Maine Department of Health and Human Services

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC)
(Formerly Bureau of Health)
11 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0011

Phone 1-800-821-5821 / Fax 207-287-7443

 

**ADVISORY – Important Information**

 

2006PHADV019

 

 

TO:                 All Recipients  

 

FROM:           Dora Anne Mills, M.D., M.P.H., Public Health Director           

 

SUBJECT:     Influenza Arrives in Maine

 

DATE:            December 29, 2006

 

TIME:            4:30 PM

 

PAGES:          2

 

PRIORITY:    Review

 

Confidentiality Notice:  This fax message is intended for the exclusive use of the individual or entity identified above.  It may contain information, which is privileged and/or confidential under both state and federal law.  If you are not notified otherwise, any further dissemination, copying, or disclosure of the communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this transmittal in error, please immediately notify us at 287-3252 and return the original transmission to us by mail at Key Bank Plaza, 6^th Floor-286 Water Street. Augusta, ME  04333, without making a copy.  Your cooperation in protecting confidential information is greatly appreciated.    

 

 

Influenza Arrives in Maine

 

 

Cases of both influenza A and influenza B among Maine residents have now been confirmed by laboratory diagnostic testing in several communities, marking the beginning of our influenza season.

 

Clinicians should consider influenza in the differential diagnosis of febrile respiratory illnesses in patients of any age, encourage their high risk patients to be immunized against influenza if they have not already done so, and to review updated recommendations on the use of antiviral medications for influenza prophylaxis and treatment.

 

• Vaccine supply is still plentiful and high-risk patients should be vaccinated as soon as possible. Contact the Maine Immunization Program at 287-3746 if you have questions about obtaining vaccine.
• The ACIP has recommended that neither amantadine or rimantidine be used for treatment / prophylaxis of influenza A or influenza B during this season. Detailed recommendations on use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) for both treatment and prophylaxis of influenza A and influenza B are available through the link below.
• When influenza is first detected in a community by use of rapid diagnostic testing, consider sending some specimens to the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory for culture confirmation (for more information contact Anne Sites at 1-800-821-5821)

 

For focused, up-to-date information/recommendations on influenza for health professionals, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/