Maine CDC has identified an influenza-associated pediatric death. This is the only influenza-associated pediatric death reported for the 2023-2024 influenza season. The child tested positive for influenza B Victoria. Influenza circulates in Maine throughout the year, at higher levels from early October to mid-May.
Clinicians should:
Please take a moment to review this U.S. CDC health advisory about an increased risk of dengue virus infections in the U.S. in connection with a global surge in dengue activity and several key actions that clinicians can take to recognize dengue in people with fever and pertinent travel, order appropriate testing, ensure timely reporting to public health authorities, and promote prevention measures in areas where dengue transmission may occur.
Please take a moment to review this health advisory about disrupted access to prescription stimulant medications related to a federal health care fraud indictment against a large telehealth company that provides ADHD treatment. This disruption could impact as many as 30,000 to 50,000 patients across the U.S. Patients with disrupted care or access to prescription stimulant medications are at increased risk for overdose if they obtain counterfeit pills that contain unexpected substances such as fentanyl.
Ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' (USG) level on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, according to Air Quality Meteorologists at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
After a stretch of relatively cool weather, summer has arrived in Maine, and weather conditions are expected to turn very hot and humid this week. Forecasts suggest that the heat wave will begin on Tuesday, impacting much of the state, and could become record-breaking on Wednesday and Thursday before easing by the weekend. Overnight temperatures are expected to remain high, preventing people from getting relief and causing heat to build up in buildings without air conditioning.
Maine CDC recently received notification of an infant with perinatally acquired HIV infection. The last infant in Maine with HIV infection attributed to perinatal transmission was born in 2019. Perinatal HIV infections are rare, with 21 cases of HIV attributed to perinatal transmission in the U.S. in 2021, the last year for which data are available. Perinatal HIV in the U.S. has fallen by more than 95% since the early 1990s. Perinatal HIV transmission occurs when HIV is passed from a pregnant person to their child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), America's Poison Centers, and state and local partners are investigating reports of severe acute illnesses potentially associated with consuming Diamond ShruumzTM brand chocolate bars, cones, and gummies marketed as containing a proprietary blend of mushroom. As of June 11, 2024, 12 total illnesses and 10 hospitalizations have been reported in eight U.S. states with ongoing efforts to identify other potential cases. The cause of the reported illnesses is not known at this time.
Maine CDC recently received notification of an infant with perinatally acquired HIV infection. The last infant in Maine with HIV infection attributed to perinatal transmission was born in 2019. Perinatal HIV infections are rare, with 21 cases of HIV attributed to perinatal transmission in the U.S. in 2021, the last year for which data are available. Perinatal HIV in the U.S. has fallen by more than 95% since the early 1990s. Perinatal HIV transmission occurs when HIV is passed from a pregnant person to their child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
In response to an ongoing panzootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in wild birds, poultry, and cattle, clinicians should (1) assess for relevant exposure history in patients with respiratory illness, (2) continue testing for influenza in patients with compatible illness in the summer months, and (3) send all influenza A and influenza B positive specimens to Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) for subtyping.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) has issued a Health Advisory to alert health care providers to cases of meningococcal disease linked to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca which may be performed at any time of year. The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage which will take place June 14-19, 2024.
