Widespread flu activity confirmed in Maine
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
Influenza activity in Maine is widespread with laboratory confirmed cases reported in all counties.
According to a Jan. 8 email from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Influenza A/pH1N1, Influenza A/H3 and Influenza B have been identified in the state indicating all three strains are circulating.
“Maine CDC has followed up on six outbreaks of influenza as of Tuesday, Jan. 7. Influenza vaccination is still strongly encouraged and is widely available, especially to protect those persons at risk of severe disease,” reports the Maine CDC. “The vaccine appears to be a good match to the circulating strains this year, and it is not too late to get vaccinated.”
Maine’s first laboratory confirmed case of the flu was identified as influenza A/pH1N1 at the end of October, and pH1N1 remains the dominant strain so far this season. If the virus continues to circulate widely, illness that disproportionately affects young and middle-aged adults may occur. Laboratory confirmed cases of the flu are steadily increasing, and Maine reported widespread activity (meaning increased influenza-like illness and laboratory confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state) to federal CDC for the week ending Jan. 4.
To help prevent against the flu, the Maine CDC recommends following the “No Flu 4 You” guidelines:
• Wash your hands. Both the general public and health care providers should remember to wash their hands frequently to prevent transmission of influenza.
• Cover your cough. Use tissues or cough into your sleeve.
• Stay home when you are sick. Symptomatic individuals should remain home while sick. Stay home until 24 hours after fever resolves without the use of medications.
• Get vaccinated. Maine CDC recommends vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older, especially for those people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza. Influenza vaccine is provided at no cost by the state of Maine for children under the age of 19 years. Vaccine is still available through school-sponsored vaccine clinics, health care providers and many local pharmacies, and offers protection in 14 days. For questions about vaccination please contact the Maine Immunization Program at 800-867-4775 or through immunizeme@maine.gov.
Other recommendations include:
• Diagnostic testing. Maine CDC recommends that health care providers consider influenza testing for patients with flu-like illness (defined as fever greater than 100° F with cough or sore throat, in the absence of another known cause) who are hospitalized, who have died, or for whom a diagnosis of influenza would affect clinical care, infection control or management of contacts.
• Treatment. Tamiflu and Relenza are both approved antivirals for influenza. Treatment should begin as soon as possible.
• Reporting. All influenza outbreaks and pediatric influenza deaths are reportable conditions to Maine CDC. Maine CDC also appreciates reports of laboratory confirmed influenza but particularly any laboratory confirmed influenza among hospitalized persons, any suspicion of influenza among persons who have died, and any laboratory confirmed influenza associated with an outbreak.
Reports can be provided to Maine CDC by fax at 287-8186 or by phone at 1-800-821-5821.
For more information, log onto www.maineflu.gov.
