The bacterium, Clostridium tetani, usually enters the body through a wound, like a cut on the foot or hand. But many forget that a booster shot is needed every 10 years. If there is a particularly high-risk cut, like dirt in a deep wound, then we often recommend another booster shot if it has been more than five years since the last tetanus shot. Food Safety Franklin residents who have been without electricity since Hurricane Floyd should discard all perishable foods including meats, dairy products and eggs. Foods that have been contaminated by flooding should also be discarded.
Exceptions are canned goods and hermetically sealed containers that are opened with a can opener.
Health department personnel will assist restaurants that have been flooded so they can reopen as soon as possible. Rugs and other types of furniture may be professionally cleaned if they are deemed salvageable. Virginians are encouraged to call their local health department for answers to health-related questions.