Maine | Warmer weather may be cause of increase in rabid animals
Augusta | 4 Feb 2012
With the addition of two foxes in the same York County neighborhood testing positive for rabies, the increased number of rabies cases in the first month of 2012 has prompted the Maine Center for Disease Control and the Maine Department of Agriculture to remind people to be cautious around wild animals and to vaccinate their pets.
In January 2012, 11 cases of rabies have been confirmed, while in 2011, only one animal tested positive for the virus. Rabid animals have been reported in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford and York counties.
“The uncharacteristically warm winter weather that we’ve been experiencing and the lack of significant snowfall may be contributing to the increase by enabling wild animals to roam more freely,” said Dr. Don Hoenig, State Veterinarian with the Maine Department of Agriculture.
The rabies 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 touches broken skin or gets into the mouth, nose or eyes, Hoenig said.
The most common wild animals to carry rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Domestic mammals can also get rabies.
Dr. Stephen Sears, State Epidemiologist from Maine CDC, reminds Mainers to avoid contact with wild animals, to keep their pets close to home and to make sure all pets are up to date on rabies vaccination.
“By avoiding contact with wild animals and maintaining pets’ vaccinations, we can prevent the spread of rabies,” said Dr. Sears.
Rabies in humans is preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. It is important to report possible exposures right away to ensure appropriate follow up. For more information, please contact your local animal control officer or the Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821.
Maine | Topics and presenters sought for preparedness conference
Augusta ME | The 4th Annual Maine Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24 and 25, 2012 at the Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine. Conference organizers are seeking suggestions for workshop topics, and proposals from those interested in conducting workshops at the conference.
I Have an Idea for a Workshop!
Follow the links below to share your ideas or volunteer as a presenter
- I have a suggestion for a topic (please include suggestions for speakers as well)
- I would like to be a presenter at the conference (Note our guidelines, below)
Workshops are presented at breakout sessions throughout the two days of the conference. The sessions typically are about 90 minutes long, and include subjects affecting the many audiences at the Conference.
Topics may be presented in a variety of ways. In previous conferences, presentation styles have ranged from “Lessons Learned” from exercises and events, to traditional classroom presentation, to panel discussions with experts in a particular subject.
The Conference is part of the “Maine Prepares” initiative, which focuses on emergency preparedness for a range of audiences.
- Home and Family, including advocates for those with functional and access needs
- Schools, from preschool to university
- Business, large and small
- Communities, encompassing public officials, emergency managers and responders
- Private Non-Profit Organizations, including advocacy groups, volunteer teams and service groups
Some guidelines for topic proposals:
- Topics should address the interests of one or more of the groups referenced above
- Presentations must not feature any promotional content for any commercial enterprise
- No materials promoting the presenter or a particular commercial interest may be distributed or displayed
- Submitters are free to propose more than one topic
- The Conference Committee will review all proposals and may contact submitters for more information. The Committee also reserves the right to solicit presentations through other avenues.
The annual Maine Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference grew out of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) popular annual Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Conference. In the spirit of “all hazard preparedness”, in 2009 MEMA expanded this platform to address the full spectrum of hazards in Maine, as well as to involve an even wider circle of public, private and non-profit partners. At the same time the emphasis on Hazmat was maintained for this important segment of our response community. Session materials from previous conferences can be reviewed at the Conference website.
The annual conference has proved to be a unique educational and networking opportunity. Please share your ideas for topics and let us know if you would like to present.
Help make the Fourth Annual the best Maine Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference to date.
Related Documents
A one-of-a-kind educational and networking opportunity.
Maine | Increase in Legionellosis cases
Augusta ME | Background: Several New England states are seeing an increase in cases of legionellosis including Connecticut and Massachusetts. Parts of Canada are also seeing an increase in case counts in 2011.
In Maine, 18 confirmed cases of legionellosis were reported to date, compared to 11 at the same time last year. The 5 year median is 10 cases. Cases range in age from 26 to 89 years, and have occurred in eight different counties. Maine saw 3 cases in the first half of 2011, but 15 in the last half of 2011. 12 of the 18 cases occurred in the last three months. No common exposure has been identified between any of the cases.
Legionellosis is an infectious disease caused by a gram-negative bacillus of the genus Legionella, most commonly Legionella pneumophila. Legionnaires’ disease is the acute pneumonic form of the disease.
Pontiac fever is a non-pneumonic form of legionellosis that is less severe than Legionnaires’ disease.
Legionellosis is generally acquired by inhalation of an infectious dose of aerosolized Legionella, usually in contaminated water in sources such as cooling towers, whirlpool spas, showers and faucets.
Symptoms of legionellosis are similar to other forms of pneumonia and usually occur 2-14 days after exposure to an environmental source. High fever, chills, cough, chest pain and muscle aches are common symptoms. Legionellosis is diagnosed through laboratory tests, most commonly the urine antigen test or culture of respiratory specimens (sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage). Hospitalization is common, and the fatality rate is 5-30%.
Recommendations: Providers should be aware of the increase in legionellosis cases, and consider legionellosis in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia cases. Urinary antigen assay and culture of respiratory specimens are the preferred diagnostic tests for legionellosis.
Epidemiologic risk factors for legionellosis include:
• Recent travel with an overnight stay outside the home
• Exposure to whirlpool spas
• Recent repairs or maintenance work on domestic plumbing
• Renal or hepatic failure
• Diabetes
• Systemic malignancy
• Smoking
• Immune system disorders.
All cases of legionellosis should to be reported to Maine CDC by phone (800-821-5821) or fax (800-293-7534).
For More Information:
• General information on legionellosis can be found on the Maine CDC website at
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/epi/airborne/legionellosis.shtml or the federal CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.htm.
• Disease reporting or consultation is available by calling Maine CDC at 800-821-5821.
Maine | Snowstorm moves in to mess with holiday travel
Augusta ME | As of noon time on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, State officials are monitoring a potentially significant storm which will impact the state late Tuesday evening into Wednesday. A winter storm warning has been issued for the southern, central, and western areas of the state. According to the National Weather Service, a “high impact” winter storm is bringing the potential for snow and sleet, which is expected to affect the holiday travel.
The NWS Gray has posted Winter Storm Warnings for a good portion of the state from late Tuesday evening and through the day on Wednesday as snowfall rates could be on the order of 1 to 3 inches per hour.
The NWS Caribou has posted a Winter Storm Watch for a good portion of the Northern and Downeast parts of the state Wednesday morning through the evening. They are calling for snow mixing with sleet and possibly rain along the coast line.
The National Weather Service has predicted the following snow fall totals:
- 1 to 4 inches of snow for the Downeast Coastal area
- 3 to 5 inches of snow for Southern Cumberland and York Coastal areas
- 5 to 8 inches of snow for parts of Northern Maine
- 6 to 12 inches of snow for Interior Cumberland and York Counties
- 8 to 12 inches of snow for the Western Mountains, Central, and Mid-Coast Maine
The precipitation is expected to taper off and end from west to east as Wednesday afternoon progresses. Dry weather is expected to return to all areas by Wednesday evening.
The timing of this storm system will affect one of the busiest travel days of the year. Therefore, you should plan your travel accordingly and be prepared to allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
The Maine Emergency Management Agency is offering a few tips for storm safety:
The basics
- Stay informed: Listen to your radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information as the storm progresses. The final track of the storm is still uncertain, and conditions could change rapidly.
- Check on neighbors and friends who may need help weathering the storm.
- If you lose power, and use a generator, use it ONLY outdoors, never in a basement or attached garage. Carbon monoxide kills.
- Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.
If you are driving
- Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive, consider the following:
- Travel in the day, don’t travel alone, and keep others informed of your schedule.
- Stay on main roads; avoid back road shortcuts.
- Drive slowly and carefully. Maintain a safe distance behind other cars.
If you must be outdoors
- Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
- Dress in layers — air gets trapped in between layers of clothes and helps keep you warm. If you are exercising outside (whether it’s shoveling or splitting wood), you can take off a layer, and then put it back on when you start to cool down.
- Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. Avoid cotton as your first layers, as it retains moisture; a synthetic that wicks away sweat works best next to the skin.
After the storm
- Clear snow away from all chimneys and vents, to prevent carbon monoxide buildup inside your house.
- Clear snow away from outside fuel storage tanks, and the filler pipes for your oil tank
- Offer to help neighbors and friends who might be in need of help shoveling out
Important phone numbers and web sites:
- Urgent emergency assistance: Dial 911
- Road conditions: Dial 511 or visit http://www.511maine.gov
- Report downed lines and power outages: Your electrical utility
- Other safety resources: Dial 211
- Safety and preparedness information, and links to weather forecasts: http://www.maineprepares.com
Maine | Big increases in carbon monoxide detector use credited to landlords and State law
Augusta ME | In just one year, the percentage of rental units with a carbon monoxide detector nearly doubled, jumping from 34 percent in 2009 to 58 percent in 2010, according to officials from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (MeCDC). The dramatic increase can be credited in large part to property owners complying with a 2009 state law requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all rental units, new single family homes, and existing homes whenever a property transfer occurs, according to MeCDC officials.
The data, collected from a statewide survey, also indicate that the overall percentage of Maine households with carbon monoxide detectors has been steadily increasing over several years, from 35 percent in 2004 to 54 percent in 2010. Despite these increases, nearly one in two homes is without a detector, leaving its residents without adequate protection against carbon monoxide poisoning.
“The good news is that the number of homes with carbon monoxide detectors is moving in the right direction,” said MeCDC director, Dr. Sheila Pinette. “But we need to do better. Having an electric carbon monoxide detector with a battery backup near where people sleep can save lives and is especially important in cold weather when heating your home.”
More than two-thirds of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning occur between November and March in Maine, most of them due to malfunctioning heating systems or blocked flues and vents. In the overwhelming majority of cases, there were no carbon monoxide detectors present in the home.
“Detectors are extremely important if carbon monoxide begins to build up in your home,” explained state toxicologist, Andrew Smith, ScD. “But it is even more important to keep carbon monoxide from ever building up in your home.”
Anything that burns fuel, such as an oil or propane boiler or wood stove, produces carbon monoxide. When these appliances are not properly maintained or vented, carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels inside a home without anyone noticing. Carbon monoxide cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, and can be lethal, Smith said.
“Now is the time to make sure your heating system is running safely, check your flue for nests or other blockages, put fresh batteries in your carbon monoxide detector or get a detector if you don’t have one,” said Dr. Smith. “These are the best things you can do to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning this winter.”
Facts about Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a gas that can cause sickness, coma or death when it builds up in enclosed spaces. It is not seen, does not smell and cannot be tasted. Warning signs of poisoning include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion, but no fever. Carbon monoxide exposure results in over 100 emergency department visits each year in Maine.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, health officials recommend the following:
- Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
- Don’t use a gas-powered generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gas or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window or door. Generators should be more than 15 feet from your home when running.
- Don’t run a car, truck or any other motor inside a garage or other enclosed space, even if you leave the door open.
- Don’t try to heat your house with a gas oven.
- Make sure you have a CO detector with a battery back-up in your home near where people sleep. Check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. You can buy an alarm at most hardware stores or stores that sell smoke detectors. By law, all rental units must have a CO detector—talk to your landlord if you don’t have one in your apartment or rental house.
If your CO alarm goes off, get out of the house right away and call 911. Get prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous.
For data about CO poisoning in Maine: https://tracking.publichealth.maine.gov. For more information about CO detector law: http://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/index.htm.