Recent surveillance for rabies in the raccoon population near Columbiana in Shelby County has revealed three positive cases. The current area of focus includes a two-mile radius around the Beeswax Creek boat launch area, where the most recent of the positive raccoons was discovered.

The ongoing surveillance is being conducted by the USDA Wildlife Services (WS) along with the Alabama Department of Public Health. The surveillance began in response to a rabid puppy found in February that was confirmed to be infected with a raccoon variant of the rabies virus.

The primary concern is that these positive cases have been found in an area where raccoon rabies is not typically found. According to Dana Johnson, a USDA WS biologist, the primary focus will be expanding the surveillance areas to try to determine the extent that the rabies virus has spread.

We’re looking for volunteers to drive patients to and from their local cancer treatments.

If you have a car, personal auto insurance, safe driving skills, and can volunteer at least one morning or afternoon each month, you can be a lifeline to someone fighting cancer.

Join us for one of the trainings scheduled to get started driving patients!

TRAINING DATES:

Thursday, April 11, 2013  - 1p.m.-3 p.m.

Troy Regional Medical Center - Board Room (First Floor)
1330 U. S. 231 South, Troy, AL  36081
Contact:  Luella Giles @ 334.612.8162

Tuesday, April 16, 2013  - 1p.m.-3 p.m.

Dallas County Health Department
100 Samuel O Moseley Drive, Selma, AL 36701
Contact:  Luella Giles @ 334.612.8162

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 10 a.m.-12 Noon

Governor Robert Bentley has proclaimed April as Autism Awareness Month in Alabama. The Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council and the Autism Society of Alabama are partnering to promote this observance. The month-long awareness campaign held annually in April has been sponsored since the 1970s by the Autism Society of America, and seeks to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism spectrum disorders.

Events will be held statewide celebrating the observance, including a series of Walks for Autism in 15 locations around the state. Proceeds from the walks benefit the Autism Society of Alabama, which also sponsors the walks. In addition, a “Light It Up Blue” campaign will also be going on during April, involving everything from office buildings to people’s front porches.

According to the most recent autism prevalence rate released by the CDC, 1 in 88 children are identified as having an autism spectrum disorder.