Healthcare Providers, Clinicians, EMS

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Current Messages to Healthcare Providers

Testing, Reporting and Management

  • Clinicians should consider influenza in the differential diagnosis of febrile respiratory illnesses in patients of any age, encourage all their patients, particularly their high risk patients to be immunized against influenza if they have not already done so, and review updated recommendations of the use of antiviral medications for influenza prophylaxis and treatment.
    • Oseltamivir phosphate (available as generic version or under the trade name Tamiflu ®), and zanamivir (trade name Relenza ®), peramivir (trade name Rapivab ®) are drugs currently available as treatment and prophylaxis and baloxavir marboxil (trade name Xofluza ®) as treatment only. Providers will be notified through the Health Alert Network (HAN) if national recommendations for treatment and prophylaxis are revised.
  • Diagnostic labs should forward the first ten positive influenza specimens to HETL for confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR).  Testing through HETL is free of charge. For additional information, please refer to our instructions on submitting specimens for flu testing.
  • Infection preventionists, clinicians, school nurses and other reporting entities must report all suspected outbreaks of influenza to Maine CDC by phone at 1-800-821-5821 or by e- mail at disease.reporting@maine.gov.

The best way to prevent influenza is by getting vaccinated.  Influenza vaccine is in Maine, and Maine CDC and national authorities recommend all individuals older than 6 months be immunized, even if they were vaccinated for influenza last season.  All individuals with high risk conditions should be vaccinated as soon as possible. 

As we enter the influenza season, it is important to remember the "No Flu 4 You" guidelines to help prevent illness including: Washing your hands; covering your cough; staying home when you're sick; and getting vaccinated.

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

Medical Offices and Outpatient Facilities

Additional Resources