Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

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Praemonitus, Praemunitus..Forewarned is Forearmed.

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Praemonitus, Praemunitus..Forewarned is Forearmed.

Maine is showing a similar pattern to SC, NC, AL, etc. - apparent overall decrease in flu, but a higher percentage of pH1N1.

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I used to think I had to understand in order to believe, but then I realized that I had to believe in order to understand. - Augustine

http://www.wgme.com/newsroom/top_storie ... 6908.shtml

The Maine soldier who died during basic training was battling the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu. That's according to the mother of 19-year-old
Private Jordan Chase. It's not clear if the flu is what caused Chase's death. According to the mother, Chase was hospitalized on February 12th after
completing a physical test at boot camp in South Carolina. Chase, who was from Lewiston, died Sunday in a South Carolina hospital.

Maine CDC

Influenza, novel
Influenza, novel
Positive influenza A, unable to serotype
or novel strain
Y
es
PCR screening A/B and PCR subtyping H1N1, H3N2, H5, culture, Drug Resistance by Pyrosequencing (2009 H1N1) (Available in 2010-11 season)

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/epi/d ... 2011_2.pdf

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By this time of the year, the flu virus is usually marching toward Maine. But this season it's a different story.

The Maine Centers for Disease Congrol says there have been no reported cases of influenza reported in the state. In fact there have been none reported in New England. Maine CDC Director, Dr. Sheila Pinette say a key reason behind flu's late arrival was the big push this fall to get everyone vaccinated.

Maine was also one of the first state's to receive the flu vaccine, which was available in more locations including pharmacies and school health centers. But we are not out of the woods by any means, especially as people travel to other parts of the U.S. which has had cases of the flu.

"People are going to visit people in other parts of the country, people are going and traveling by plane where they have pressurized cabins, people are going to be in contained airspace. You probably will see an increase in incidences," said Dr. Pinette.

Experts say flu outbreaks are very unpredictable and can start in early December and hold off until February. Still doctors say there is plenty of time to get your flu shot. If you would like more information on where to get a flu shot in Maine, you can go to the Maine CDC's website, www.maineflu.gov

http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article/18329 ... his-season

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6-year-old's flu death prompts alert in Maine

It's a sobering reminder that everyone over the age of six months should be vaccinated each year, the state CDC director says.

By Eric Russell erussell@pressherald.com
Staff Writer


AUGUSTA — A 6-year-old girl from Benton has died from this year's flu strain, which health officials warned would be severe. Hers was the first flu fatality in Maine since 2010.



click image to enlarge

Joanne Yarnold of South Portland receives a flu shot from Bob Barrett at the India Street Clinic, Wednesday, December 5, 2012. This year’s flu strain, which health officials warned would be severe, claimed its first Maine fatality last week, a six-year-old girl from Benton. It's a sobering reminder that everyone over the age of six months should be vaccinated each year, the state CDC director says.

Gabe Souza / Staff Photographer

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"My heart goes out to the family, the community and the school that has suffered this tragic loss," said Dr. Sheila Pinette, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a health alert released Tuesday, Pinette said there has been a steadily increasing number of influenza cases in November and December, with 13 outbreaks recorded so far. Some of the cases have resulted in hospitalization, which Pinette said is an indicator of the severity of the illness this season.

Pinette urged all Maine residents to get flu vaccinations this year.

"It is very rare for a child that's healthy to die from the flu, but this is a reminder," Pinette said.

The girl, Avery Lane, a first-grade student at Benton Elementary School, died last week. Her grandmother, Pam Souzer, called Avery "very kind, very loving."

The death of Avery, who has five siblings, stunned the school community. Principal Suanne Giorgetti sent a letter to parents Dec. 12 that said the school had "experienced the unthinkable."

The death is a reminder that influenza is a health concern for people of all ages.

It's rare that people die from the flu, rarer still when that person is young and healthy and not elderly and frail. During the 2011-12 flu season, there were only 34 deaths among children under the age of 18 in the entire country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was the lowest number of pediatric deaths reported during a flu season since records started being kept.

Since 2005, there have been just five pediatric flu deaths reported in Maine. Pinette said this year's death serves as a sobering reminder that everyone over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated.

The federal Centers for Disease Control estimates that 20 percent of the country's residents will get the flu this year. More than 200,000 will be hospitalized.

"We can't predict the severity year to year, but we have already had more outbreaks reported to date than we did during the entire 2011-12 flu season," Pinette said.

Those at highest risk are children under the age of 5, adults over the age of 65, pregnant women and people who have underlying medical conditions.

Flu vaccines are readily available, unlike in some past years, and can be taken as a nasal spray or as a shot. The vaccine takes two weeks to work. It's not foolproof, but it generally guards against most flu strains.

"It's really important -- especially as we enter into the holiday season when people are exposed to a lot more -- to give the gift of health to each other," Pinette said.

She also said people should wash their hands, cover coughs with tissues or sleeves and stay home when sick.

Two flu strains, influenza A/H3 and influenza B, have been confirmed in the state so far this year. According to the center, the vaccine appears to be a good match to those strains, which can make vaccination more effective.

Most doctor's offices and many drugstores offer flu shots. Children can get flu shots at no cost.

Bob Barrett, a registered nurse at the Portland Community Free Clinic, said the clinic has administered 87 shots so far this flu season, five more than all of last year.

"There are some people who say 'I never get the flu,' some say 'I got sick the last time I had a shot,' " Barrett said. "All those anecdotal reasons add up, but what I tell people is that it's a probability. It will give you a better chance."

Flu season usually peaks in January and February but can last into May. Signs of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue.

The Maine CDC reported the first flu cases in November, which is relatively early, and they stretched from Aroostook County south to Cumberland County. Although most flu cases are confirmed by rapid tests in doctor's offices or clinics -- and don't have to be reported to the Maine Center for Disease Control -- state health officials have been able to confirm a number of cases this year by taking cultures.

States are not required to report flu deaths unless the victim is under the age of 18, so actual deaths are hard to quantify. Some national estimates show that as many as 90 percent of flu deaths involve the elderly.

The number of pediatric deaths peaked at 282 deaths during the 2009-2010 season, which included pediatric deaths occurring during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The CDC said it's possible that additional deaths will be reported for the 2011-2012 season because delays in reporting sometimes occur.

-- Morning Sentinel Staff Writer Matt Hongoltz-Hetling contributed to this report.


Staff Writer Eric Russell can be contacted at 791-6344 or at:

erussell@pressherald.com

Twitter: @PPHEricRussell

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Maine-C ... eason.html

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Last week, a school-aged child from Central Maine died from influenza A, Pinette said, marking the first pediatric death of the flu season in Maine. Pediatric death due to flu is required to be reported to public health officials and is rare, Pinette said.

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/press-r ... ?id=467757

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Maine hospitals take precautions against surging flu
By Jackie Farwell, BDN Staff

Posted Jan. 08, 2013, at 7:23 p.m.

Dr. Stephen Sears, Maine state epidemiologist

Some Maine hospitals are asking visitors to wear masks and consider staying away temporarily to prevent further spread of the flu.

Influenza is hitting the state hard, with many hospitals reporting that the season is off to an early and brisk start. Supplies of Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used to treat the flu, are strained in some areas.

The flu is classified as “widespread” in Maine and 40 other states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maine health officials have investigated 65 outbreaks so far this season, far eclipsing the 10 outbreaks reported during the mild 2011-2012 flu season.

A surge of flu patients continues to wallop The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, which recorded all-time highs in patient volumes last week and on Monday postponed non-essential surgeries so staff could assist in other areas of the hospital. An overflow of patients from the emergency department were treated in TAMC’s day surgery center.

St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor has requested that anyone with flu-like symptoms who isn’t seeking medical treatment — mainly patients’ visitors — avoid coming to the hospital to protect vulnerable patients who might have weak immune systems.

The hospital stressed that there’s still time to be vaccinated against influenza.

“Even though it takes about two weeks for full immunity to build after vaccination, we expect the flu to be on the increase for at least the next several weeks, so it’s not too late to get your flu shot and have it be effective against the flu,” Jessica DeGrasse, the hospital’s infection prevention specialist, said in a news release.

The CDC has reported that this season’s vaccine is likely to offer good protection against all three strains circulating nationally. The CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months of age be vaccinated against the flu.

On average, TAMC has seen highs of 50 to 60 patients each day for the past two weeks in its emergency department, with about 40 percent experiencing flu-like symptoms. Its walk-in facility and primary care providers at TAMC health centers in Fort Fairfield, Caribou, Ashland and Mars Hill are seeing similarly high volumes of flu patients.

With many flu patients requiring hospitalization, TAMC’s 89-bed A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital has been at or near capacity for a month.

TAMC is recommending that hospital visitors and employees wear masks. Masks are available at public entrances to its facilities throughout central Aroostook County, according to a press release.

“We’ve seen an increasing number of individuals presenting with influenza and flu-like symptoms, and as a result, our emergency department and the inpatient units in our hospital have been very busy,” Sylvia Getman, TAMC president and CEO, said in the release. “Over the weekend and into the start of the new week, we instituted measures to ensure that we meet the needs of our patients over the next several days.”

Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Complications can include dehydration, pneumonia and bronchitis.

While Maine hasn’t experienced widespread shortages of Tamiflu, some outpatient and hospital pharmacies have reported delays in accessing supplies of the drug, according to Dr. Stephen Sears, state epidemiologist. The Maine CDC is surveying pharmacies to determine whether they have adequate stocks, he said.

“There’s a lot of flu and the potential for using up supply is pretty big,” Sears said. “But right at the moment, we’re not really experiencing shortages. Occasionally in a local area someplace might not be able to get [Tamiflu] right away, but that’s because their supplier is just backlogged, so then they go to someone else.”

Pharmacies in the Millinocket area reported difficulty obtaining the medication over the holidays. St. Joseph also has had some trouble, according to Dr. Charles Pattavina, emergency department medical director.

“We don’t know for sure that people could fill a prescription,” he said.

The state maintains emergency supplies of Tamiflu, a precaution that grew out of shortages of the drug during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, but doesn’t expect to need those stocks anytime soon, Sears said. While more patients are being treated with Tamiflu today, supplies are much more plentiful this flu season, he said.

“Hopefully the supply will keep up with the demand,” Sears said.

The drug, which comes in pill form, is most effective if taken within the first 48 hours of experiencing flu symptoms. It can benefit anyone suffering from the flu, but is especially recommended for people who are at high risk for complications, such as the elderly and individuals with chronic disease, Sears said.

Health officials and providers stressed that supplies of the flu vaccine remain more than adequate.

DeGrasse also emphasized good hand hygiene, including frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding close contact with those who are sick with the flu, and staying at home while experiencing flu-like symptoms.

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/01/08/h ... rging-flu/

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