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Dr. Sheila Pinette Director, Maine CDC Osteopathic physician Public Health Update July 11, 2013 In this update: National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month Tick-borne diseases Pertussis (whooping cough) Summer health Arboviral diseases Upcoming events Follow us National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month Cleft lip and/or palate is the second most common birth defect in the U.S. Each year in Maine, 20-25 children are born with some form of cleft and an additional 5-15 children with some form of cleft are adopted or move into the state. July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month. Maine CDC’s Cleft Lip & Palate Program provides hospital and home visits to families who have infants born with the birth defect of a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. The program completes feeding assessments and supplies special bottle systems. The program provides information and referrals for services and medical/dental treatment until the age of 21. In addition, care coordination, clinical team care through two clinics at Eastern Maine Medical Center and Maine Medical Center, parent-to-parent support, and outreach education are included in the program’s services. For more information, visit http://go.usa.gov/jC9d Tick-borne diseases Lyme disease continues to be a growing concern in Maine, with 1,111 cases reported across the state in 2012. Health care providers should remember: • Prompt removal of ticks is important, as the tick must be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit the bacteria; • All cases of Lyme disease should be reported, including cases clinically diagnosed by an erythema migrans rash; • Lyme disease should be treated immediately upon recognition; • Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis are both endemic in Maine, and should be considered along with Lyme disease. PCR is the preferred testing method for both diseases. Maine CDC issued a health alert May 30 with this and other information in it. The health alert is available at http://go.usa.gov/bnhR For general information about tick-borne diseases, visit http://go.usa.gov/jCKw ---PAGE BREAK--- Pertussis (whooping cough) There have been 177 reported cases of pertussis so far this year, compared to 280 for the same period last year. Maine had a total of 737 pertussis cases in 2012. Pertussis is a cyclical disease, but it continues to be an issue in the state. Maine CDC encourages providers continue to test and treat patients. DTaP vaccine is recommended for all infants and children. Tdap vaccine is recommended for all preteens, teens, and adults. For guidance and information, visit http://go.usa.gov/dCO Summer health Make sure you know how to keep your summer safe and healthy. Know how to avoid: • Carbon monoxide poisoning: http://go.usa.gov/b4ST • Recreational water illnesses: http://go.usa.gov/b4S9 • Heat-related illnesses: http://go.usa.gov/b4SJ • Contracting or spreading illness at agricultural fairs: http://go.usa.gov/jC5Y For more information, see this press release: http://go.usa.gov/b6He Arboviral diseases Summer is here and arboviral activity has already been detected in the New England region, with a mosquito collection testing positive for West Nile virus in Massachusetts. 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 potentially severe and even fatal consequences for those who contract them. Maine CDC issued a health advisory for health care providers on July 8 to alert them to the potential for human disease activity in Maine, and to consider testing for arboviral disease in patients presenting with unexplained encephalitis, meningitis, or fever (≥100.4°F or 38°C) during the summer and early fall. For more information, see the health advisory at http://go.usa.gov/jCX9 Upcoming events • Maine CDC is dedicated to increasing awareness of Lyme disease and is co-sponsoring free, public Lyme disease prevention forums throughout the state this summer. The goal of these forums is to educate Maine residents about prevention and early detection of the disease. Each forum will have a presentation about Lyme disease followed by a Q & A session. Experts, including physicians, epidemiologists, veterinarians, biologists, and pesticide experts will be at the forums to answer specific questions and educate the public on the broader Lyme disease prevention work going on in Maine. The next forums will be held at 7 p.m. July 17 at Kennebunk Town Hall, 1 Summer Street, Kennebunk; and at 5 p.m. July 22 at the Fort Fairfield Public Library, 339 Maine Street, Fort Fairfield. Please email [EMAIL REDACTED] with any questions. • Maine CDC’s 2013 Division of Infectious Disease Conference will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Augusta Civic Center. The conference website is now live at http://www.cvent.com/d/pcqy5p The website includes a summary, agenda, conference brochure, information about fees, and the link to register. ---PAGE BREAK--- Follow us Follow Maine CDC’s Social Media Updates: • Facebook (www.facebook.com/MaineCDC) • Twitter (http://twitter.com/MEPublicHealth) • Blog (http://mainepublichealth.blogspot.com) You may subscribe to these updates for free through an RSS feed at http://go.usa.gov/G6u. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, you will be prompted to Subscribe to the Feed and then select the folder where feeds are stored. For clinical consultation and outbreak management guidance, call Maine CDC’s toll-free 24-hour phone line: 1-[PHONE REDACTED] For questions and potential exposure to poison, call the Poison Center’s 24-hour phone line: 1-[PHONE REDACTED]