible, social, and fun.

Schedule of After-Work Walks

All walks are scheduled from 5:15 PM to 5:45 PM (unless otherwise noted), and participants should meet at the building entrances:

• October 7: Chatham County Health Department — Midtown Location
• October 14: Liberty County Health Department
• October 19: Chatham County Health Department — Eisenhower Drive Location
• October 20: Bryan County Health Department — Pembroke Location
• October 21: McIntosh County Health Department
• October 26: Bryan County Health Department — Richmond Hill Location
• October 27 (5:30 PM): Long County Public Library (Note: This walk takes place prior to the first Long County Diabetes Support Group Meeting, which runs from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
• October 29: Glynn County Health Department
• November 17: Camden County Health Department

All fitness levels are welcome, and no registration is required. Grab a colleague, a neighbor, or a friend and join Public Health for a breath of fresh air!

An annual flu shot is the best way to prevent serious flu-related illness and is now available at health departments across coastal Georgia. September and October are ideal months for vaccination so your body can build immunity before peak flu season arrives.

“We’re already seeing an increase in flu-like illness in Georgia, so it’s certainly not too soon to get your flu shot,” said Angela Hartley, clinical director of the Coastal Health District. “It takes about two weeks for your immune system to build resistance to the flu after vaccination, so you don’t want to wait until flu cases are widespread to get the vaccine.”

Flu vaccine is available at the health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, and is especially important for:

• adults over 65,
• children younger than 2,
• pregnant people, and
• individuals with underlying conditions like asthma and chronic lung disease.

The cost of flu vaccination is typically covered by insurance, and health departments accept many health insurance plans. There are low-cost vaccination options for individuals without health insurance coverage.

Flu Vaccination Events

Several health departments will offer special flu vaccination events this fall. Additional events may be added throughout the season.

Are you headed to one of our flu vaccination events or coming to the clinic for a flu shot? Click the button below to view, download, and print the vaccine consent forms and read the Vaccine Information Sheet ahead of time. Bring the completed consent form with you to the clinic for even faster service!

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus in the Coastal Health District in 2026. The individual is an adult resident of Chatham County. This is the second confirmed human case in Georgia this year to date.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80% of people who get WNV won’t have symptoms. Those who do develop symptoms typically experience fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. However, a small number of people will develop severe symptoms affecting the central nervous system, which could be fatal. Last year there were 18 confirmed human cases of WNV in Georgia residents, and 1 in the Coastal Health District.

There is no vaccine to prevent WNV, and no treatment other than supportive care for the symptoms. The Coastal Health District reminds everyone to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes that carry WNV are more likely to bite during the evening, night, and early morning. Wearing insect repellent containing the chemical DEET or picaridin will help keep mosquitoes away. Eliminate standing water around the home and yard to keep mosquitoes from breeding.

The Five Ds of mosquito bite prevention can help prevent mosquito bites and breeding:

• Dusk/Dawn: Avoid dusk and dawn activities during the summer when mosquitoes are most active.
• Dress: Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin.
• DEET: Cover exposed skin with an insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, which are the most effective repellents against mosquito bites.
• Drain: Empty any containers holding standing water – buckets, barrels, flowerpots, tarps – because they are breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.
• Doors: Make sure doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly and fix torn or damaged screens to keep mosquitoes out of the house.