• Read more about Flavivirus Case in a Maine Resident

Maine CDC identified a human case of neuroinvasive Flavivirus infection in an adult who resides in Cumberland County. The individual became ill in early September and is currently hospitalized. Serum samples collected September 5th and September 13th tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies at a commercial laboratory. Per established protocols, Maine's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) sent the samples to the U.S. CDC for further confirmation. Plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) testing results from the U.S.

• Read more about Acute Hepatitis A Case in a Food Service Worker in Rockwood, Maine

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Rockwood, Maine, food service worker. The case handled food while infectious from September 2, 2020, through September 22, 2020.

• Read more about COVID-19 Testing Updates - September 2020

• Persons who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using a molecular amplification test and have not had a previous positive test, should be considered infected at the time of testing, regardless of any subsequent negative test results.

• Read more about Acute Hepatitis A Case in a Food Service Worker in Saco, Maine

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Saco, Maine food service worker. The case handled food while infectious from August 5, 2020 through August 21, 2020. While this employee was not in charge of preparing food, this employee had access to food in the kitchen. Maine CDC is making these recommendations out of an abundance of caution.

• Read more about Changes to U.S. CDC COVID-19 Guidance

Accumulating evidence supports ending isolation and precautions for persons with COVID-19 using a Symptom-Based Strategy. Except for rare situations, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when to discontinue isolation and precautions. See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html

• Read more about Human 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 as summer progresses and to consider testing for arboviral disease in patients presenting with unexplained encephalitis, meningitis or high fever (100.4F or 38C) during the summer and fall when mosquitoes are most active.

• Read more about Serious Adverse Health Events Associated with Methanol-based Hand Sanitizers

Most commercially available alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs (ABHSR) contain either ethanol or isopropanol as active ingredients. On June 19, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by "Eskbiochem SA de CV" in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol, a toxic alcohol, as an active ingredient, which can cause blindness and/or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed.

• Read more about COVID-19 Testing at HETL

The Maine CDC Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory ("HETL") has received several specimens for COVID-19 testing that do not have the appropriate paperwork attached. Federal rules under CLIA require HETL to only run tests that are accompanied by complete paperwork.

• Read more about Hepatitis A Increase in Maine

Maine has seen an increase in hepatitis A cases in Penobscot, Somerset, and York counties over the past four months, with the number of reported cases climbing from zero in January and February to 13 in Penobscot, 7 in Somerset, and 6 in York counties in March through today. Twenty-one of the 26 cases had risk factors of injection drug use or housing insecurity.

• Read more about Acute Hepatitis A Case in a Food Service Worker in Saco, Maine

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Saco, Maine, food service worker. The case handled food while infectious from May 12, 2020, thru May 23, 2020.