With the cleanup of debris comes the very real risk of injury, including tetanus from, literally, rusty nails and other hazards hidden in the mess.
The Greene County Health Department is providing vaccinations for those assisting with and impacted by the flooding. A walk in clinic will be open to the public from 8AM until 4:30 PM beginning today.
The vaccines are free of charge and will be available for Tdap (tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis – also known as whopping cough) Hepatitus A, and the flu. The clinics will administer those vaccines while supplies last.
One of those main threats is tetanus. While folklore says it comes from stepping on a rusty nail, the rust has nothing to do with the infection. Tetanus is a virus that can live on many surfaces. It is found in soil and animal manure, and can enter the broken skin from cuts, scrapes, or punctures.
The Unicoi County waste water facility was destroyed, with their untreated sewage spilling into the Nolichuckey. Along with the miles of farmland and animals along the river, even minor injuries could cause infection.
