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H1N1 (Swine Flu) Update:
Maine Public Information Hotline for Swine Flu: 1-888-257-0990
Maine CDC Emergency Healthcare Professional Hotline 1-800-821-5821
H1N1 is here and continues to spread in Maine, especially in the southern half of the state. Maine is one of 11 states reporting widespread influenza activity. Maine CDC has reported five (5) new cases of H1N1 and, for the first time, Androscoggin County is implicated. The new cases include 1 adult in each York and Cumberland Counties and three (3) youths in Androscoggin County. There is now a total of 90 diagnosed cases of H1N1 in Maine which includes 67 Maine residents and 23 out of state persons visiting Maine who were ill and tested while staying in Maine.
To date, the age group hardest hit is the 5 to 24 year olds. The cases break down as follows: <5 y.o. = 5 cases;
5 to 25 yr olds = 33 cases, 25 to 49 yr olds = 15 cases, 50 to 64 yr olds = 13 cases and over 65 yrs of age there was one (1) reported case. We are reminded that the number of cases we have statewide is significantly less than we have with seasonal flu and the symptoms to this point are not any more severe.
Cases continue to be investigated by Maine CDC infectious disease epidemiologists. There appears to be a high spread among children and young adults. The Maine CDC public health laboratory (HETL) has performed over 1,700 influenza PCR tests this past month, and is now able to do confirmatory H1N1 testing, eliminating the need have specimens confirmed at US CDC.
Because recommendations from U.S. CDC are being updated very frequently, we strongly urge clinicians, school officials, and others to review the most updated guidance before making clinical or closure decisions. US CDC guidance and recommendations can be accessed at this site: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/. H1N1 poses the threat of being at least as serious as seasonal flu. As the infection spreads we expect to see some increase in severity, as has been seen nationally. In addition, because this is a new virus, most people do not have natual immunity to it and no vacine is yet available.
We all need to stay informed, be prepared, and most importantly practice proper respiratory hygiene, including the following steps:
1. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
3. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
4. If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
NIMS Reminder: Hospital employees who may take a leadership role or be part of the Hospital's Incident Command System (ICS) in a hospital disaster or emergency incident have to complete NIMS training. You may go online to www.training.fema.gov to fulfill these requirements.
Maine's Health Alert Network Update:
Maine CDC has adopted an easy to use two-way Internet-based alerting and messaging system accessible from anywhere. The Maine Health Alert Network (now known as MaineHAN) provides 24/7/365 up to date alerts and information from Maine’s public health officials. The MaineHAN will be a messaging tool for all public health partners, allowing communication among rural and metro Healthcare Systems professionals, hospitals, health centers, EMS, environmental health, police, fire, National Guard and others. MaineHAN is a secure web based internet site that is as easy to use as email.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness is pleased to announce the roll-out of a new alerting engine for The Maine Health Alert Network (MaineHAN). The new alerting engine, called Response Manager (RM), will dramatically improve our communication during a public health emergency by providing bi-directional, peer-to-peer messaging among first responders and essential public health officials throughout the state as well as the sharing of information on the web portal. On this web portal, users receive, view & confirm messages via telephone, email, fax, alphanumeric pagers, cell phones, and Blackberries and can read news & announcements and access other pertinent links & websites. Your user capabilities will be determined by the license level you have been assigned, either Alerting, Collaboration or Administration. To take full advantage of your license level and to be able to access the RM, you will need to receive training. This can now be accomplished thru Alerting and Collaborating classes now being offered via Webinar. An updated Webinar schedule is now available. To learn more about this exciting new alerting system, contact the Central Maine Regional HAN Administrator at weymouts@cmhc.org or call the Resource Center at 795-2920 for additional information. If you have already signed up and have a profile and an account, click here to access The HAN web link
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