National Food Day, Oct. 24

The focus of National Food Day is very close to home here in Maine. Setting aside one day to focus on food reminds us of:

• the connection between health and great tasting food, like Maine apples;
• what we can do to end hunger; and
• the importance of having Maine farms and farmers that produce some of the best tasting fruit, vegetables, meats, chicken, fish, and grains in the nation.

Every day truly could be food day here in Maine. Take some time this month to stop and think about what you eat.  

• Are the food choices you are making keeping you well?
• Did you ever wonder where your apples or carrots or meat comes from?
• Do you take time to enjoy the flavor of your food?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, take action by taking the Food Day Challenge:

1. Take a small step to eat like your life depends on it - it does.

• Add one more veggie to your meals.
• Switch to lower fat dairy, whole grains, and grilled, baked, or broiled foods.
• Eat a little less.

2. Look for local produce in season. Farmers markets go all year long now.
 
3. Savor your food with a family member or a friend.

4. When you donate foods to the food bank, think about health.

For healthy recipes, check http://recipefinder.nal.usda.gov/, which allows you to search for healthy and affordable recipes. Each recipe includes nutritional information, ingredients, instructions, and cost per recipe and per serving.

Friday is World Rabies Day

On September 28, the State of Maine will celebrate the sixth annual World Rabies Day. Although Maine has not had a case of human rabies since 1937 due to reporting and effective control measures, the threat of rabies remains.

Last month, Maine CDC was notified of a domestic dog that tested positive for rabies. This is the first case of rabies in a domestic dog in Maine since 2003. This case reminds us of the importance of keeping pets up-to-date on rabies vaccine and avoiding contact with wild animals to prevent the spread of rabies. The dog was infected with a variant of the rabies virus that circulates most commonly in raccoons and is predominant in the eastern United States.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals. The virus is spread when infected animals bite or scratch a person or another animal. The virus can also be spread if saliva or tissue from the brain or spinal cord of a rabid animal touches broken skin or gets into the mouth, nose or eyes of a person or another animal.

All mammals are susceptible to rabies infection, but only a few wildlife species are important reservoirs for the disease, including raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. While wildlife are more likely to be rabid than are domestic animals in the United States, domestic animals can be infected when they are bitten by wild animals.

Rabies in humans is preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. If you or someone you know is bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wound with soap and water right away, and contact your healthcare provider to find out if you need to be treated for a rabies exposure. Usually, medical care can be delayed if rabies can be ruled out in the biting animal either through a confinement period for domestic animals or rabies testing for wild animals.

All Mainers are encouraged to consider ways in which they can prevent the spread of rabies including:

• Vaccinate your pet cats and dogs against rabies; it is the law.
• Avoid contact with wild animals or other animals that you do not know.
• Bat proof your home. Wildlife biologists can provide tips on how to bat proof your home without harming bats but preventing them from entering your home.  

For more information, contact your local animal control officer or Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821. Stop by at our World Rabies Day Table in the lobby of KeyBank Plaza on Water Street in Augusta from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, September 27.

Universal childhood immunizations

Public Law 2009-595 went into effect on January 1. This law reinstated the universal status of childhood immunizations in Maine. As part of this legislation the Maine Vaccine Board (MVB) was formed to help the State of Maine reinstate its universal purchase of vaccines for children under age 19. The MVB assures the necessary flow of vaccine purchase funds by collecting payments from health plans, insurance companies, and other payers and remitting the funds to the state. Through the Maine CDC's Childhood Vaccine Program, the State purchases vaccines at favorable rates and distributes them to providers at no charge.

 

This means that all Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended vaccines are now available to all Maine children under age 19 at no cost to the child’s family or to providers in the State of Maine.

This program has many benefits for Maine citizens:

• reduces out-of-pocket vaccine costs for parents
• improves vaccination rates in Maine children
• lowers costs of vaccines through a public-private partnerships
• lowers vaccine costs in provider offices
• improves vaccine access by creating a single-tier system in provider offices
• most importantly, will improve vaccine rates by offering combination vaccines to reduce missed opportunities.

For more information: http://www.mevaccine.org/

Protect Your Groundwater Day

Nearly 2/3 of Maine people get their drinking water from groundwater, so we have a large stake in protecting our groundwater quality and quantity in Maine. We can all use this day to begin doing our part for protecting one of our most important natural resources — our groundwater!

 

Some things you can do to help protect our groundwater:

• Properly maintain your septic system: make sure to have your septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years and check for signs that your septic system is not working
• Handle gasoline, motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides and other hazardous chemicals with care, making sure not to dump them on the ground or pour them down the sink. When you’re done with them, dispose of them properly at a recycling center
• Inspect your heating oil tank and its piping to make sure it’s not leaking, starting to corrode or rust, or in danger of tipping over
• Don’t throw away or flush unused or unwanted medications down the drain. Instead, properly and safely dispose of them by using Maine’s Safe Medicine Disposal for ME free medication mailback program

Public drinking water systems regularly monitor and test the drinking water they provide, but if you have your own well, you should have your water tested every year for bacteria, nitrates and nitrites, and every 3-5 years for naturally occurring arsenic, radon, and uranium.

 

For more information on Protect Your Groundwater Day, or to learn more ways you can protect groundwater, visit http://www.ngwa.org/Events-Education/groundwater-day/Pages/default.aspx. For information on public water systems visit the Drinking Water Program website at www.medwp.com. For more information on private wells, visit http://wellwater.maine.gov.

Newborn Screening Awareness Month

Newborn screening saves lives, prevents disabilities and saves money. In the last five decades, newborn screening has become a well-defined, nationwide early identification program. Every year, 4 million infants born in the United States are screened shortly after birth for hearing loss and certain genetic, endocrine, and metabolic disorders. Each year, approximately 12,000 infants will be identified with one of these disorders.


The goal of newborn screening is to identify infants who appear healthy at birth, but who may have one of these disorders which can cause severe illness or death. Through early identification and treatment, newborn screening provides an opportunity for significant reductions in morbidity and mortality while reducing health care costs associated with treatment of lifelong debilitating conditions.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/features/ScreeningNewborns or get information on newborn screening in Maine.

Suicide prevention

There are numerous efforts being to recognize and support World Suicide Prevention Day. In Maine, a number of events are planned:


The Maine Suicide Prevention Program, a statewide suicide prevention initiative led by Maine CDC, in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Labor, Corrections, and Public Safety, is hosting a free training, “The Assessment and Management of Suicidal Clients,” from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 10 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with the essential tools needed to assess suicide risks accurately and manage challenging scenarios effectively. The presenter is Dr. David Rudd, PhD, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Utah and Scientific Director for the National Center for Veterans Studies. Dr. Rudd is widely published and was recently elected a Distinguished Practitioner and Scholar of the National Academies of Practice in Psychology. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Rudd is an active researcher with more than 170 publications. Registration is required at http://www.ccsme.org/Events.htm

Visit www.ccsme.org/train/suicideprevention to view the complete schedule of Suicide Prevention trainings for 2012-2013 and to register for these trainings.

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program is also organizing its annual event to raise awareness of suicide prevention activities statewide and to recognize people and organizations that are making a difference through “Caring About Lives in Maine” awards. The event will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Blaine House in Augusta. Registration is required. To register, please email Vincent Bryant at vincent.bryant@maine.gov and include your email address and phone number.

Healthy eating

September is both National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and National Fruit and Veggies - More Matters Month.

Childhood obesity is a major public health problem. There is no single or simple solution to childhood obesity. It is influenced by many different factors, including a lack of access to healthy food and drinks, as well as limited opportunities for physical activity in the places where children live, play, and learn. Working together, states, communities, and parents can help make the healthy choice the easy choice for children and adolescents.

Maine CDC is proud to highlight Maine’s annual Harvest Lunch Week and Farm to School efforts this month. These programs succeed in getting Maine youth to enjoy eating more fruits and veggies, which is important since only 1 in 4 Maine youth eat the recommended number of veggies and fruits each day. Studies show that fruit and vegetables are important to support growth, good health, and a healthy weight. Eating the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables can also help protect against high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, bone loss, and some cancers.

Maine Harvest Lunch is a Farm to School activity that introduces students to local Maine grown veggies and fruits in their natural form. US CDC supports Farm to School as an obesity prevention strategy because it engages youth in learning about, preparing, and eating more veggies and fruits. Eating fruits and veggies prepared without added fat in place of higher calorie foods can help maintain a healthy weight. About 26% of Maine youth are overweight or obese. Fortunately, Maine has nearly 200 Farm to School programs with Maine farmers, teachers, and school food service personnel working together to improve the wellbeing of Maine’s youth and communities.

Maine CDC’s Division of Population Health staff is part of the Maine Farm to School Workgroup that provides technical assistance, best practice guidelines, and support to local schools, farmers, and teachers working on Farm to School. The workgroup is made of partners from state agencies and nongovernment organizations. The Healthy Maine Partnerships have been working on Farm to School and Maine Harvest Lunch Week in their local service areas for years, which helps support Maine CDC’s efforts to reach the Healthy Maine 2020 goal of increasing Maine youth’s fruit and veggie consumption.

To find out how many servings of fruits and veggies you need, go to ChooseMyPlate.gov.

For more information about how to eat more fruits and veggies, check out this PDF

Tickborne diseases

Anaplasmosis, a bacterial infection carried by deer ticks, is an emerging infection in Maine. As of Aug. 8, 38 cases have been reported to Maine CDC from 8 counties (Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Somerset and York). During 2011, a total of 26 cases were reported. Most infections occur during the summer and fall months, so the number of cases is expected to rise. For more information about anaplasmosis, see the health alert issued Aug. 9.
Other diseases that are carried by ticks in Maine include babesiosis and Lyme disease. In 2011, providers reported 9 cases of babesiosis; 3 cases have been reported to date in 2012. In 2011, providers reported 1,006 cases of Lyme disease; 483 cases have been reported to date in 2012.

Lyme disease is the most common vectorborne disease in Maine. Ticks are out and we expect the number of Lyme disease cases to increase in the warm weather.

For general information about Lyme disease see the May 1 health alert issued by Maine CDC.

Flu update

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the 2012-2013 flu season are now available. The Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for influenza for the 2012-2013 season are also online. 

Influenza A H3N2v is a variant virus recently detected in the United States. The first case of H3N2v was detected in summer of 2011, with 12 total cases being detected in all of 2011. The virus has already been found in over 200 individuals to date in 2012. Maine has not identified any cases in 2012. Influenza A H3N2v is associated with exposures to pigs, and most cases had either direct contact with pigs, or indirect contact such as visiting a fair.

Maine identified 2 cases of influenza A H3N2v in the fall of 2011. Both of Maine’s cases had fair exposures, and one had direct pig contact.

Symptoms of influenza A H3N2v are similar to regular influenza including fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches. This virus can spread between humans and pigs, so sick humans should avoid animal contact, and the general public should avoid contact with ill animals.

Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Agriculture remind everyone to exercise good judgment while attending agricultural fairs. For recommendations and more information, see the health alert Maine CDC issued on Aug. 7.

Know how to protect yourself from West Nile and EEE

Arboviral diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV), are very serious infections that are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Although rare, these diseases have the potential to be severe and even fatal.


On Aug. 17, a mosquito pool (a collection which contains between 1-50 mosquitoes) tested positive for WNV at Maine’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. The pool of mosquitoes was collected Aug. 1 in the town of Lebanon, as described in this health alert. Since then, a second mosquito pool from Cumberland County tested positive.

This is the earliest WNV has been identified in mosquitoes in Maine. The last time WNV was identified in Maine was from a mosquito pool in 2010. There has been a significant increase in arboviral activity in the last month.

Maine CDC recommends the following preventative measures to protect against mosquitoborne illnesses:

Control what you can. Improve your odds of avoiding mosquito spread viruses by using a repellent on exposed skin and clothes while outdoors. Wear protective clothing when outdoors, including long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks. Use screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home, and remove standing water from artificial water-holding containers in and around the house.


Insect Repellent: It keeps you from being what’s for dinner.

There are always excuses for not using repellent— forgot it, didn't want to go back and get it, it doesn't smell good, it's not in the budget, or "mosquitoes don't bite me"…

Think of repellent as you would an important article of clothing, and increase your chances of avoiding weeks (or even months) of aches and fatigue that come with West Nile fever, dengue fever, or any number of other mosquito borne diseases. More severe problems are possible. Being hospitalized with swelling of the brain, or even worse, are possibilities from many of these diseases.


What repellent should I use?

US CDC recommends a variety of effective repellents. The most important step is to pick one and use it. There are those that can protect you for a short while in the backyard or a long while in the woods. DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus are all repellents recommended by US CDC. All contain an EPA-registered active ingredient and have been studied to make sure they are effective and safe. EPA has a long listing of repellent brands in the United States. Check out US CDC’s traveler’s health page on repellents here.


When should you wear repellent?

Mosquitoes can bite anytime. Most of the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus bite from around sundown to around sun-up (throughout the night). Put a few bottles or packets of repellent around—in the car, by the door, in a purse or backpack.

Health tips to keep in mind as summer winds down

Maine CDC reminds people to stay healthy while enjoying outdoor activities this summer.

 

Make sure you know what steps to take to protect your skin from the sun.
 
Use good judgment for good health when attending Maine agricultural fairs:

• Do not attend a fair if you are ill.
• Always ask the owner for permission before you touch an animal.
• Before and after touching animals, wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol hand gel.
• Before eating, wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol hand gel.

 

 If you’ll be grilling outdoors, check out this video from the Grill Sergeants with safety guidelines for safe grilling. 

 

 One in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year alone. FoodSafety.gov has a number of helpful at-a-glance food safety charts available and other food safety information. 

 

 Get information about recreational water illnesses and how to avoid them.

 

Be prepared to stay healthy in extremely high temperatures.
 

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

 Stay safe in lightning.

Six in 10 adults now get physically active by walking

Sixty-two percent of adults say they walked for at least once for 10 minutes or more in the previous week in 2010, compared to 56 percent in 2005, according to a new Vital Signs report from US CDC.
However, less than half (48 percent) of all adults get enough physical activity to improve their health, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey. For substantial health benefits, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends at least two and a half hours per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, such as brisk walking. This activity should be done for at least 10 minutes at a time.

To learn more about Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and ways to get active, visit www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity

Third-hand smoke

Ever take a whiff of a smoker's hair and feel faint from the pungent scent of cigarette smoke? Or perhaps you have stepped into an elevator and wondered why it smells like someone has lit up when there is not a smoker in sight. Welcome to the world of third-hand smoke.

 

“Third-hand smoke is tobacco smoke contamination that remains after a cigarette has been extinguished," says Jonathan Winickoff, a pediatrician at the Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston and author of a study on the new phenomenon published in the journal Pediatrics. “Third-hand smoke," a term coined by Winickoff's research team, is a relatively new concept, but one that has worried researchers and nonsmokers for several years.

 

Third-hand smoke refers to the tobacco toxins that build up over time—one cigarette will coat the surface of a certain room, a second cigarette will add another coat, and so on. The third-hand smoke is what remains after visible or "second-hand smoke" has dissipated from the air.

 

The 2006 surgeon general's report says there is no risk-free level of tobacco exposure. There are more than 250 poisonous toxins found in cigarette smoke.

 

For more information:

• http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2006/index.htm
• http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/1/e74.abstract
• http://www.portlandmaine.gov/hhs/phbreatheeasy.asp
• http://www.smokefreeforme.org

Influenza

The Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for influenza for the 2012-2013 season are now available.

Multiple infections with variant influenza A (H3N2v) viruses have been identified in three states in recent weeks. From July 12 through August 3, 2012, 16 cases of H3N2v were reported and confirmed by US CDC. This virus was first detected in humans in July 2011. It has also been isolated in U.S. swine in many states.

 

Since July 12, 2011, there have been 29 cases of H3N2v virus infection, including the 16 cases occurring in the last three weeks. Maine confirmed two cases of H3N2v influenza in 2011, but no new cases have been detected to date in 2012.

 

Each of the 16 recent cases reported contact with swine prior to illness onset; in 15 cases, contact occurred while attending or exhibiting swine at an agricultural fair. While the viruses identified in these cases are genetically nearly identical, separate swine exposure events in each state were associated with human infections. Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Agriculture remind everyone to exercise good judgment while attending agricultural fairs.

Interim Recommendations for the Public

• Persons who are at high risk for influenza complications (e.g., underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or neurological conditions, or who are pregnant or younger than 5 years, older than 65 years of age or have weakened immune systems) should consider avoiding exposure to pigs and swine barns this summer, especially if ill pigs have been identified.
• Persons engaging in activities that may involve swine contact, such as attending agricultural events or exhibiting swine, should wash their hands frequently with soap and running water before and after exposure to animals; avoid eating or drinking in animal areas; and avoid close contact with animals that look or act ill.
• Patients who experience influenza-like symptoms following direct or close contact with pigs and who seek medical care should inform their health care provider about the exposure.
• Patients with influenza-like illness who are at high risk for influenza complications (e.g., underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or neurological conditions, or who are pregnant or younger than 5 years, older than 65 years of age or have weakened immune systems) should see their health care provider promptly to determine if treatment with antiviral medications is warranted.
• Influenza viruses have not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork or other products derived from pigs. For more information about the proper handling and preparation of pork, visit the USDA website fact sheet “Fresh Pork from Farm to Table.”

 

Interim Recommendations for Health Care Providers  

• Clinicians who suspect influenza in persons with recent exposure to swine should obtain a nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate from the patient, place the swab or aspirate in viral transport medium, and contact their state or local health department to arrange transport and request a timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory.
• Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for influenza should be considered for patients with influenza-like illness prior to the start of the traditional influenza season in October.
• RT-PCR testing for influenza should be considered throughout the year for patients with influenza-like illness reporting recent swine exposure and for those who can be epidemiologically linked to confirmed cases of variant influenza.
• Commercially available rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) may not detect H3N2v virus in respiratory specimens. Therefore, a negative rapid influenza diagnostic test result does not exclude infection with H3N2v or any influenza virus. In addition, a positive test result for influenza A cannot confirm H3N2v virus infection because these tests cannot distinguish between influenza A virus subtypes (they do not differentiate between human influenza A viruses and H3N2v virus). Therefore, respiratory specimens should be collected and sent for RT-PCR testing at a state public health laboratory.
• Clinicians should consider antiviral treatment with oral oseltamivir or inhaled zanamivir in patients with suspected or confirmed H3N2v virus infection. Antiviral treatment is most effective when started as soon as possible after influenza illness onset.

 For more information, see the health alert Maine CDC issued on Aug. 7.

 

National Immunization Awareness Month

We all need immunizations (also called vaccines or shots) to help protect us from serious diseases. Shots can prevent infectious diseases like measles, diphtheria, and rubella. But people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases. It’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them.

Everyone age 6 months and older needs a seasonal flu shot every year. Other shots work best when they are given at certain ages. Here are some general guidelines:

• Children need a series of shots from birth to age 6.
• Pre-teens need recommended shots at age 11 or 12.
• All adults need a booster shot every 10 years to help protect against tetanus and diphtheria.

We are seeing many cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in Maine right now. Pertussis is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that can last for many weeks. Immunity to pertussis following infection is not lifelong. Persons with a history of pertussis should continue to receive pertussis-containing vaccines according to the recommended schedule. Because vaccination is not 100% effective and immunity wanes over time, even fully vaccinated persons can become infected with pertussis. However, unvaccinated children have an 8 times higher risk of becoming infected with pertussis than fully vaccinated children. Furthermore, vaccinated children who do get infected with pertussis have milder symptoms, shorter duration of illness, fewer severe outcomes (including hospitalization) and are less infectious than their non-vaccinated counterparts. Therefore, vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent pertussis.

 

Talk to your doctor or nurse to find out which immunizations you need. For more information, visit
www.immunizeme.org 

 

If you choose not to vaccinate, understand the risks and responsibilities.

Severe Staph Infections Linked to Unsafe Use of Single-Dose/Single-Use Vials

With certain drugs in short supply, some health care professionals may be tempted to use singledose/single-use medication vials for more than one patient, a practice that goes against US CDC’s 2007 Standard Precautions. New outbreak reports provide a frightening reminder of these critical recommendations: medications labeled “single-use” or “singledose” must be used for one—and only one—patient.

US CDC reported in the July 13 issue of MMWR that 10 patients in Arizona and Delaware contracted severe methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (staph) or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections at outpatient facilities where practitioners reused medication from single-dose/single-use medication vials for multiple patients.

In Arizona, three patients contracted invasive MRSA infections following injections from the same singledose/single-use vial at an outpatient pain management clinic. Patients were treated for acute mediastinitis, bacterial meningitis, epidural abscess and sepsis. A fourth patient who received an injection from the same vial was found dead at home six days after treatment at the clinic. Cause of death was reported as multiple drug overdose; however invasive MRSA could not be ruled out.

Seven patients in Delaware were diagnosed with severe staph infections after receiving joint injections at the same outpatient orthopedic practice. Staff at the clinic had recently started to use singledose/single-use vials for multiple patients after their supply of a smaller vial size (which they had previously dedicated for single-patient use), was disrupted as part of a national shortage. Two staff members who were responsible for preparing injections were found to be colonized with S. aureus, and one was an identical match to the strain that infected the seven patients.

Since 2007, the year that injection safety was included as part of Standard Precautions, there have been at least 20 outbreaks associated with the use of single-dose or single-use medication vials for more than one patient. Medication in single-dose/single-use vials is typically preservative-free, which makes it unsafe to use for more than one patient.

It is every provider’s responsibility to protect their patients. Refresh your knowledge of safe injection practices at the website, download the Healthcare Provider Toolkit, including an injection safety checklist and follow the campaign on Twitter and Facebook. Every patient deserves the protection of safe injections.

Tobacco prevention

The Cancer Action Network of the American Cancer Society recently released a report, Staying Well: Real Stories from the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The report includes a feature on the Maine Tobacco HelpLine and the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine on pages 20-21.
Young tobacco prevention activists from Maine and throughout the United States are participating in a youth leadership training in Washington, DC, this week and meeting with members of Congress to urge them to support strong policies to reduce tobacco use.

In particular, the youth are calling attention to the marketing of cheap, sweet-flavored cigars that appeal to kids. Nearly 30 youth from across the country are participating in the training, which is organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and includes skill-building workshops on leadership, advocacy and communications.

In Maine, tobacco use kills 2,200 residents and costs the state $602 million in health care bills each year, and 15.2 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes.

For more information, visit http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/

Food safety

One confirmed case in Maine is included in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to ground beef. A second suspected case is undergoing testing.


Consumers should check their refrigerators and freezers for recalled products and not eat them; retailers and food service operators should not serve them.

Salmonella Enteriditis causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramps, and fevers. It usually lasts 3-10 days.

One in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year alone. FoodSafety.gov has a number of helpful at-a-glance food safety charts available as well as other food safety information.
If you’ll be grilling outdoors this summer, check out this video from the Grill Sergeants with safety guidelines for safe grilling.

Pertussis (whooping cough) update 7/26/12

Pertussis is endemic in the United States. Although cyclical in nature, a gradual and sustained increase has been observed in the United States after reaching historic lows in the 1970s. In 2010, 27,550 pertussis cases were reported. Year-to-date case counts from 2012 have surpassed those from the previous 5 years for the same period.


To date, 300 cases of pertussis have been reported in Maine this calendar year, compared with 75 cases at the same time last year. The majority of cases have been in Cumberland, Somerset, and Penobscot counties, with most cases in children ages 7 to 19. Weekly pertussis updates are available on the Maine CDC website (http://www.mainepublichealth.gov/), updated every Thursday. This week's update is available at: http://go.usa.gov/fMC

US CDC recently issued a MMWR about the pertussis epidemic in Washington state, which suggests early waning of immunity from acellular pertussis vaccines.

For more information, visit http://go.usa.gov/dCO

HIV updates

The XIX Annual International AIDS Conference is currently underway in Washington, D.C., and several recent developments have occurred in the fight against HIV/AIDS:


Home Testing

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter home-use rapid HIV test on July 3. The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is designed to allow individuals to collect an oral fluid sample and obtain test results within 20 to 40 minutes.


A positive result with this test does not mean that an individual is definitely infected with HIV, but rather that additional testing should be done in a medical setting to confirm the test result. Similarly, a negative test result does not mean that an individual is definitely not infected with HIV, particularly when exposure may have been within the previous three months. The test has the potential to identify large numbers of previously undiagnosed HIV infections especially if used by those unlikely to use standard screening methods.


Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

On July 16, FDA approved Truvada (a fixed dose combination of two antiretrovirals used to treat HIV) to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals who are at high risk of HIV infection and who may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners. Truvada is to be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in combination with safer sex practices to prevent sexually-acquired HIV infection in adults at high risk. Truvada is the first drug approved for this indication.

Truvada for PrEP is meant to be used as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention plan that includes risk reduction counseling consistent and correct condom use, regular HIV testing, and screening for and treatment of other sexually-transmitted infections. Truvada is not a substitute for safer sex practices. As part of PrEP, HIV-uninfected individuals who are at high risk will need to take Truvada daily to lower their chances of becoming infected with HIV should they be exposed to the virus.

For more information about PrEP, visit http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/prep/


Prevention with Positives

Earlier this week, US CDC launched the first ever Prevention with Positives website to help address the prevention needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Trends in HIV-related Risk Behaviors Among High School Students

An early release MMWR article “Trends in HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — United States, 1991–2011” describes the analysis of data from the biennial national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) with results that suggest that progress in reducing some HIV-related risk behaviors among high school students overall and in certain populations stalled in the past decade. The article suggests that renewed educational efforts and other risk reduction interventions are warranted to reduce the number of young persons who become infected with HIV.


Maine Reports

Maine's May 2012 HIV/STD update and 2011 HIV/STD Surveillance Report are now both posted on the Maine CDC website.