‘WIC’ program off to a good start at new location

Madison County Health department nurse manager Beth Heath thanked members of the board of health during their meeting last week for their support in relocating the WIC (Women, Infants, Children) program to the new facility. “It gives us a lot more room,” Heath said.

This is particularly important since WIC is the most used program the health department offers, with 4,843 visits for program services last year, which served a total of 1,177 clients.

There were 1,819 immunizations provided to the public last year. Northeast Health District director Dr. Claude Burnett said that fewer flu shots are being given at the health department as people are taking advantage of this service at pharmacies and other outlets.

In other business, the board heard that Madison County had the highest number of positive rabies cases in the 10-county Northeast Georgia Health District in 2011.

There were 101 rabies investigations, resulting in 18 animals who tested positive and in four people receiving treatment for exposure to the disease.

Health department officials said that so there have been two positive cases so far this year (one raccoon and one skunk).