Author: Ariana Lawrence

BURLINGTON – The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh has confirmed Alamance County’s sixth rabies case for the year.

On August 17th, a skunk fought with two dogs that were not up-to-date on rabies vaccinations on Highway 49 North near John Lewis Rd. Residents in this area with outside pets should examine pets for any wounds that may have come in contact with the skunk and notify animal control or the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367 if they have questions or concerns.

“North Carolina law states that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies,” stated Environmental Health Director Carl Carroll. “Over the past two years, 35 dogs were euthanized after being exposed to rabid animals; this could have been prevented if their vaccinations had been up-to-date.”

If you are bitten by any animal:

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control.  If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address.  Give this information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild animal

For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

BURLINGTON – The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh has confirmed Alamance County’s fifth rabies case for the year.

On August 5th, a raccoon fought with two dogs that were not up-to-date on rabies vaccinations on Parker Street in Graham. Parker Street is less than a mile from downtown Graham. Residents in this area with outside pets should examine pets that may have come in contact with the raccoon for any wounds and notify animal control or the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367 if they have questions or concerns.

“It is North Carolina law that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies and over the past two years, 33 dogs were euthanized after being exposed to rabid animals. If their vaccinations had been up-to-date, their lives could have been spared,” stated Environmental Health Director, Carl Carroll. “Rabies vaccination protects not only your pet, but also helps to protect you and your family.”

If you are bitten by any animal:

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control.  If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address.  Give this information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild animal

For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccinations requirements, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

DISASTER NEWS

Loans for Homeowners, Renters and Businesses of All Sizes

SBA Disaster Assistance – Field Operations Center- East – 101 Marietta Street, NW, Suite 700, Atlanta, GA 30303

Release Date: July 17, 2013 Contact: Michael Lampton

Release Number: 13-636, NC 13663/13664 Email: Michael.Lampton@sba.gov

Phone: (404) 331-0333

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to North Carolina Residents

Affected By Severe Storms and Flooding

WASHINGTON – North Carolina residents and businesses affected by severe storms and flooding on

June 30 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA

Administrator Karen G. Mills announced today.

Administrator Mills made the loans available in response to a letter from

Gov. Pat McCrory on July 11, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers

Orange County and the adjacent counties of Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham and Person in

North Carolina.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of North Carolina with the most effective and

customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes with

federal disaster loans,” said Administrator Mills. “Getting businesses and communities up and running

after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed

real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace

damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations

Center East in Atlanta. SBA’s customer service representatives are available at the Disaster

Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals

complete their applications.

The Center is located in the following community and is open as indicated:

Orange County

University Mall North Carolina

201 S. Estes Drive, Suite A10

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Hours: Monday, July 22 – Thursday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closing: Thursday, July 25 at close of business

-more“

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or

replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other

business assets,” said Lynn Douthett, SBA’s North Carolina district director.

The SBA may increase a loan up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real

estate and/or leasehold improvements, as verified by SBA, to make upgrades that lessen the risk

of property damage by similar future disasters.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most

private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans

(EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available

regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 1.875 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.875 percent for

non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts

and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure

website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center may also obtain information and loan

applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339

for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan

applications can also be downloaded at http://www.sba.gov/. Completed applications should be

returned to the center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and

Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is September 13, 2013. The

deadline to return economic injury applications is April 15, 2014.

###

For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov/disaster.

NOTE: Due to the nationwide Tubersol PPD shortage and until further notice, the Alamance County Health Department will only perform PPD skin tests based on priority guidelines recommended by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.  TB skin tests for all others will be deferred until shortage has been resolved.  If you are in need of a TB skin test, please call 336-570-6416 to determine eligibility.

BURLINGTON – The Alamance County Health Department will be hosting a rabies vaccination clinic on April 27 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Environmental Health Office at 209 N. Graham-Hopedale Rd. in Burlington. The cost is $5.00 per animal.  Dogs must be on leashes and cats in carriers.

Additional public rabies vaccination clinics will be held for one week, May 6-11, at the following local veterinary offices:

–          Mebane Veterinary Hospital                      (919) 563-5006

–          Graham Animal Hospital                           (336) 228-1600

–          Tri-County Veterinary Service                   (336) 376-6838

–          Creekside Animal Clinic                            (919) 563-9663

In addition, Alamance Animal Emergency Hospital, available at (336) 228-7226, will provide rabies vaccinations May 6-10 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and again on May 11 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. only. Please call the veterinary office for clinic hours and to schedule an appointment for the participating clinics.  Rabies vaccines at the participating offices above will cost $5.00 per animal.

State law requires the vaccination of cats and dogs against rabies. Animals should begin receiving rabies vaccination at 4 months of age.  For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

BURLINGTON – The Alamance County Health Department will be hosting a rabies vaccination clinic on March 1 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Lakeview Civitan Club located at 144 Roberta Drive, off of Union Ridge Rd, in Burlington.

There have been three confirmed rabies cases thus far in 2013.  All three cases have been raccoons and all have been located in the northwest part of Alamance County.

“Rabies vaccination protects not only your pet, but also helps to protect you and your family,” says Environmental Health Director, Carl Carroll. “It is North Carolina law that cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies and over the past two years, 29 dogs were euthanized after being exposed to rabid animals. If their vaccinations had been up-to-date, their lives could have been spared.”

The cost of the rabies shot at the clinic will be $5.00 per pet. Pet owners attending the vaccination clinic are reminded to keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers.

There were six total rabies cases in Alamance County for 2012.  In addition, there were a total of 432 rabies cases statewide in 2012.

For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

Health officials urge residents to stay up-to-date on vaccinations for pets

BURLINGTON – The Alamance County Health Department received confirmation today of the county’s second and third cases of rabies for 2013 by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.  The first case of rabies was confirmed last week on February 5.

On February 8, a raccoon and a dog fought on Troendly Street in the northwestern part of Alamance County.  On February 11, another raccoon attacked a dog on Bethel Methodist Church Road, also located in the northwestern part of the county.  Both raccoons tested positive for rabies and both dogs involved in the altercations have been euthanized because their vaccinations were not current.

Environmental Health Specialists from the health department visited the northwestern part of the county today providing flyers to residents and businesses regarding the rabies cases and the importance of rabies vaccination among pets.

“North Carolina law requires current and up-to-date vaccination of pets against rabies,” says Environmental Health Director, Carl Carroll. “Rabies vaccination not only protects your pet but helps keep the people around that pet safe.”

There were six total rabies cases in Alamance County for 2012.  In addition, there were a total of 432 rabies cases statewide in 2012.

If bitten by any animal:

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control.  If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address.  Give this information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild animal.

For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

BURLINGTON – The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh has confirmed Alamance County’s first rabies case of 2013.

On January 30, a raccoon fought with three dogs on Terry Smith Trail in northwestern Alamance County.  The raccoon was shot by the dogs’ owner during the altercation and then sent to the State Laboratory where it later tested positive for rabies.  The three dogs involved in the altercation were not current on their rabies vaccinations and were euthanized after exposure to the raccoon.

“It’s unfortunate that these dogs were not up-to-date on shots.  State law requires rabies vaccination for dogs and cats to protect them and the people that care for them,” said Carl Carroll, Alamance County Health Department’s Environmental Health Director.

There were six total rabies cases in Alamance County for 2012.  In addition, there were a total of 432 rabies cases statewide in 2012.

If bitten by any animal:

• Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
• Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control.  If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address.  Give this information to animal control or the health department.
• Do not try to catch any wild animal

For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

Colgate Dental Van scheduled to appear on Saturday, February 2

BURLINGTON –Children ages 3-5 years are invited to receive free dental screenings on a walk-in basis on February 2, at the 10^th Annual Give Kids A Smile event. The Colgate Dental Van is scheduled to appear at the event, taking place at the Alamance Children’s Dental Clinic, and a local pediatric dentist will provide screenings and parent education for preschoolers on the van from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary for preschoolers (ages 3-5 years).  Participating children will receive a free backpack and a toothbrush.

The Alamance County Health Department and the Alamance-Caswell Dental Society will be commemorating National Children’s Dental Access Day at the event. The Dental Clinic is located at 1914 McKinney Street in Burlington.

Give Kids A Smile provides an opportunity for children without dental insurance to receive free dental services. The event began in 2003 and since that time, participating dentists have performed more than $1 million in free dental services for children in Alamance and Caswell counties. The Give Kids A Smile Foundation was recently awarded $5,000 from Delta Dental to help support the mission of the local Give Kids A Smile event.

Appointment scheduling begins January 22, event on February 2

BURLINGTON – The Alamance County Health Department and the Alamance-Caswell Dental Society will be commemorating National Children’s Dental Access Day with the annual Give Kids A Smile on February 2 from 8:30 a.m-1:00 p.m. at the Alamance Children’s Dental Clinic. The Dental Clinic is located at 1914 McKinney Street in Burlington.

Give Kids A Smile provides an opportunity for children without dental insurance to receive free dental services. The event began in 2003, and since that time, participating dentists have performed more than $1 million in free dental services for children in Alamance and Caswell counties. The Give Kids A Smile Foundation was recently awarded $5,000 from Delta Dental to help support the mission of the local Give Kids A Smile event.

“This event has really grown in the last ten years, and we are fortunate to have dedicated partners and volunteers for the event,” says Give Kids A Smile coordinator, Margaret Hooper. “This is a wonderful opportunity for children who would otherwise not receive dental services to get the care they need.”

Scheduling for the free Give Kids A Smile dental appointments will begin Tuesday, January 22 and will end Thursday, January 24. There are a limited number of appointments available, and those interested should call 336-221-1267 between 9:00 a.m. and noon and then again from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

In order to be eligible for the Give Kids A Smile event, a child must meet the following criteria:

–          Be in preschool – 8^th grade

–          Reside in Alamance County or Caswell County

–          Reside in a family that has financial need

–          Have no dental insurance

–          Not currently enrolled in N.C. Medicaid or N.C. Health Choice program