• Read more about Preparing for and Responding to Hurricane Lee

The National Weather Service, in coordination with the National Hurricane Center, is reporting that Maine will experience impacts from Hurricane Lee beginning Friday night into Saturday morning due to a westward shift in the storm track and widening storm radius. The storm is predicted to slowly weaken to a Category 1 storm and eventually downgrade to a tropical storm as it makes landfall. Tropical storm force winds, coastal flooding and high surf, and riverine flooding are all possible impacts from the storm.

• Read more about U.S. CDC: Increased Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Activity in Parts of the Southeastern United States: New Prevention Tools Available to Protect Patients

Please review this information from U.S. CDC on respiratory syncytial virus activity in the southeast, which typically precedes activity in other parts of the U.S. This advisory includes an overview of newly available RSV vaccines and other prevention options.

• Read more about Recommendations for Diagnosing and Testing for Vibriosis

Vibriosis is caused by Vibrio bacteria that naturally live in certain coastal waters. Most infections occur after eating raw or undercooked shellfish. Some types of Vibrio cause skin infections when an open wound is exposed to salt water or brackish water. Individuals with immunocompromising conditions or chronic liver disease are most likely to be infected with Vibrio. Eating raw seafood and coming into contact with salt water or brackish water can increase the likelihood of acquiring the disease.

• Read more about Air Quality Alert

Particle pollution concentrations are expected to reach "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (USG) level Wednesday September 6th, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A dense ground-level plume of smoke from fires in Canada moved into Maine last night. For today, the 24-hour average is expected to be in the USG range for the northern region. For the remainder of the state, the 24-hour average is expected to be Moderate with only a few hours above Moderate.

• Read more about U.S. CDC: Important Updates on Locally Acquired Malaria Cases Identified in Florida, Texas, and Maryland

Please review this information from U.S. CDC on malaria acquired in the United States. In addition to the clinical resources available here, you can also learn more about the clinical management of malaria from the recent U.S. CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) call held on July 20, 2023. A recording of that webinar is available at https://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/2023/callinfo_072023.asp.

• Read more about Summer Influenza Testing and Specimen Submission Request

In response to the continued global outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in wild birds and poultry, Maine CDC is encouraging testing for influenza among persons with respiratory illness. Additionally, Maine CDC is requesting that during the summer months (through September), all influenza A positive samples be submitted to the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) for subtyping.

• Read more about Maine DEP issues an Air Quality Alert for Tuesday, July 18

Particle pollution concentrations are expected to reach "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" level Tuesday, July 18, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A plume of smoke from fires in western Canada pushed into the Great Lakes during the weekend and continued eastward on Monday. For Tuesday, Maine can expect hours in the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range for all three western regions as well as the Northern region.

• Read more about Arbovirus Update for Healthcare Providers in Maine

The purpose of this health advisory is to alert clinicians to the potential for human arboviral disease activity in Maine and to consider testing for mosquito-borne arboviruses in patients presenting with unexplained encephalitis, meningitis, or high fever (100.4F or 38C) during the summer and fall.

• Read more about U.S. CDC: Wildfire Smoke Exposure Poses Threat to At-Risk Populations

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) is reminding healthcare professionals seeing patients affected by wildfire smoke to be alert to the possible adverse effects of smoke exposure, particularly among individuals at higher risk of severe outcomes. The acute signs and symptoms of smoke exposure can include headache, eye and mucous membrane irritation, dyspnea (trouble breathing), cough, wheezing, chest pain, palpitations, and fatigue.

• Read more about Locally Acquired Malaria Cases Identified in the United States

Please review this helpful information about domestic acquisition of malaria in the U.S. in recent months, risks of acquisition of malaria in the U.S. with increased international travel, and the need to plan for testing and treatment of patients with malaria.