During Georgia’s last flu season, five children died and hundreds were hospitalized. It was the worst flu season in the state on record. Nationally, 177 children died from flu- associated complications, and 80 percent were not appropriately vaccinated against the flu for their age. Continue Reading

At all times, the permit holder has the responsibility and the obligation to the Health Authority and to the consumer to protect the public health from imminent health hazards that may be present and associated with his/her food service operation. Continue Reading

Ben Hill, Berrien, Irwin, Tift and Turner County Health Departments will remain closed Friday, October 12 due to power outages from Hurricane Michael. Continue Reading

All public health facilities in Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift and Turner Counties will be closed Wednesday, October 10 and Thursday, October 11 due to Hurricane Michael. Continue Reading

To be prepared for this flu season, CDC recommends getting your vaccine by the end of October. Once you have received your flu vaccine, it takes approximately two weeks for antibodies to develop in your body. Therefore, you should get the vaccine before the flu virus begins spreading around you. Continue Reading

The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed one human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Echols County. Three horses have tested positive for mosquito-borne diseases in Brooks, Cook and Lowndes County this season. Continue Reading

Governor Deal signed a bill permitting microblading – temporary cosmetic tattooing of eyebrows – as a legal form of tattooing in Georgia.  Continue Reading

A horse in Cook County has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Continue Reading