Follow Us! DPH Launches Campaign to Raise Awareness of New Immunization Requirements for Students Beginning with the 2014- 2015 school year, all students born on or after Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! January 1, 2002, and entering or transferring into seventh grade in Georgia, must receive a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) In This Issue booster vaccination (Tdap) and an adolescent meningococcal vaccination New Immunization Requirements for Students (MCV4). The same applies for any students new to Chikungunya Confirmed In GA Georgia who are entering grades eight through twelve. This law affects all public Improved Ready Georgia App and private schools including charter schools, community schools, juvenile court HPB awarded $3.15 million schools and other alternative school settings (excluding homeschool). District Finance Administrator Realizes Investment in Healthy Lifestyle University of West Georgia Plants Community Garden To promote awareness of the new requirements, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has designated June 23-27 as Preteen Vaccination Awareness Week. Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and meningitis are all vaccinepreventable diseases. Not only are vaccines important for your child's health, these vaccines are mandatory for children to attend school. App of the Week: iTriage PHEVENTS June 27 National HIV Testing Day "Protection from vaccines received in childhood wears off as kids get older, so preteens and teens need a booster shot known as Tdap," said Steven Mitchell, director for the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Office. "We're not only protecting them now against vaccine-preventable diseases, but also protecting their future. We can't stress enough the importance of getting your preteen vaccinated." Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule on our website. First Travel-Associated Human Case of Chikungunya Confirmed in Georgia PHBRIEFS June 27 is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), which is an annual campaign to encourage people of all ages to "Take the Test, Take Control." The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), last week, confirmed the state's first human case of chikungunya this year. The patient was infected during a recent trip to a Caribbean nation. The Georgia Department of Chikungunya is caused by a Public Health, Walgreen's and Greater Than Aids will offer virus that spreads through Aedes aegypti (the yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes albopictus mosquito bites - It is not (the Asian tiger mosquito) carry chikungunya virus. free HIV testing at select spread person to person. Walgreens locations on June 26- 27 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and June 28 from 10 a.m. For more information, click here. The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and severe joint pain, especially in the hands and feet. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash. Symptoms usually begin three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, with most patients feeling better within a week. Joint pain, however, can persist for months. The Georgia Department of Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, but the symptoms can be Public Health, in partnership severe and disabling. Travelers who go to islands in the Caribbean are at risk of with AID Atlanta, will host a live getting chikungunya. In addition, travelers to Africa, Asia, and islands in the remote by V103 radio station on Indian Ocean and Western Pacific are at risk, as the virus is present in many of June 27 in the store front these areas. Mosquitoes that carry chikungunya virus bite during the day and at "Balboa" at Underground night, indoors and outdoors, and often live around buildings in urban areas. Atlanta, at the corner of Upper Alabama & Pryor Street from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Too many people don't know New and Improved Ready Georgia App Now they have HIV. In the United States, nearly 1.1 million people Available are living with HIV, and almost one in six don't know they are Governor Nathan Deal and the infected. Getting tested is the Georgia Emergency Management first step to finding out if you Agency today introduced an have HIV. If you have HIV, upgraded version of the state's getting medical care and taking emergency mobile app, Ready medicines regularly helps you Georgia, designed to help live a longer, healthier life and Georgians stay safe and informed also lowers the chances of during emergencies. Upgrading passing HIV on to others. the app was one of the recommendations of the For more info about HIV, click here. governor's Severe Winter Weather Warning and Preparedness Taskforce. Charley English, Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) director, spoke during Monday's news conference at the state capital held to release information about PHTRAINING Two for Tuesdays Join the Office of Human Resources on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m.12:45 p.m. for the learning series Two for Tuesdays. This series provides an opportunity for "When severe weather hit our upgrades to the Ready Georgia app. state this year, I called on our emergency management agency to upgrade the state's emergency app with shelter information, alternative transportation routes and other emergency-related information," Deal said. "The Ready Georgia app already served as a good resource for Georgians, but now that its capabilities have been expanded it will keep us better informed when emergency situations arise. I appreciate the cooperative efforts of all involved in this process, and I encourage everyone to download this app in advance of future weather-related emergencies." programs to explore new ideas, share knowledge and highlight Launching just in time for the start of hurricane season, the upgraded Ready teams and their work. To learn more and to register, click here. Georgia app features geo-targeted severe weather and emergency alerts that will notify users' phones before disasters strike. The app also includes traffic Performance Management for Everyone information, including a live traffic map with incident reports straight from the Georgia Department of Transportation. Finally, an enhanced shelters map displays Mon., June 23 the location of open Red Cross shelters as well as approved "good Samaritan" 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. shelters, and provides directions from the users' current location. HR - Training Room 16th Floor Excel Intermediate Functions Tues., June 24 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. HPB Researchers Awarded $3.15 million NIH Excel Data Management and Pivot Grant to Improve Chronic Disease Management Tables Tues., June 24 in the Workplace 1:30-4:30 p.m. Performance Management for Supervisors Researchers at the University of Georgia College of Public Health Tues., June 24 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. HR - Training Room 16th Floor have received a 5-year, $3.15 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at Performance Management for Everyone Tues., June 24 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. the National Institutes of Health (NIH) aimed at improving opportunities for individuals to better manage their chronic illness HR - Training Room 16th Floor For employees not at 2 in the workplace. Peachtree, classes can be attended remotely; however, remote attendees must be registered 48 hours prior to class. Register for all classes through SABA (2 Peachtree attendees register for "Instructor-Led" and remote attendees register for "Virtual" classes). Contact Lisa Chronic diseases - such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer - Right: Dr. Mark Wilson, Associate Dean and Professor, UGA College of Public Health are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Yet, these diseases can often be Left: Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, UGA College of Public Health prevented or better managed with early detection, improved diet, exercise, and interactions with healthcare professionals. Miller if you have questions. Dual Principal Investigators leading the grant are Dr. Mark Wilson, associate dean Free Online Courses Available and professor, and Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, assistant professor, in the Department from Lynda.com of Health Promotion and Behavior. DPH has purchased a limited number of licenses for Lynda.com, "It is estimated that the number of workers between the ages of 65 and 74 will an online library of high-quality, easy-to-use instructional videos on the latest software, creative increase by 83 percent from 2006 to 2016, and those age 75 and older will increase by 84 percent," Wilson said. "Many of these older workers will have one and business skills. Licenses are or more chronic diseases." available for check out on a first come, first served basis. To check out a license, simply email Lisa Miller from your public health email account. District Finance Administrator Realizes Submit calendar entries to communications@dph.ga.gov by 12 noon on Wednesday. PHNEWS Number of pregnant smokers decreasing in GA Walk Georgia fighting obesity a Investment in Healthy Lifestyle As financial administrator for the North Georgia Health District based in Dalton, Steve Tonya is used to keeping track of accounts. But it wasn't until he took account of his own personal health inventory that he realized it was time to invest in a new plan for a healthier lifestyle - an investment that has paid off well as we mark the importance of Men's Health Month in June. step at a time Georgia introduces improved emergency mobile app Sex questions still tobacco on teen survey Gay "Hook Up" Apps Tied to Higher STD Infection Rates "I had elevated blood pressure and my weight was the highest it had ever been," Steve said. "Plus, I had knee problems when playing tennis and I suffered from sleep apnea. But now that I've dropped 50 pounds and am consistently physically active, I no longer wear a knee brace or have any sleep issues. Most importantly, my blood pressure is at a normal level for the first time in years." PHRECIPE Patience and perseverance is what it took for Steve to be successful. Realizing that sustained weight loss does not happen overnight, he knew that a healthy meal plan and physical activity throughout each week would be crucial toward not only becoming Steve Tonya, financial administrator for the North Georgia Health District, loses healthier, but would also help him maintain a 50 lbs. and gains a healthy lifestyle. healthy lifestyle. University of West Georgia Plants Community Garden White Bean Bruschetta Serves 4 Prep and Cook Time: 25 minutes Click Here for Full Recipe PHWEEK The University of West Georgia (UWG) has partnered with Tanner Health System's "Get Healthy, Live Well" initiative to plant and maintain a community garden. UWG joins several other groups in the area who are also planting these gardens. Bowdon Elementary School, Fairfield Plantation, Heard County 4-H Club and Piney Grove Baptist Church are among approximately twelve groups taking part in the initiative. Director of Communications Ryan Deal Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith Sr. Graphic Designer Ginny Jacobs Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Turquoise Griffith Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts Some of the gardens will be used to grow food for local needy families and others will focus on educating young people on growing and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. "We're bringing University of West Georgia students plant a community garden to help educate people about the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. community partners together to help our neighbors and reach people who need fresh food," says Denise Taylor, senior vice president and chief community health, strategy and brand officer at Tanner Health System. "It's also a wonderful opportunity to educate the next generation about growing fresh vegetables and fruit," she adds. Community gardens provide residents with sustainably grown produce, a sense of community and a connection to the environment in which they live. Some of the crops will include tomatoes, peppers, squash, okra, corn and strawberries. App of the Week: iTriage Created by two emergency doctors, iTriage offers patients a symptom checker, doctor search, a database of medical symptoms, diseases, conditions, procedures, medications and drugs and a hospital locator. From the app, patients can also check in while they are on their way to select hospitals and check wait times for the emergency room. Click here to download the iTriage App. Georgia Public Health Observances | June 2014 Forward email This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by communications@dph.ga.gov | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. Georgia Department of Public Health | 2 Peachtree Street, NW | Atlanta | GA | 30303