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Resources in preparation for Hurricane Earl  (9/2/2010)
The CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response web site has the following hurricane preparedness messages and materials to help impacted communities immediately after the storm. More

Air Quality Alert  (8/31/2010)
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is warning people that the air quality in Maine over the next several days will likely be the worst we have seen in several years. More

Two new resources about pest control released  (8/20/2010)
The Maine Department of Agriculture has launched a new website that provides information on various pests found in Maine. Meanwhile, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released information specifically about bed bugs. More

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (Red Tide) Reminder  (8/3/2010)
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has released the following Health Alert regarding paralytic shellfish poisoning (red tide). More

Air Quality Alert  (7/27/2010)
Ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach unhealthy levels for the Southwest Coastal region (Kittery through Boothbay Harbor) on Wednesday, July 28, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). More

Time to clean out the medicine cabinet!  (6/3/2010)
Public Health Division will host a medication collection drive for over-the-counter and prescription drugs. More

New environmental health reports released  (5/28/2010)
New environmental health reports related to chemicals in canned foods and fragrances have been released. More

New studies released on sunscreens and indoor tanning  (5/25/2010)
Learn how to protect your skin. More

Britain's General Medical Council bars doctor who linked vaccines with autism  (5/24/2010)
Source: New York Times. A doctor whose research and public statements caused widespread alarm that a common childhood vaccine could cause autism was banned on Monday from practicing medicine in his native Britain for ethical lapses, including conducting invasive medical procedures on children that they did not need. More

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month  (5/10/2010)
With May being Lyme Disease Awareness Month, the Maine Center for Disease Control has released a Health Alert on Information for Clinicians on Lyme Disease. More

Environmental Working Group releases 2010 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce  (4/30/2010)
EWG's annual list ranks common fruits and vegetables by the level of pesticides they contain. More

National Infant Immunization Week  (4/27/2010)
National Infant Immunization Week is April 24 to May 1, 2010. More

High Browntail Moth population in parts of Cumberland County  (4/15/2010)
Maine Forest Service personnel have completed the 2010 winter web survey for Browntail Moth. In Cumberland County, the area most affected by this infestation is Brunswick, with small infestations in Freeport and Falmouth. More

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America releases   (4/15/2010)
The Portland, Maine metropolitan area ranks 90th out of the 100 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States on AAFA's "Most Challenging Places to Live with Asthma." More

2008-2009 Public Health Division Annual Report Now Available  (3/31/2010)
The 2008-2009 Public Health Division Annual Report is now available online. More

Portland gets $1.8 million for projects to fight obesity  (3/30/2010)
The schools will be given $500,000 and the city will receive $1.3 million to work on obesity rates in adults. More

Portland Community Health Center Phone Number Change  (3/24/2010)
The Portland Community Health Center phone number has changed to 874-2141. More

1.2 Million 'Unstable' Graco High Chairs Recalled  (3/18/2010)
Graco Children's Products announced Thursday that it's recalling 1.2 million Harmony high chairs because of stability issues. More

Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine Webinar Series  (3/3/2010)
The series takes the audience from the foundations of smoke-free policy adoption, financial and health benefits of going smoke-free, legality and further justification of policy implementation, to drafting policy language and enforcing an existing policy. More

New Resource for Expectant/New Mothers Now Available  (2/19/2010)
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. More

New County Health Rankings Give First County-by-County Snapshot of Health in Each State  (2/17/2010)
University of Wisconsin/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project ranks counties on how healthy people are and how long they live. More

Seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccines Available For Everyone  (2/9/2010)
The Public Health Division has seasonal and H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines available by appointment for everyone. More

British doctor rebuked over research linking vaccine and autism  (2/3/2010)
Britain's medical regulator finds that Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who now practices in Texas, conducted his now-discredited research on the MMR shot in an unethical and irresponsible manner. More

Salmonella-Related Sausage Recall Expanded  (2/1/2010)
Daniele Inc., the company whose sausage products have been linked to a widespread Salmonella outbreak, expanded its earlier product recall to include another 17,235 pounds of products that may be contaminated by black pepper. Stores that carry the affected products in Maine include BJ's Wholesale Club and Sam's Club. More

McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Over-The-Counter Products  (1/15/2010)
The company is initiating this recall following an investigation of consumer reports of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor that, in a small number of cases, was associated with temporary and non-serious gastrointestinal events. These include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. More

2009 Cumberland County Municipal Health Assessments Now Available  (1/14/2010)
New Cumberland County municipal health assessments now available. More

The Hidden Benefits of Exercise   (1/5/2010)
Even Moderate Physical Activity Can Boost the Immune System and Protect Against Chronic Diseases More

Vaccine Refusal Raises Chickenpox Risk  (1/5/2010)
Kids Are 9 Times More Likely to Get Chickenpox if They Don't Get Vaccinated. More

H1N1 Vaccine Now Recomended for ALL Mainers  (12/15/2009)
Based on demand and a large recent increase in H1N1 vaccine supply, Maine CDC is now recommending that H1N1 vaccine be offered to anyone who wishes to receive it. More

Portland Community Health Center Now Open  (11/10/2009)
Portland Community Health Center is a full-service, primary care medical facility, and is now open and accepting new patients. More

Report: Smoking Bans Protect Nonsmokers' Hearts  (10/15/2009)
A major report confirms what health officials long have believed: Bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and other gathering spots reduce the risk of heart attacks among nonsmokers. More

City of Portland Public Health Division Selected to Test National Accreditation Program   (9/24/2009)
The City of Portland Public Health Division announced today it was selected by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) to participate in a test of the new national voluntary public health accreditation program. More

frequently asked questions

What is the Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program?
Who is an Epidemiologist?
What does an Epidemiologist do?
What is a notifiable condition?
Where do I learn more about a specific notifiable condition?
How do I report a notifiable condition?
Why should I report a notifiable condition?
What is a Public Health Emergency?
How do I prepare for a Public Health Emergency?

Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the 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 the 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.

Who is an Epidemiologist?

Definition: [n] a medical scientist who studies the transmission and control of epidemic diseases or diseases that are in excess in the population.

What does an Epidemiologist do?

Epidemiologists work in variety of settings. Some epidemiologists work "in the field" meaning they are at the forefront of combating disease outbreaks all over the world. Typically, field epidemiologists are working to determine the cause of an infectious disease outbreak or epidemic. Epidemiologists also study chronic diseases such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.

What is a notifiable condition?

In Maine, a notifiable disease is one that health providers and laboratories are required by law to report to the Maine Centers for Disease Control. Notifiable diseases are of public interest and safety because of their contagiousness, severity, or frequency.

Please view the Notifiable Conditions List for the State of Maine: Click here.

Where do I learn more about a specific notifiable condition?

Please visit the disease information page of this website for disease specific information: www.portlandmaine.gov/hhs/phdiseaseinfo.asp

More information can also be found in the CDC webpage www.cdc.gov and www.cste.org

How do I report a notifiable condition?

Notifiable conditions should be reported to Maine Center for Disease Control either by a toll free phone or fax (24 hours a day, 7 days a week):

Phone Number: 1-800-821-5821
Fax Number: 1-800-293-7534

Why should I report a notifiable condition?

Once public health staff knows about a communicable disease, they can act on this information to adopt the best strategies to prevent the introduction and spread of these diseases in the immediate community and beyond.

What is a Public Health Emergency?

A public health emergency can be the result of:

* Natural disaster (Ice storm, pandemic influenza)
Or
* Terrorist act (biological, chemical, or radiological agent release; or high-yield explosion)

How do I prepare for a public health emergency?

For more information about how to prepare for a public health emergency and how to create an emergency kit for you and your family please visit out emergency preparedness guide click here.