Pepper
12-03-2004, 03:50 PM
DOVER-FOXCROFT - A visitor no one appreciates has arrived in the state. A state health official confirmed Thursday that an adult from Washington County and another from Piscataquis County have been infected with influenza A. The two cases were confirmed through testing at Affiliated Laboratories in Bangor.
In addition, about 10 other residents in various parts of the state, mostly ages 50 and up, initially have tested positive for the flu bug at the Bureau of Health's laboratory, according to Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Bureau of Health.
They include residents in a Lincoln County nursing home where an outbreak has occurred, she said. Confirmatory tests are pending.
"We expect it will heat up over the coming weeks," Mills said Thursday. "We are seeing it activate sporadically across the state, and this is to be expected."
This normally is the time of year the flu arrives in Maine, she said.
Mills said other states have reported sporadic influenza activity as well.
In anticipation of the arrival of the influenza, the Bureau of Health shipped out about 140,000 doses of flu vaccine in the past three weeks to health care providers, nursing homes and physicians, Mills said. Another 22,000 vaccines are being distributed this week and next week, she said.
"We have enough vaccine to cover about 80 percent of those in the high-risk group," she said. That high-risk group includes people 65 and over, small children, women who are pregnant, or people who are chronically ill.
"Even if you get the shot, it's not 100-percent effective to stop the influenza," Miles noted.
Therefore, everyone should be vigilant about washing their hands frequently and covering their coughs and sneezes, she said.
Symptoms of influenza include fever, muscle aches, a tremendous weakness, coughing, and particularly in younger people, vomiting, according to Mills.
Those who become ill are contagious in the early stages so they should remain home. The symptoms can progress to dehydration and pneumonia, she added.
Those people in the high-risk category who have not yet received a flu shot can contact their physicians or health care facilities to schedule one if they have the vaccine, Mills said.
For more information, contact www.mainepublichealth.gov.
http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=104498&z=6
In addition, about 10 other residents in various parts of the state, mostly ages 50 and up, initially have tested positive for the flu bug at the Bureau of Health's laboratory, according to Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Bureau of Health.
They include residents in a Lincoln County nursing home where an outbreak has occurred, she said. Confirmatory tests are pending.
"We expect it will heat up over the coming weeks," Mills said Thursday. "We are seeing it activate sporadically across the state, and this is to be expected."
This normally is the time of year the flu arrives in Maine, she said.
Mills said other states have reported sporadic influenza activity as well.
In anticipation of the arrival of the influenza, the Bureau of Health shipped out about 140,000 doses of flu vaccine in the past three weeks to health care providers, nursing homes and physicians, Mills said. Another 22,000 vaccines are being distributed this week and next week, she said.
"We have enough vaccine to cover about 80 percent of those in the high-risk group," she said. That high-risk group includes people 65 and over, small children, women who are pregnant, or people who are chronically ill.
"Even if you get the shot, it's not 100-percent effective to stop the influenza," Miles noted.
Therefore, everyone should be vigilant about washing their hands frequently and covering their coughs and sneezes, she said.
Symptoms of influenza include fever, muscle aches, a tremendous weakness, coughing, and particularly in younger people, vomiting, according to Mills.
Those who become ill are contagious in the early stages so they should remain home. The symptoms can progress to dehydration and pneumonia, she added.
Those people in the high-risk category who have not yet received a flu shot can contact their physicians or health care facilities to schedule one if they have the vaccine, Mills said.
For more information, contact www.mainepublichealth.gov.
http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=104498&z=6