tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63922973346970332272024-02-06T22:21:03.171-05:00Maine Public HealthBlog of the Maine CDC, Maine's Public Health AgencyMaine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comBlogger475125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-13544581861883123682017-09-20T14:34:00.003-04:002017-09-20T14:34:49.642-04:00News from the districts - DowneastThe Downeast Public Health Council identified three primary priorities and one secondary priority for their three-year district public health improvement plan. The council then funded incubator-style proposals to offer smaller amounts of funding to meet specific objectives and outcomes, allowing many district partners to develop pilot projects. <br /><br />The council funded seventeen projects from February-June 2017. Two of these focused on an assessment of physical activity work in each county and then developing a pilot project. In Washington County, the project was initiating more bicycle mobility and having access to bicycles and safety equipment as well as learning how to maintain a bicycle.<br /><br />In Hancock County, the project mapped walking trails and neighborhood walks, imprinted them on postcards, and provided smart phone capability in connecting people to these walking sites.<br /><br />The council also provided a stipend for a Hanley Leadership undergraduate intern to work with district partners on developing a lung cancer outreach campaign. Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-626009727324643182017-09-15T14:32:00.000-04:002017-09-20T14:33:04.036-04:00Early start to flu season in Maine<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The flu has officially arrived in Maine for the 2017-2018
season. U.S. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most
important step in protecting against flu viruses. Vaccine for the 2017-2018 flu
season has been updated to better match circulating flu viruses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Disease Surveillance
and Reporting</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Maine CDC is hosting a “Start of the 2017-18 Influenza Season”
conference call at 1:00 p.m. <b>Thursday, September 28</b>. The intent of
this call is to provide updates for the season, outline resources available,
and remind facilities of the requirements for the flu season. This call is
particularly relevant for: infection practitioners, providers, laboratorians,
employee health, emergency preparedness, hospital administration, and long term
care facilities. Talking points will be distributed after the call, as well as
questions and information highlighted on the call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lines may be limited, so if multiple people from one location
intend to call in, please call in together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Call in number: 877-455-0244 Code: 6681820529#<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For up-to-date information and recommendations on influenza for
health professionals, go to <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE1Ljc4MTkzNTcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxNS43ODE5MzU3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5MDM2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For influenza surveillance information in Maine, go to <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE1Ljc4MTkzNTcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxNS43ODE5MzU3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5MDM2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.maineflu.gov/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">www.maineflu.gov</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2017-2018 Vaccine Information for Providers</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Children younger than eight who have never received flu vaccine
will need a booster dose no less than 28 days after the first dose of flu
vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vaccine is open for ordering. Limited supplies of multi-dose
vials are available. If interested in ordering multi-dose vials, please call
vaccine management at 287-3347. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Influenza vaccine ordered for the 2017/2018 season<b> IS</b>
subject to replacement for preventable wastage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Children under the age of 19 only are eligible for vaccine
through the Maine Immunization Program. Repeated fraudulent administration of
this public vaccine to individuals 19 years and older will result in a referral
to CMS for fraud investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Under Maine statute, all doses of public vaccine administered
must be recorded in the Immunization Registry within five working days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ordering guidelines:</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2017 Provider Agreement must be
active<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Temperatures and inventory
reconciliation must be up to date<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Order only a supply anticipated
to be utilized in the next six-week time period<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">VFC eligibility screening is mandatory for every child and every
vaccine. Eligibility screening must be documented in the ImmPact registry. </span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Under 19 years of age<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Medicaid<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Uninsured<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">American Indian/Alaska Native<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Privately insured children do receive public vaccine; however,
they must be documented as <b>Not VFC Eligible</b> in ImmPact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-54175680136864169842017-09-11T14:33:00.000-04:002017-09-20T14:33:40.119-04:00Knowledge, understanding, and support can save lives<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">From September 10-16, Maine
joins the rest of the United States and the international community in
recognizing World Suicide Prevention Week. World Suicide Prevention Week
is an opportunity to learn about the role that all of us can play in preventing
suicide and commit to supporting the mental health of our family, friends, and
communities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In 2015, 235 Mainers died
by suicide, making suicide was the second-leading cause of death for Maine
youth and young adults between the ages of 15-34. Every suicide death or
suicide attempt has a ripple effect that stretches far beyond the individual
and their family, affecting schools, workplaces, and entire communities. Few of
us remain untouched. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But there is good news:
suicide is preventable. This year’s theme for World Suicide Prevention Week is
“Take a minute, save a life,” reminding us that even small actions can have a
big impact on the lives of those who may be struggling. If you suspect someone
you know may be at risk of suicide, follow these steps:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Show you care by listening carefully and without
judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ask them if they are thinking about suicide. Be direct
and empathetic. (Asking about suicide does <b>not</b> increase the risk of
suicide.)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stay with them (or have another caring person stay with
them) while you locate help.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Call the Maine Crisis Hotline (1-888-568-1112) or the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the person is at immediate risk of harming
themselves, call 911.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">If you would like to learn
more about how you can help prevent suicide in your community or workplace, we
invite you to attend one of the many training sessions offered in partnership
with the Maine Suicide Prevention Program. For more information, please
contact Sheila Nelson at 207-287-3856 or <a href="mailto:sheila.nelson@maine.gov"><span style="color: #8f3939;">sheila.nelson@maine.gov</span></a>,
or visit the Maine Suicide Prevention Program training website: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE1Ljc4MTkzNTcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxNS43ODE5MzU3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5MDM2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&http://www.namimaine.org/?page=TrainingCalendar&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.namimaine.org/?page=TrainingCalendar</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-85819951107004030932017-09-04T14:31:00.000-04:002017-09-20T14:32:16.442-04:00Preparedness in the Downeast district<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Downeast District continues to build strong relationships
with our emergency preparedness partners through active participation in
tabletop exercises. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bar Harbor Airport held a
full-scale airplane in the water scenario with the district liaison working in
the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Castine conducted a table
top exercise around a hurricane-type event that caused road closures to the
peninsula and subsequent damage and contamination to the local drinking water
infrastructure. Maine CDC staff provided consultation on boil order procedures
and drinking water protocols for home owners and food establishments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Although not as high a
public health concern, both Gouldsboro and Bucksport reviewed their emergency
operations plans around dammed waterways and then conducted table top exercises
around high precipitation events, causing breaching and damage to the dams and
potential flooding impacts on residences, roads, and infrastructure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">All in all, these were
great opportunities for regional public health and public safety working with
local communities to better prepare for potential realistic emergencies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-22137387782166633382017-09-01T14:31:00.000-04:002017-09-20T14:31:40.743-04:00Disasters don’t plan ahead. You can.<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">September is National Preparedness Month. Maine CDC’s Public
Health Emergency and Response (PHEP) team provides oversight and coordination
of all public health and medical response and recovery resources that are
required to reduce and/or prevent loss of life from an infectious disease
outbreak, a natural disaster, or an act of terrorism. This is accomplished by
activating and staffing the Public Health Emergency Operations Center, which is
the central nervous system for all response and recovery activities being
conducted by public health and healthcare responders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
between public health emergencies, the PHEP program is busy preparing for the
next emergency by updating emergency operations plans based on lessons learned,
facilitating the identification and prioritization of public health threats,
facilitating incident management training, developing and facilitating response
exercises among with partners statewide, managing response equipment and supply
caches, rotating and distributing medical countermeasures, testing emergency
communications equipment, and recruiting medical volunteers.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
the past year, the Maine Responds coordinator has recruited 564 medical
volunteers, bringing our total number of deployable volunteers to more than 900
individuals. PHEP has developed six new Medical Reserve Corps Units; there is
now one in each of the eight public health districts. The Maine Health Alert
Network has the highest enrollment numbers (n=15,000) since implementing the
HAN system in 2007. PHEP also increased operational ability to safely transport
highly infectious disease patients to specialized healthcare facilities to
receive appropriate and specialized care. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-66886263375296208462017-06-26T14:21:00.000-04:002017-06-29T14:21:45.066-04:00Maine Cancer Registry RecognizedMaine CDC's cancer registry has again been recognized as a Registry of Excellence by U.S. CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) for its high quality data for cancer prevention and control activities. <br /><br /> The North American Association of Central Cancer Registries has recognized Maine's cancer registry for meeting its Gold Standard on quality, completeness and timeliness of data every year since 2004. Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-25287954407293987352017-06-23T14:18:00.000-04:002017-06-29T14:19:20.007-04:00Study Shows Effects of Heat on Health, Prompts Changes to Local Advisories<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">A new study of heat and health shows that hospital emergency
department visits and deaths from all causes in Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode
Island increased significantly, by 7.5 and 5.1 percent respectively, on days
when the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNjIzLjc1MDI3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDYyMy43NTAyNzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODc4NDc2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/heat_index.shtml?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">heat index</span></a> reached 95 degrees as compared to
days with a maximum heat index of 75 degrees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Based on the study findings, the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNjIzLjc1MDI3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDYyMy43NTAyNzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODc4NDc2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/pns17-18heat_new_england.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">National Weather Service (NWS) Northeast Region forecast</span></a>
offices will now issue heat advisories when the heat index is forecast to reach
95 degrees on two or more consecutive days or 100 degrees for any amount of
time. The previous NWS regional threshold was a maximum daily heat index of
100.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In Maine, the results of the study and the NWS policy change are
driving public health officials to develop local heat response plans. In 2015,
Cumberland County was the first area in Maine to develop a comprehensive plan
to identify what state and local officials will do during different hot weather
scenarios. In addition, Maine CDC will begin issuing health warnings for the
public at the lower threshold adopted by the NWS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The study, “<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNjIzLjc1MDI3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDYyMy43NTAyNzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODc4NDc2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.02.005?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">Heat-related morbidity and mortality in New England:
Evidence for local policy,”</span></a> was published in the journal
Environmental Research and led by Gregory Wellenius of the Brown University
School of Public Health, and co-authored by Andrew Smith and Rebecca Lincoln of
the Maine CDC, along with colleagues from the state public health agencies in
New Hampshire and Rhode Island.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For More Information:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Information about preventing
and recognizing heat illness: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNjIzLjc1MDI3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDYyMy43NTAyNzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODc4NDc2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&103&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/heat/index.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/heat/index.html</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Data about heat illness in
Maine: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNjIzLjc1MDI3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDYyMy43NTAyNzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODc4NDc2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&104&&&http://data.mainepublichealth.gov/tracking?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://data.mainepublichealth.gov/tracking</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-2649563506100170842017-06-15T14:19:00.000-04:002017-06-29T14:19:51.611-04:00Change to Rulemaking Notification<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Maine CDC has a new way to communicate about agency
rulemaking with its updated <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNjIzLjc1MDI3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDYyMy43NTAyNzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODc4NDc2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&105&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/maine-cdc-rules.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">Maine CDC Rules webpage</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Interested parties may sign up to receive updates on specific
topics: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disease Management </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(includes health data and reporting, disease detection
and prevention programs, mortality review, etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Environmental/Public Health</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (includes radon, tanning facilities, child lead
poisoning prevention, public water systems and health, environmental
testing laboratory, etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Healthcare
Access/Sustainability </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(includes
Certificate of Need, designating underserved areas, free care
guidelines, etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Infectious Diseases</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (includes immunizations, epidemiology, notifiable
diseases, etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Licensing, Certification and
Professional Standards</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(includes licensed medical facilities, services and professionals, health
inspections, licensed body artists, child care licensing, eating and
lodging places, campgrounds, medical marijuana, tobacco licensing, etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maternal Health and Family and
Children</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (includes child/newborn
screening and testing, children with special needs, WIC, out-of-home
investigations for reports of child abuse and neglect, etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vital Records</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (includes birth, death, marriage, data release,
etc.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To subscribe to these and more topics, visit our <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNjIzLjc1MDI3MjMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDYyMy43NTAyNzIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODc4NDc2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&106&&&https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEHHS/subscriber/topics?qsp=MEHHS_2"><span style="color: #8f3939;">subscription page</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-66262406395689880412017-06-14T14:20:00.000-04:002017-06-29T14:21:02.893-04:00Poster Contest Winners Selected<h1 style="margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.maine.gov/lyme"><span style="color: #1d5782; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="Lyme poster" border="0" class="govd_template_image" height="232" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MEHHS/2017/06/1407589/1398632/saint-louis-spruce-mountain-es_crop.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; height: 232px; width: 359px;" width="359" /></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="gdp1"><i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Congratulations to the 2017 Lyme Disease Awareness Month
poster contest winners. Winning entries are posted at <a href="http://www.maine.gov/lyme">www.maine.gov/lyme</a></span></i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The winners from Maine CDC’s 8th annual Lyme Disease Awareness
Month poster contest were:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lylah Shanz, 1st grade,
Stratton School<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Allison Hanscom, 3rd grade,
Miles Lane School<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jayvin Saint Louis, 4/5 grade,
Spruce Mountain Elementary School<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Emily Seavey, 6th grade, Lyman
Middle School<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2017 Honorable mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kenzi Jo Richards, 4/5 grade,
Spruce Mountain Elementary School<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noah Koenig, 7th grade,
Stratton School<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Winning entries are
posted at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.maine.gov/lyme"><span style="color: #8f3939;">www.maine.gov/lyme</span></a></span>Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-44653218780967310462017-06-01T14:22:00.000-04:002017-06-29T14:23:26.098-04:00News from the Districts - PenquisThe Bangor International Airport conducted its tri-annual airport disaster drill on May 16. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports across the country to conduct full-scale disaster exercises once every three years. The exercise is usually designed around a mass causality scenario. The Northeastern Maine Regional Healthcare Coalition, 26 health care and behavioral health partners, participated in the drill as well as Maine CDC’s District Public Health Liaisons and the director of Disaster Behavioral Health. Maine CDC staff was assigned in different roles including as observers, evaluators, and debriefing throughout the exercise.<br />
<br />
One of the elements of the exercise involved moving behavioral health patients from emergency departments to behavioral health care facilities. This involved new health care partners in the behavioral health care sector that have not participated in a drill of this scale in the past. The long term care and home health partners tested new plans to assist with decompressing hospitals during time of medical surge. <br />
<br />
The participants in the exercise then attended a ‘Hot Wash’ that illustrated strengths and weaknesses that were observed by the evaluators. There were many lessons learned and captured to assist in future development of disaster plans.Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-77721047854867644582017-04-12T13:59:00.001-04:002017-04-12T13:59:28.122-04:00Syphilis cases on the rise in U.S. and Maine<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">U.S. CDC has launched a new campaign - <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNDEyLjcyMjI3ODIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDQxMi43MjIyNzgyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODUxMzU2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&https://www.cdc.gov/std/sam/2017syphilis.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">Syphilis Strikes Back</span></a> - to raise awareness
about recent increases in the number and rate of syphilis cases. In 2015,
the United States experienced the highest number and rate of reported primary
and secondary syphilis cases in more than 20 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Forty-nine cases of primary, secondary, and early latent
syphilis were reported to Maine CDC in 2015, which represents a significant
increase over the five-year median of 19 cases. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In 2015, the statewide syphilis rate was 3.7 per 100,000. Rates
were highest in Somerset and Cumberland counties, with rates of 11.7 per
100,000 and 9 per 100,000 respectively. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Of the reported cases, 61 percent were diagnosed in southern
Maine (26 cases in Cumberland County, four cases in York County) and 22 percent
of cases were diagnosed in central Maine (Kennebec and Somerset counties).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most of the cases (76 percent) were among 25 – 54-year-olds.
Since 2011, the proportion of syphilis cases in people age 40 and older has
been increasing steadily from 30 percent in 2011 to 47 percent in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The majority of syphilis cases identified as male (41 cases or
82 percent). The number of early syphilis cases among females rose from one
reported case in 2011 to nine reported cases in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The predominant mode of transmission associated with reported
syphilis cases was male-to-male sexual contact (32 cases or 65 percent).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">There were 48 cases of syphilis reported to Maine CDC in 2016, but analyses of the 2016 data are not yet complete.</span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For more information
about syphilis, visit <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwNDEyLjcyMjI3ODIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDQxMi43MjIyNzgyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODUxMzU2JmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&https://www.cdc.gov/std/sam/2017syphilis.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">https://www.cdc.gov/std/sam/2017syphilis.htm</span></a></span>Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-5670045672926302522017-04-03T14:00:00.000-04:002017-04-12T14:00:27.129-04:00News from the districts - Midcoast<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Midcoast Public
Health District serves Waldo, Lincoln, Knox, and Sagadahoc counties. The
population is as diverse as its geography, which includes farmland, coastal
villages, urban centers, and year-round island communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Midcoast District
Coordinating Council has developed a District Public Health Improvement Plan
(DPHIP) and identified priority areas of focus: lead exposure in one- and
two-year-olds, improving youth and adult mental health, and fighting obesity
and the impact of chronic disease by increasing public use of existing low or
no cost physical activity resources. Over the last several months,
Council members have volunteered innumerable hours developing goals,
objectives, and strategies to best address these priorities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Volunteerism is also a key
element as the Midcoast District launches its Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit
in collaboration with Maine Responds. MRC unit members are medical and
non-medical volunteers who may be called upon in times of a public health
emergency for staffing alternate medical care sites, providing vaccinations, or
distributing medications at a Point of Dispensing (POD). We look forward to
developing the Midcoast MRC Unit in support of public health emergency
preparedness in our District.<span style="color: #e4ecf0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-11403224358729070612017-03-15T13:57:00.000-04:002017-04-12T13:57:50.658-04:00Nutrition is an important part of public healthDuring National Nutrition Month, we recognize the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which is funded by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services. WIC provides checks for supplemental foods, health care and social service referrals, breastfeeding promotion and support and nutrition education to low-income and nutritionally at risk, pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women, and to infants and children up to age five. <br /><br />Studies have shown the WIC Program has a positive impact in the following health outcomes: <br /><ul>
<li>Reducing premature births </li>
<li>Reducing low and very low birth-weight babies </li>
<li>Reducing fetal and infant deaths </li>
<li>Reducing the incidence of low-iron anemia </li>
<li>Increasing access to prenatal care earlier in pregnancy </li>
<li>Increasing pregnant women’s consumption of key nutrients such as iron, protein, calcium, and Vitamins A and C </li>
<li>Increasing immunization rates </li>
<li>Improving diet quality </li>
<li>Increasing access to regular health care </li>
</ul>
In Maine, WIC local agency clinic services are contracted statewide in each of the eight public health districts. Clinic services include: program eligibility, income verification, nutrition assessment and education, breast feeding education, hemoglobin screening, anthropometrics, referrals, and checks for healthy foods. <br /><br />The average monthly participation in Maine is approximately 20,000. The projected cost of food per participant for federal fiscal year 2016 is $59.45 per month. More than three-quarters of women who accessed the program in federal fiscal year 2016 initiated breastfeeding, with more than one-third breastfeeding longer than three months and more than one-quarter breastfeeding longer than six months. More than 16 percent of WIC children ages two through five who had been overweight are now at a healthy weight. Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-79752803129431269082017-01-18T09:09:00.000-05:002017-01-18T09:09:15.003-05:00Maine CDC Coordinator Highlights the Importance of Radon Action Month<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">January is National Radon Action Month. Bob Stilwell, primary
radon contact for the State of Maine since November 1990, answered some
questions about radon and the health risks associated with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Why is radon an important public health issue?</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radon is a proven human carcinogen, recognized by the U.S. EPA
and U.S. Surgeon General as the number two cause of lung cancer overall and the
leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. The World Health Organization and
International Atomic Energy Agency recognize radon as a serious radiation
hazard that causes lung cancer and are taking steps to assist member nations in
developing policies and programs to reduce radon exposure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What are the most important things you do in your role as State
Radon Coordinator?</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Provide technical assistance and training to the radon
industry in Maine, so the services they provide are durable and effective at
reducing radon exposure to Maine residents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Apply for and manage Federal grants every year that allow the
radon effort in Maine to continue. All Maine state radon work has been funded
by federal grants since 1990.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What do you wish everybody knew about radon?</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I wish everyone knew that the “action level” of 4 picoCuries per
liter (pCi/l) for radon is not a “safe” or “acceptable” level. The action level
for radon was set in the 1970s based on the ability of technology at that time
to reduce radon levels in buildings. At that time, technology could
reduce radon to below 4 pCi/l in any building. If radon were treated like all
other proven human carcinogens, with the “action” level set based on cancer
risk instead of on 1970s mitigation technology, the “action” level would be
less than one pCi/l.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For more information
about radon, visit <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwMTE3LjY4ODE0NDMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDExNy42ODgxNDQzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODA5MTMyJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/rad/radon/hp-radon.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/rad/radon/hp-radon.htm</span></a></span>Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-9530695883970896972017-01-17T09:08:00.002-05:002017-01-17T09:08:58.895-05:00News from the districts - Central<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">An important role of the
Central District Coordinating Council (DCC) - and all DCCs - is to develop and
implement a district public health improvement plan. District public health
improvement plans have three purposes: (1) improve health of district residents,
(2) improve the district public health system, and (3) inform the State Health
Improvement Plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Central DCC has worked
this fall to review data and choose priorities for the 2016-19 plan and asked
the hospitals and health systems in the district to present their newly-chosen
strategic priorities to see where we can work together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Priorities selected for
2016-19 are substance use/mental health, adverse childhood experiences,
obesity, and oral health. We are currently forming workgroups for each of
these priority areas to review the evidence base for district improvement
action and recommend strategies that will make a difference in the health of
district residents. <br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Contact Paula Thomson
at <a href="mailto:paula.thomson@maine.gov">paula.thomson@maine.gov</a>
with questions or for more information.</span>Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-1497194949346140082017-01-03T09:07:00.000-05:002017-01-17T09:08:15.184-05:00January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Birth defects affect one in every 33 babies born in the United
States and are a leading cause of infant mortality. Babies who survive and live
with birth defects are at an increased risk for developing many lifelong
physical, cognitive, and social challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Although not all birth defects can be prevented, all women who
could become pregnant or are pregnant can lower their risk of having babies
with birth defects by following some basic health guidelines throughout their
reproductive years, such as: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do not eat raw or runny eggs or
raw sprouts.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk
and cheese and other foods made from them.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Talk to your health care
provider about what you can do to prevent infections like Zika virus.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that you are
up-to-date with vaccinations before getting pregnant.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Talk to your health care
provider about vaccinations that you should receive during pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stay away from wild or pet rodents,
live poultry, lizards and turtles, and do not clean cat litter boxes while
pregnant.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When mosquitoes and ticks are
active, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outside.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Use Environmental Protection
Agency-registered insect repellents.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wash your hands often with soap
and water.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The United States Public Health Service recommends that all
women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms (400mcg or .4mg) of folic acid
daily to prevent up to 50-70 percent of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida
and anencephaly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For more information,
visit <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwMTE3LjY4ODE0NDMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDExNy42ODgxNDQzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODA5MTMyJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/mch/cshn/birth-defects/index.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/mch/cshn/birth-defects/index.html</span></a></span>Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-20997847193242341092016-11-21T11:25:00.000-05:002017-01-09T11:26:03.566-05:00Know the Risk Factors and Signs of Diabetes<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Maine CDC has estimated that 7.8 percent of the adult population
in Maine is living with pre-diabetes and 9.5 percent is living with diabetes.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month, which serves as a reminder to everyone
about the risk factors and cautions related to pre-diabetes and diabetes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
What is Pre-diabetes?</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pre-diabetes is when a person’s blood glucose (blood sugar)
levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be diagnosed as
diabetes. One in three adults in the U.S. has pre-diabetes and most of them
don’t know it. Some of the risk factors for developing pre-diabetes are: adults
who are over the age of 45, adults who are not physically active and adults
with high blood pressure. Without making lifestyle changes, 15-30 percent will
develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years. Making some simple lifestyle changes,
including: eating healthier, losing weight and being more active make it
possible to prevent or delay pre-diabetes from progressing into type 2
diabetes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For
more information visit the Maine National Diabetes Prevention Program
information portal at: </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMTE1LjY2MzMxNjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTExNS42NjMzMTY4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzkwNzIxJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://www.ReThinkDiabetes.org?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">www.ReThinkDiabetes.org</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> or speak to your doctor to see if you are
at risk of pre-diabetes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
What is Diabetes?</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Diabetes is a disease that causes high levels of glucose in the
blood because insulin is not functioning correctly in the body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Type
1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in youth and young adults. The cause is
unknown and cannot be prevented, but it can be managed through insulin
therapy and living a healthy lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Type
2 diabetes accounts for 90-95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with healthy eating and exercise. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
Steps to Encourage Diabetes Management</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Managing
diabetes is not easy, but it can be done with proper education and
support. Take small steps to stay healthy. You don’t have to make big
lifestyle changes all at once. Set realistic goals on what’s important to
you. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Early
self-management education and support is important to prevent
diabetes-related health problems. When blood glucose is not in
control, it can lead to serious complications. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Managing
diabetes is a team effort.<b> </b>Diabetes can be overwhelming. Having a
network of support from family, friends and your health care team, can
help you stay on track.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To
find a Diabetes Self-Management Training program in Maine to help support you
in your self-management planning visit:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMTE1LjY2MzMxNjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTExNS42NjMzMTY4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzkwNzIxJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/dcp/educationprogram.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/dcp/educationprogram.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
For More Information</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMTE1LjY2MzMxNjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTExNS42NjMzMTY4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzkwNzIxJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&103&&&http://www.cdc.gov/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.cdc.gov/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMTE1LjY2MzMxNjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTExNS42NjMzMTY4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzkwNzIxJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&104&&&http://www.diabetes.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://www.diabetes.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMTE1LjY2MzMxNjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTExNS42NjMzMTY4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzkwNzIxJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&105&&&http://rethinkdiabetes.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://rethinkdiabetes.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMTE1LjY2MzMxNjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTExNS42NjMzMTY4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzkwNzIxJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&106&&&https://www.niddk.nih.gov/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">https://www.niddk.nih.gov/</span></a></li>
</ul>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-91796193833591128252016-11-15T11:25:00.000-05:002017-01-09T11:25:14.006-05:00News from the Districts - WesternThe Western District Coordinating Council recently brought together district partners from a variety of sectors (law enforcement, legislature, health care, community providers, etc.) to share ideas and solutions to address this growing opioid problem. <br /><br />One of the highlights of this forum was a back to work program that has been implemented in Oxford County. A significant part of the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative is Project Save ME, where people who are in active substance use can go to any police department in Oxford County and ask for help.<br /><br />Many aspects of Project Save ME have contributed to its success, including trained recovery coaches, area social service agencies and a partnership with C.N. Brown. Early on, C.N. Brown noticed that substance use disorder was affecting their business and employees and decided to be a part of the solution. Those who enter into Project Save ME and get into recovery have the potential to be an employee of C. N. Brown. Individuals who have reached six months of recovery and received a letter of recommendation from their counseling can get help with getting a job at a local Big Apple store. <br /><br /> The liaison between the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative and C. N. Brown has talked about how positive the partnership has been and a willingness to reach out to other businesses to bring more potential employment options to Project Save ME. The Western DCC is looking forward to extending the project to the other two counties in the district as well.Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-82909928322250395992016-10-21T11:23:00.000-04:002017-01-09T11:24:21.819-05:00Changes to Maine's Childhood Lead Poisoning Law<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In September, Maine CDC began implementing changes to Maine’s
law that requires lead hazard inspections in the homes of children with lead
poisoning. The amendments changed the State’s definition of lead poisoning to a
blood lead level of five micrograms per deciliter (5 ug/dL) or higher for
children younger than age six, which is also U.S. CDC’s definition of an
elevated blood lead level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">With the changes, Maine CDC expects to inspect about 500 rental
units for lead hazards each year—a five-fold increase in the number of units
over previous years. These inspections, along with a primary prevention
strategy underway in Maine communities with the highest burdens of lead poisoning,
make up Maine CDC’s efforts to eradicate childhood lead poisoning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What can you do to prevent lead poisoning?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Public Health Professionals</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Learn about lead poisoning in your community
on the </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDIwLjY1MjgxMDIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAyMC42NTI4MTAyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODI3NTAwJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZtdmlkPSZleHRyYT0mJiY=&&&101&&&https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/tracking?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">Maine
Tracking Network</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Work with municipalities to address lead hazards in rental properties
through code enforcement or outreach to property owners. Promote screening
and home lead dust testing among parents.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Providers:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Make sure your practice is
following <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDIwLjY1MjgxMDIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAyMC42NTI4MTAyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODI3NTAwJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZtdmlkPSZleHRyYT0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/eohp/lead/providers.shtml?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">Maine CDC’s screening and confirmation testing
guidelines</span></a> – Maine CDC initiates an inspection of a child’s
home environment for <b>venous</b> blood lead test results of 5 ug/dL or
higher. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Property
Owners</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
Regularly maintain painted surfaces in properties built before 1978 – <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDIwLjY1MjgxMDIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAyMC42NTI4MTAyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODI3NTAwJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZtdmlkPSZleHRyYT0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/eohp/lead/property-owners.shtml?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">find out more</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parents</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Talk to your child’s
doctor about a blood lead test and find out if you have lead dust in your
home with a free kit from the Maine CDC – order online at <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDIwLjY1MjgxMDIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAyMC42NTI4MTAyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODI3NTAwJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZtdmlkPSZleHRyYT0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://www.maine.gov/healthyhomes?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">maine.gov/healthyhomes</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">FYI: October 23-29 is National
Lead Poisoning Prevention Week – see our </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDIwLjY1MjgxMDIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAyMC42NTI4MTAyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODI3NTAwJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZtdmlkPSZleHRyYT0mJiY=&&&105&&&http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/eohp/lead/nlppw.shtml?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #8f3939;">webpage</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> for resources you can use to promote lead
poisoning prevention.</span></span>Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-68152138918922589812016-10-20T11:23:00.000-04:002017-01-09T11:23:38.690-05:00News from the Districts - CumberlandWhether it’s about levels of lead in drinking water at Yarmouth schools or concerns about well water levels on Long Island, Local Health Officers in Cumberland Public Health District are fielding questions about water quality and safety in their communities. Cumberland County was also recently included in the areas in Maine affected by drought, according to assessments of the State Drought Task Force. <br /><br />Maine CDC and the Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency partnered to organize an information and outreach session on water issues for Local Health Officers on Tuesday. David Braley, Senior Environmental Hydrogeologist with the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program, and Mike Koza from the Portland Water District, presented. <br /><br />The event was the first in a series of information and networking meetings aimed at strengthening relationships and support between Maine CDC, Cumberland Emergency Management Agency and Local Health Officers in Cumberland, many of whom are volunteers.Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-13921571282929364852016-09-19T08:28:00.000-04:002016-09-19T08:28:03.662-04:00News from the Districts - York<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Public Health
Emergency Preparedness has been a focus of the York District Coordinating
Council, District Liaison and other interested parties for some time. Over the
course of the last few years, events designed to recruit Medical Reserve Corps
(MRC) members and tabletop exercises to showcase, educate and enhance overall
preparedness have been led by this group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.25pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Beginning
in late 2015, stakeholders from across York Public Health District have been
planning a full- scale public health emergency preparedness exercise. The
culmination of this planning will be a Point of Dispensing exercise, also known
as a POD. The term POD refers to an organized method to distribute medicine to
the public during an emergency. This exercise will take place on October 19 at
the University of New England’s Harold Alfond Forum.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.25pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This
event will feature two POD distribution models. One will be administering
“live” flu vaccine; the other will be handing out the mock bottles of
ciprofloxacin or doxycycline needed to provide “post-exposure” medication based
on the circumstances of the individuals presenting for triage. This
multifaceted event has an overall objective of exercising and evaluating the
University of New England as a new POD location as well as determining the
capacity to deliver public health services on a challenging scale.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></span><br />
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.25pt;">
<span style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This
collaboration has yielded additional benefit for Maine CDC, district stakeholders
and the University of New England. For example, the University of New
England has incorporated aspects of planning and staffing the event into their
established curriculum for public health and medical students. This opportunity
provides tangible, real-world experience for students to participate and
understand an emergency response within the Maine Public Health structure.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-89438754373878449642016-09-16T08:27:00.002-04:002016-09-16T08:27:35.820-04:00Maine CDC Coordinator Honored at Patient Safety Academy<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100%px;">
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<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" alt="rita" class="govd_template_image" height="179" hspace="7" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MEHHS/2016/09/1006759/1035960/rita-3_crop.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; height: 179px; width: 159px;" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="159" /><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rita Owsiak,
Maine CDC’s Healthcare Associated Infections Coordinator, was recently
recognized as a recipient of the Rising Tide Award for 2016. The award
was presented at the annual Patient Safety Academy at the University of
Southern Maine in Portland on September 8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Rising Tide Award is presented to individuals or
organizations who are demonstrating outstanding achievement and commitment to
best practices in patient safety in Maine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Oswiak was also a presenter at the Patient Safety Academy,
which brings together healthcare professionals for knowledge- and
skill-building workshops. Public health, physician practices, pharmacies,
hospitals, long-term care facilities, advocates and other agencies
participate in the annual event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Congratulations, Rita.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-59427474561664929162016-09-15T08:26:00.000-04:002016-09-16T08:26:57.119-04:00National Cholesterol Month<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">September is a good time to get your cholesterol checked and
take steps to get it under control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What is Cholesterol?</span></strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cholesterol is a type of fat found in blood and is found in
foods we eat including eggs, meats, fish and whole-fat dairy products. Foods
like fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain none. Our body also makes
cholesterol. Risk factors that can lead to high cholesterol include being
overweight/obese, poor eating habits, family history, age or gender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Know your numbers:</span></strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">U.S. CDC recommends that adults age 20 or older have their
cholesterol checked every five years. This can be done with a simple
blood test.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><img alt="cholesterol" class="govd_template_image" height="224" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MEHHS/2016/09/1006756/1029359/cholesterol_crop.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; height: 224px; width: 334px;" width="334" /></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Reduce your risk:</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">By living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your
cholesterol in a healthy range and lower your risk for heart disease and
stroke. A healthy lifestyle includes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eating a healthy
diet. Avoid saturated fats and trans fats. Polyunsaturated fats can
actually lower cholesterol levels. Eating fiber also can help lower
cholesterol.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exercising regularly. The
Surgeon General recommends that adults engage in moderate-intensity
exercise for two hours and 30 minutes every week.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maintaining a healthy
weight. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not smoking. If you smoke,
quit as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For more information on cholesterol:</span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwOTE2LjYzODU1MjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDkxNi42Mzg1NTI4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzY0OTAyJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://tinyurl.com/HeartOrg-AboutCholesterol?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://tinyurl.com/HeartOrg-AboutCholesterol</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYwOTE2LjYzODU1MjgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MDkxNi42Mzg1NTI4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NzY0OTAyJmVtYWlsaWQ9dGFyYS50aG9tYXNAbWFpbmUuZ292JnVzZXJpZD10YXJhLnRob21hc0BtYWluZS5nb3YmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://tinyurl.com/CholesterolToolsandResources?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery"><span style="color: #8f3939;">http://tinyurl.com/CholesterolToolsandResources</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-50907819040460247192016-09-05T08:27:00.000-04:002016-09-16T08:28:04.457-04:00Suicide Prevention Month<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Each year, Maine joins the United States and the international
community in recognizing World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Suicide
continues to be a public health concern, with 689 deaths by suicide between
2011 and 2013 in Maine. In addition, between 2011 and 2013, suicide was the
first leading cause of death for Maine adolescents between the ages of 10 and
14, second among Maine residents between 15 and 34 years of age, and fourth
among Maine residents between the ages of 35 and 54. Suicide is
preventable and knowledge, understanding and support can save lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">If you suspect someone you know may be at risk of suicide,
follow these steps:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Show you care by listening
carefully and without judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ask them if they are thinking
about suicide. Be direct and empathetic. (Asking about suicide does <b>not</b>
increase the risk of suicide.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stay with them (or have another
caring person stay with them) while you locate help.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Call the Maine Crisis Hotline
(1-888-568-1112) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
(1-800-273-8255).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the person is at immediate
risk of harming themselves, call 911.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="gdp1" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For more information on how you can help prevent suicide in your
community or workplace, contact Amy Ouellette at the Maine Chapter of the
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Maine), 622-5767, extension 2318.
NAMI Maine hosts many training opportunities throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember: Suicide is
preventable. Knowledge, understanding, and support can save lives.</span>Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6392297334697033227.post-37878689183047578142016-08-19T10:42:00.000-04:002016-08-31T10:42:19.995-04:00Antimicrobial-resistant Gonorrhea<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported notifiable
disease in the United States. National concerns about increasing rates of
gonorrhea and increasing antimicrobial resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae are
prompting increased efforts to ensure adherence to the revised 2015 Sexually
Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">U.S. CDC now recommends treating gonorrhea with ceftriaxone
250 mg as a single intramuscular dose and azithromycin 1 g orally.</span></b><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Clinicians need to use dual therapy and stay up to date with
treatment recommendations: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #464646; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Data show that resistance
decreases when the correct dual therapy is used.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #464646; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Using azithromycin as a monotherapy
to treat gonorrhea might promote the emergence of azithromycin resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #464646; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Patients with cephalosporin
allergies should be treated with azithromycin 2 g plus either gentamicin
or gemifloxacin.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="gdp" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt;">
<span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">There has been a steady increase in the number of reported
gonorrhea cases in Maine. As of June 30, 2016, 251 cases of gonorrhea have been
reported to the Maine CDC. The five-year median for this time period is 116
cases. The increase in gonorrhea in Maine mirrors a national trend reported by
U.S. CDC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maine CDC Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13596247322921988041noreply@blogger.com