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World Rabies Day is on Monday,
September 28. Why should Mainers know
about this worldwide event? Because the rabies virus kills over 55,000 people
worldwide each year and is found in Maine’s wildlife.
We have seen 22 animals
with rabies so far this year. Maine CDC’s Health and Environmental Testing Lab confirmed rabies in the following animals: seven raccoons, six bats, four
skunks, and two gray foxes. USDA confirmed rabies in two raccoons
and one skunk that did not come in contact with a person or pet.
Rabies is a serious
disease that can be fatal. However, it is also 100 percent preventable. The last case
of human rabies in Maine occurred in 1937.
Be aware of rabies and
follow these simple tips to stay safe:
- Avoid
contact with wildlife and any animal you don’t know
- Keep
your pets up to date on rabies vaccination
- Report
exposures to Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821
- Bat-proof
your home
For more tips, visit our
website at www.mainepublichealth.gov/rabies
Maine CDC has updated the Rules for the Control of
Notifiable Diseases and Conditions. The
new rules went into effect on September 9.
One of the most significant parts of the rule includes the Notifiable
Diseases and Conditions List, which lists the diseases and conditions required
to be reported to the Department.
The updated rules better
align with new and emerging diseases and more efficient methods of reporting
being adopted nationally. The updated
rules add requirements for electronic laboratory reporting of notifiable
diseases and the reporting of data from hospital emergency departments
throughout Maine. The updated rules also
authorize the director of the Maine CDC to request reporting of emerging
diseases of public health urgency on a temporary basis.
Some examples of the
changes to the Notifiable Disease List include but are not limited to:
- Addition of carbapenem-resistant
enterobacteriaceae (CRE), chikungunya, and laboratory-confirmed Influenza-associated
hospitalizations
- Removal of toxoplasmosis, Group
B streptococcal invasive disease, and yersiniosis
- Clarification of outbreak
and unusual case reporting: Any case of unusual illness of infectious
cause or any cluster/outbreak of illness with potential public health
significance
Maine CDC relies on health care providers and laboratorians
to report the occurrence of notifiable diseases. Without such surveillance data, trends cannot
be accurately monitored, unusual occurrences of diseases (such as outbreaks)
might not be detected or appropriately responded to, and the effectiveness of
control and prevention activities cannot be easily evaluated.
Maine CDC notifiable conditions can be reported by calling
1-800-821-5821, faxing 1-800-293-7534, submitting electronic laboratory
reports, and mailing reports to Maine CDC.
For certain diseases, directors of
laboratories are to submit isolates or clinical specimens to the Maine CDC Health
and Environmental Testing Laboratory for confirmation, typing and/or antibiotic
sensitivity.
Copies of the updated Notifiable Diseases and Conditions
Rule and List are available at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/disease-reporting/index.shtml
On September 10, National Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, Maine CDC presented its annual Caring About Lives awards in a recognition
ceremony at the Blaine House. Kenneth
Albert, Director and Chief Operating Officer Maine CDC, presented the awards to:
- Colonel Robert A. Williams, Maine State Police, Department
of Public Safety, for his commitment to training for the State Police in Mental
Health First Aid;
- Shawn LaGrega and
Darcy Wilcox of Maine Pretrial Services, who have led the march on
incorporating statewide suicide prevention efforts within Maine Pretrial
Services;
- State Senator Tom
Saviello and Paula Callan, Assistant Principal of Messalonskee High School, for
their effort to help a school community through the loss of a student to
suicide;
- Kristy Gelinas, Practice Manager, Lewiston/Auburn
School-based Health Center (SBHC) and Outpatient Counseling, for implementing
the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and going above and beyond in
supporting suicide prevention efforts;
- Heather Monroe, Administrative Support Specialist,
University of Southern Maine and USM Cares, for her tireless work to ensure
students are well-informed about suicide prevention and that the campus has an
effective student support network.
These awards are presented annually to individuals and
agencies that go above and beyond to make a difference in raising awareness of
suicide and how it can be prevented.
September 2015 is National
Cholesterol Education Month. High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for
heart disease and stroke, the first and fifth leading causes of death in the
United States. High cholesterol is asymptomatic, so blood cholesterol
screening is the only way to know one's risk.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force recommends regular cholesterol screening for men age 35 and older and women
age 45 and older. Those who are at an increased risk for coronary heart disease are recommended to be screened starting at age 20. The American Academy
of Pediatrics recommends that all children have their cholesterol levels
measured at ages 9–11 and again at ages 17–21.
Lowering high cholesterol or
maintaining a healthy cholesterol level can reduce the risk for heart attack or
stroke. Health behaviors such as engaging in physical activity, maintaining a
healthy weight, following a heart-healthy diet and using medication can all
contribute to the maintenance of a healthy cholesterol level and decreased risk
for heart attack or stroke. Educational materials and additional information
are available at http://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol.
Although most influenza activity occurs from October to May
in the U.S., flu viruses are detected year round. Providers in Maine have reported positive
rapid influenza and serology tests in the last month. Summer and early fall are also the prime time
for agricultural fairs, which provides an increased risk for flu associated
with swine contact.
Maine
CDC requests that all rapid positive influenza samples during the summer months
be forwarded to Maine CDC’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) for
confirmation and typing. This will allow
us to monitor the circulating strains, and identify any variants if present.
If
a provider sees a patient with flu-like symptoms who has swine or bird
exposures; samples should be sent to HETL for testing. Rapid tests may not pick up variant strains,
and only the state lab is capable of determining if a strain is a variant.
Reporting
requirements
- Suspected novel or variant cases should be
reported immediately by phone to 800-821-5821.
- Outbreaks and pediatric deaths are required to
be reported
- We appreciate all positive lab tests, reported
by fax (207-287-6865 or 800-293-7534) or by phone (800-821-5821) but this is
not required
Additional Information
Ticks are generally found in brushy or wooded areas and near the ground. They cannot jump or fly.
Ticks are attracted to a variety of host factors, including body heat and
carbon dioxide. They will transfer to a potential host when one brushes
directly against them and seek a site for attachment.
Ticks cause a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease,
anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Powassan and Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, all of which are reportable in Maine.
Cases of tickborne diseases reported in Maine through September 14 include:
- 724 cases of Lyme disease, compared to 1,400 for all of 2014
- 117 cases of anaplasmosis, compared to 191 for all of
2014
- 35 cases of babesiosis, compared to 42 cases for all of 2014
Additional Information
Arboviral diseases, including eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)
and West Nile virus (WNV), are very serious infections that are transmitted by
the bite of an infected mosquito. Additionally, Powassan virus is an
arboviral disease transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Although
rare, these diseases have potentially severe and even fatal consequences for
those who contract them. Maine CDC reminds clinicians of the potential
for human disease activity in Maine and to consider testing for arboviral
disease in patients presenting with unexplained encephalitis, meningitis or
fever (≥100.4°F or 38°C) during the summer and early fall.
Although
no cases of EEE and WNV have been identified yet in Maine this year, Maine CDC
recommends the following preventative measures to protect against
mosquito-borne illnesses:
- Use an Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellent when
outdoors, especially around dawn and dusk. Always follow the instructions on
the product’s label;
- Wear protective clothing when outdoors, including long-sleeved
shirts, pants and socks;
- Keep window and door screens down to keep mosquitoes out of the
home;
- Limit time outdoors at dawn and dusk when many species of
mosquitoes are most active;
- Remove containers holding water in and around the home, as water
can attract mosquitoes.
Information
on pesticides and repellents is available at the Maine Board of Pesticides
Control website at: http://go.usa.gov/jt6F
Additional
Information
- Disease
consultation and reporting available through Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821
Cases of pertussis (whooping cough) continue to be reported
statewide.
As of September 14, 206 cases have been reported in Maine this
year, and the majority of the cases are in school-aged children.
Maine CDC encourages providers who see patients for cough in
an outbreak area to test for pertussis and treat empirically. (Providers do not
need to wait for positive results to return or a two-week history of cough in
order to treat.)
DTaP vaccine is recommended for all infants and children.
Tdap vaccine is recommended for all preteens, teens and adults, including
health care providers. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, Tdap is also recommended in the third trimester of every
pregnancy.
For more guidance and
information, visit http://go.usa.gov/dCO
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