Health & Human Services Department | 389 Congress Street | Portland, Maine 04101 | (207) 874-8633

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Hepatitis A in the Kennebunk Area  (11/7/2008)
Hepatitis A is an uncommon disease in Maine. An average of 11 cases are identified in Maine each year. More

Rubella on Cruise Ship  (10/28/2008)
On October 18, 2008 a crew member of a cruise ship had onset of fever and rash. The illness was subsequently confirmed to be rubella. The ship visited Bar Harbor on October 15 and October 19. More

Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Massachusetts  (10/27/2008)
On October 22, 2008, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) was notified of a Massachusetts resident who tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). More

Portland Prepares for Annual Fall Flu Prevention Clinics!   (10/9/2008)
The City of Portland's Public Health Division will offer a series of eight influenza (flu) vaccination clinics throughout Portland between October 23 and November 18, 2008. More

New Epidemiology Data Now Available  (10/6/2008)
New epidemiology data now available for Cumberland and York Counties. More

Mosquitoes in Arundel Test Positive for EEE  (10/9/2008)
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) within the Maine DHHS is reporting that a pool of mosquitoes, collected on September 30, 2008 from the town of Arundel in York County, has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). More

Cumberland Farms Joins the “NO BUTS” Program  (10/7/2008)
The program provides retailers with the materials they need to properly train employees to prevent underage tobacco sales, while stressing the underlying compelling health reasons for restricting sales of tobacco to teens. More

Maine's Immunization Coalition Decries State's Immunization Rates  (10/2/2008)
Maine falls from #1 in the country to the lowest ranking in the New England Region. More

Smoke-free Ordinance for Outdoor Dining Goes into Effect Friday  (10/2/2008)
Businesses, public health leaders and city officials join together in support of keeping air healthy. More

Latest CDC Data Show More Americans Report Being Obese  (7/17/2008)
The proportion of U.S. adults who self-report they are obese increased nearly 2 percent between 2005 and 2007, according to a report in today′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). More

Help us help you!  (6/3/2008)
Help the Public Health Division focus its efforts on the health problems in your community by participating in our Municipal Health Survey. More

FoodBorne Illness UnderReported Nationwide  (4/7/2008)
For every one case of salmoneliosis (a common foodborne illness) reported, there are an estimated 38 that go unreported. More

Adults Lack Vaccination Awareness  (3/20/2008)
Despite the proven effectiveness of vaccines and their potential to save thousands of U.S. lives every year, American adults are receiving needed immunizations at alarmingly low rates. More

The Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Annual Report is now Available.  (2/19/2008)
The Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Annual Report for the Portland Public Health Division is now available for public viewing. More

epidemiology

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Topics is Epidemiology
What is Epidemiology?

Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program

The Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program is part of the City of Portland, Health and Human Services Department and provides notifiable disease investigation, surveillance and educational services to Cumberland County on behalf of the State of Maine. Additionally, this program provides public health emergency preparedness and response consultation, coordination, implementation and evaluation for Cumberland County.

Mission of the Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program:

To minimize morbidity, mortality, environmental and economic damage due to communicable diseases and public health disasters.

Goals of the Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program:

  1. Rapid detection of cases, clusters and outbreaks of notifiable infectious diseases and conditions, of possible bioterrorism events, and other public health threats, and emergencies.
  2. Timely response, investigation and appropriate public health intervention related to: clusters and outbreaks of notifiable infectious diseases and conditions, of possible and confirmed bioterrorism events, public health threats, and emergencies.
  3. Strengthen local public health capacity and infrastructure within the Portland Public Health Division, Health and Human Services Department and through collaboration with municipal and county governments, health care providers and institutions, and other traditional and non-traditional local, regional and state partners of public health and emergency preparedness.