Health officials are raising concerns as new data shows tick bites are sending more people to emergency rooms at the highest rate in nearly a decade.
Opioid overdose reversal kits are being distributed to 180 schools across Northwest Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is partnering with Northwest Georgia RESA as part of a statewide effort to equip every public school in Georgia with Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
A “Stuff the Box” event was held Tuesday, April 21, where local education, behavioral health, and public safety professionals helped assemble the kits for schools in the region. Several schools picked up their completed kits the same day.
State officials say the effort is funded through opioid settlement dollars and supports Wesley’s Law, which allows schools to obtain and administer opioid antagonists while providing legal protections for staff acting in good faith.
The statewide initiative has already reached more than 1,300 schools, with a goal of equipping 2,300 schools by the end of the school year.
Summerville Veterinary Clinic will host a rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, May 16, at Chattooga High School.
The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the school’s parking lot. Pet owners are asked to enter from the Highway 100 entrance and follow posted signs and arrows.
Rabies vaccinations will be available for $10 each. The clinic will be conducted as a drive-through service, with pets remaining inside vehicles while vaccinations are administered.
Organizers say the event offers a convenient and affordable way for residents to keep their pets up to date on rabies vaccinations.
The American Red Cross is encouraging donors to give blood now to help hospitals and transfusion centers remain prepared to care for patients in need.
Officials say the combination of warmer weather, outdoor activities, and spring travel can disrupt regular donation routines, leading to a drop in available blood products. Even small changes in schedules can have a significant impact on the blood supply.
Donors of all blood types, including those giving for the first time, are urged to make an appointment in the coming days or weeks.
To help encourage donations, the Red Cross is offering incentives for those who give. Individuals who donate between April 13 and April 30, 2026, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Those who donate from May 1 through May 17, 2026, will receive a $20 Amazon gift card by email.
Appointments can be scheduled by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
The Chattooga County Health Fair is happening today, offering residents a chance to take advantage of free health services and resources in one convenient location.
The event runs from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center on Middle School Road in Summerville. Organizers say the health fair focuses on promoting wellness, prevention, and connecting the community with local healthcare providers.
Attendees can receive a wide range of free health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and BMI checks, along with dental screenings, HIV testing, and cancer screenings. Hands-on CPR education, Narcan training, and even free food distribution will also be available.
Mammograms will be offered by appointment for eligible participants, and a number of healthcare organizations and community partners will be on hand to provide information and support.
Officials encourage residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia to stop by, take advantage of the free services, and learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Here are the latest health inspection scores from the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department for the first half of April, 2026:
The Chattooga Health Fair is coming up, and this year it will include an AngioScreen bus offering important preventative screenings. The screening checks for early warning signs of heart attack and stroke before symptoms ever appear. That is what makes it so important. Many people feel completely normal and go about their daily lives with no idea that a serious health issue could already be developing.
Community members are encouraged to make plans now to attend the 2nd Annual Chattooga County Health Fair, coming up one week from today on Saturday, April 18.
Low-flying aircraft will be seen across Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture begins distributing oral rabies vaccine baits to help prevent the spread of raccoon rabies. The baiting effort is scheduled to take place from April 7 through April 15 as part of a larger cooperative program involving USDA Wildlife Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and other agencies.
The latest health inspection scores released by the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department show perfect scores for two Summerville restaurants.
Burger King, located at 11245 Highway 27 in Summerville, received a score of 100 on a routine inspection conducted March 30, 2026. The inspection was completed by Rashelle Eubanks.
Taco Bell, located at 11317 Highway 27 in Summerville, also earned a perfect score of 100. That routine inspection took place on March 17, 2026, and was also conducted by Rashelle Eubanks.
The Chattooga County Environmental Health Department reminds residents that complaints involving any food service establishment or tourist accommodation operating in Chattooga County may be reported by calling 706-857-3377.