South Health District

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The month of August is about bringing awareness to immunizations, and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) wants Georgians to think ahead and get the required school vaccinations.

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

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

The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed twenty-four mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Lowndes County. Public Health Officials continue to encourage South Georgians to guard against exposure to mosquitoes.