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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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New Epidemiology Data Now Available (10/6/2008)
New epidemiology data now available for Cumberland and York Counties.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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infectious disease program
contact us
The Infectious Disease Program is located at India Street Public Health
Center, 103 India Street. Program staff carry out disease prevention, service
delivery and case management activities related to vaccine-preventable diseases,
sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis. Services include
the Immunization Clinic, STD Clinic, Positive Health Care and the Portland
Needle Exchange.
The Positive Health Care
provides comprehensive primary care services to individuals living with
HIV/AIDS. Our clinicians include two HIV Specialists certified by the American
Academy of HIV Medicine, two nurses, a psychiatrist, and a case manager. In
addition to comprehensive primary care, services include HIV/AIDS treatment,
psychiatric services, case management, adherence counseling, risk reduction
education, HIV testing, and an after hours call service. No one is denied
treatment because of an inability to pay. Positive Health Care is Ryan White
Care Act Title III program funded by a grant from the HIV/AIDS Bureau, U.S.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The HIV/STD Prevention Program
offers walk-in clinics each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 6:00
pm where clients can be checked and treated for sexually transmitted diseases
such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, venereal warts, herpes, bacterial
vaginosis, trichmoniasis, yeast, hepatitis C and HIV infection. Counseling and
testing for HIV and hepatitis C can be done by appointment and immunization
against hepatitis A and B is available at the clinics. For more information on
the STD Clinic please click here: HIV/STD
Prevention Program.
Program staff carry out a number of community-based prevention activities
that seek to increase awareness in the community and reduce the risk for and
spread of hepatitis, HIV infection and other STDs.
The Portland Needle Exchange
reduces the spread of blood borne pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis B and C by exchanging clean needles, syringes and supplies for used equipment at no cost. In addition to that, participants receive education on risk-reduction, case management services, free testing for HIV, hepatitis C, STDs and referrals to drug treatment programs upon request. These services are offered either on-site or in other community settings.
