Tickborne diseases

Anaplasmosis, a bacterial infection carried by deer ticks, is an emerging infection in Maine. As of Aug. 8, 38 cases have been reported to Maine CDC from 8 counties (Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Somerset and York). During 2011, a total of 26 cases were reported. Most infections occur during the summer and fall months, so the number of cases is expected to rise. For more information about anaplasmosis, see the health alert issued Aug. 9.
Other diseases that are carried by ticks in Maine include babesiosis and Lyme disease. In 2011, providers reported 9 cases of babesiosis; 3 cases have been reported to date in 2012. In 2011, providers reported 1,006 cases of Lyme disease; 483 cases have been reported to date in 2012.

Lyme disease is the most common vectorborne disease in Maine. Ticks are out and we expect the number of Lyme disease cases to increase in the warm weather.

For general information about Lyme disease see the May 1 health alert issued by Maine CDC.

Flu update

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the 2012-2013 flu season are now available. The Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for influenza for the 2012-2013 season are also online. 

Influenza A H3N2v is a variant virus recently detected in the United States. The first case of H3N2v was detected in summer of 2011, with 12 total cases being detected in all of 2011. The virus has already been found in over 200 individuals to date in 2012. Maine has not identified any cases in 2012. Influenza A H3N2v is associated with exposures to pigs, and most cases had either direct contact with pigs, or indirect contact such as visiting a fair.

Maine identified 2 cases of influenza A H3N2v in the fall of 2011. Both of Maine’s cases had fair exposures, and one had direct pig contact.

Symptoms of influenza A H3N2v are similar to regular influenza including fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches. This virus can spread between humans and pigs, so sick humans should avoid animal contact, and the general public should avoid contact with ill animals.

Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Agriculture remind everyone to exercise good judgment while attending agricultural fairs. For recommendations and more information, see the health alert Maine CDC issued on Aug. 7.

Know how to protect yourself from West Nile and EEE

Arboviral diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV), are very serious infections that are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Although rare, these diseases have the potential to be severe and even fatal.


On Aug. 17, a mosquito pool (a collection which contains between 1-50 mosquitoes) tested positive for WNV at Maine’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. The pool of mosquitoes was collected Aug. 1 in the town of Lebanon, as described in this health alert. Since then, a second mosquito pool from Cumberland County tested positive.

This is the earliest WNV has been identified in mosquitoes in Maine. The last time WNV was identified in Maine was from a mosquito pool in 2010. There has been a significant increase in arboviral activity in the last month.

Maine CDC recommends the following preventative measures to protect against mosquitoborne illnesses:

Control what you can. Improve your odds of avoiding mosquito spread viruses by using a repellent on exposed skin and clothes while outdoors. Wear protective clothing when outdoors, including long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks. Use screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home, and remove standing water from artificial water-holding containers in and around the house.


Insect Repellent: It keeps you from being what’s for dinner.

There are always excuses for not using repellent— forgot it, didn't want to go back and get it, it doesn't smell good, it's not in the budget, or "mosquitoes don't bite me"…

Think of repellent as you would an important article of clothing, and increase your chances of avoiding weeks (or even months) of aches and fatigue that come with West Nile fever, dengue fever, or any number of other mosquito borne diseases. More severe problems are possible. Being hospitalized with swelling of the brain, or even worse, are possibilities from many of these diseases.


What repellent should I use?

US CDC recommends a variety of effective repellents. The most important step is to pick one and use it. There are those that can protect you for a short while in the backyard or a long while in the woods. DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus are all repellents recommended by US CDC. All contain an EPA-registered active ingredient and have been studied to make sure they are effective and safe. EPA has a long listing of repellent brands in the United States. Check out US CDC’s traveler’s health page on repellents here.


When should you wear repellent?

Mosquitoes can bite anytime. Most of the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus bite from around sundown to around sun-up (throughout the night). Put a few bottles or packets of repellent around—in the car, by the door, in a purse or backpack.

A Guide To The Affiliate Marketing Jungle By Mark D Chapman

People are always looking for ways of making extra money, and one way that is ever more popular is Internet Marketing or Affiliate Marketing. The information contained in this introductory article is designed to be of use to those that are new to Affiliate Marketing as well as those that are familiar with it.

If you are new to Affiliate Marketing, you will no doubt be experiencing information overload, as you try to make sense of the vast minefield of information that is the world of Affiliate Marketing. Anyone venturing into this field for the first time needs clear guidance to avoid the many pitfalls and increase their chances of success. This article will attempt to do that by explaining some of the fundamentals of Affiliate Marketing and presenting a clear course of action that will enable a Newbie to get off to a running start, at little or no cost.

If you are an existing affiliate, perhaps struggling to get your Internet Business moving, then you should find this information equally useful, perhaps in pointing out past mistakes and giving direction to your efforts.

What is Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing is essentially a profit-sharing business arrangement between a website owner, known as an affiliate, and an online business, known as the vendor or merchant. The affiliate places advertisements on his website(s) to sell the merchant's goods and services and/or direct possible clients, known as prospects, to the merchant's website. Any profits arising from purchases made by the prospects are shared by the website owner and the merchant.

In order to become an affiliate you have to join an affiliate program. Choosing an affiliate programme is a task that can seem very daunting, as thousands of affiliate programmes exist on the internet. A popular example of an affiliate program is that provided my Amazon. When you register as an Amazon Associate (Amazon call their affiliates Associates) Amazon provide you with a unique ID that enables you to earn a commission every time someone buys an Amazon product through your website. The beauty of being an Amazon affiliate is that you have no products to sell yourself. There is no need to buy and keep stock. Amazon take care of everything from providing you with the necessary software tools to set up your affiliate links on your website, to processing the orders and shipping the products when buyers make a sale through your website.

Digital Information Products

Although affiliate programs like Amazon are very popular, probably the best place to begin as an affiliate is promoting Digital Information Products in the form of eBooks and Software. Most of these information products are "How to" books that are in great demand from the general public - a Dog Training Manual is an example of a Digital Information Product that may be in demand from dog owners. The info products are written by authors, known as vendors, who are looking for people to help sell them. The people that help to sell the products the affiliates and a similar arrangement exists to that described for Amazon in that anyone wishing to make money by promoting these info products has to sign up to an affiliate program to earn a commission. The added attraction of info products is they are delivered instantly upon purchase simply by downloading from the vendor's website and they pay much higher commissions - as much as 75% of the product price, compared with Amazon who pay around 5% per sale.

The ClickBank Marketplace

ClickBank is the world's largest provider of digital products. If you visit the ClickBank Marketplace, you will find thousands of products grouped into categories ranging from Self Improvement to Home and Garden, Parenting and Families, Health and Fitness, Sport and Recreation, Finance, Technology, and a whole lot more. So, to get started in Affiliate Marketing, the first thing to do is sign up with ClickBack as an affiliate. Once signed up with ClickBank you would then choose a product to promote from the ClickBank Marketplace. Depending on your interests you might, for example decide to promote "Master The Perfect Golf Swing" or "The Migraine & Head Ache Solution," or "Dog training In 15 Minutes A Day," to name but three products from the 10,000 available on ClickBank.

Product Promotion

The essence of affiliate marketing is to place the product or service on offer in front of as many potential buyers as possible in the hope that a proportion of them will buy the product. In practice, this involves driving as much relevant traffic as possible to the point where the product is presented. Relevant traffic is people that have an interest in the product you are promoting, which means they are more likely to buy. Therefore, in relation to products that are traded on the internet, be they physical products such as those sold on Amazon, or digital products, once signed up with ClickBank and a product chosen, a number of avenues are available for the would-be affiliate to drive relevant traffic to their chosen Digital Product. Now, the whole subject is of how to build a successful Affiliate Marketing business is beyond the scope of this introductory article but includes building a dedicated website or blog, email marketing, article marketing, online advertisement, social media (Twitter, Facebook and others), link building, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and a whole lot more.

Rapid HIV Testing: The Essentials

One need only glance at the numbers associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to realize the necessity of HIV testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 1.2 million Americans currently host HIV and 50,000 Americans become infected per year. Of these, one-fifth don't even realize what they're carrying! It quickly becomes obvious that HIV testing is imperative to correctly judge and react to this expanding problem. Informed citizens can proactively address HIV if it affects their lives, and-equally important-they can take preventative measures to protect the rest of the populace.

That brings us to the enterprise of testing itself. At present, the CDC recommends routine testing for everyone aged 13 to 64. Eventually, they'd like to see HIV testing become part-and-parcel of any screening or health care encounter. Until then, it's up to you to voluntarily contribute to their growing knowledge base and your own peace of mind. For that, you need facts; specifically, you need facts about it, a groundbreaking alternative to traditional testing methodology. In what ways, you ask? Let's find out:

How does it work?

Most procedures, including rapid HIV testing, rely on antibody detection to determine results. A sample (blood, plasma, oral fluid, and sometimes urine) is collected and exposed to a prepared solution. If there are any HIV-specific antibodies in the sample, the test will display a positive result. Both traditional and rapid HIV tests consistently perform with 99% accuracy, and a positive result from either requires additional verification, usually an alternate test such as the Western Blot test.

Rapid? As opposed to what?

Traditional HIV testing involves the Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA), a lengthy technique requiring a vein-derived blood sample and specialized laboratory equipment. These tests require two visits: one to administer pretest counseling and draw blood, and the second to deliver results and provide further counseling or referrals. The period between the two visits can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on various delays in shipping, laboratory protocol, or retesting.

In contrast, rapid HIV testing is vastly more convenient. The entire procedure takes less than half an hour and requires only one visit, including counseling.

What are the other benefits?

Because most clients at STD clinics receive negative test results, millions of them can eliminate the need for a second visit if they opt for rapid HIV testing. This saves both the client and the practitioner time and money. It's also an unfortunate reality that many traditional HIV testing clients don't return for their test results at all. Rapid HIV testing neatly solves this problem with same-day, on-site results. Furthermore, those persons who test HIV-positive through rapid testing can receive immediate counseling to avoid possible transmission while they wait for confirmed results.

What does this mean for clinics?

Rapid HIV testing is considerably cheaper, faster, and easier for STD clinics to perform, meaning they can treat regional patients more effectively and in greater numbers. As medical technology advances, this contributes to an improved public perception of testing and furthers awareness of HIV infection and the need to combat it. It also provides a wider variety of secondary testing options to vet positive reactions and ensure maximum reliability and precision.

As a final note, it should be remembered that the human body takes time to develop HIV antibodies-around 25 days, on average. An HIV-positive patient may thus end up with a false negative result if tested too early. Counseling can help determine the best course of action for patients with new intimate relationships or other complicating factors.

New York metropolitan residents shouldn't hesitate to inquire about Rapid HIV testing with STD Center NY. The facility offers professional, board-certified medical services for all manner of STD testing and treatment. Just blocks from Grand Central Station and easily accessible by train or bus, STD Center NY features affordable, private, state-of-the-art rapid HIV testing. Call 1-212-696-5900 for an appointment or log onto http://www.stdcenterny.com for more information.

Health tips to keep in mind as summer winds down

Maine CDC reminds people to stay healthy while enjoying outdoor activities this summer.

 

Make sure you know what steps to take to protect your skin from the sun.
 
Use good judgment for good health when attending Maine agricultural fairs:

• Do not attend a fair if you are ill.
• Always ask the owner for permission before you touch an animal.
• Before and after touching animals, wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol hand gel.
• Before eating, wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol hand gel.

 

 If you’ll be grilling outdoors, check out this video from the Grill Sergeants with safety guidelines for safe grilling. 

 

 One in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year alone. FoodSafety.gov has a number of helpful at-a-glance food safety charts available and other food safety information. 

 

 Get information about recreational water illnesses and how to avoid them.

 

Be prepared to stay healthy in extremely high temperatures.
 

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

 Stay safe in lightning.

Mesothelioma and the Effects of Asbestos Support Groups

Once you start researching you should have a few options available to you in your local area.

The first place to start is your doctor's office. The staff will be able to point you in the right direction in your attempts to find mesothelioma support groups in your area. Hospital social workers are well-versed in helping individuals find the community programs that they need for their specific conditions. You may find a great source of information through social workers in your region.

The local newspaper is another great source for finding organizations in your area. There is often a section in the paper dedicated to health related issues. If you search through that section you may find the information about local mesothelioma support group meetings close to home.

The American Cancer Society offers a plethora of information and support for individuals with all kinds of cancer-related conditions. Your local chapter should be able to help you find mesothelioma support groups in your location. This is one of the most valuable resources that you will come across in your search.

Many individuals who are ill find attending public meetings too difficult at times. These people may want to seek out mesothelioma support groups that meet online. These organizations offer helpful information but you may not get the one-on-one personal interaction that many people would like.

Finding mesothelioma support groups for your condition may seem like an overwhelming task but there is help out there if you look. Hopefully, your doctor and hospital social workers will aid you in your search. If you find that you need to conduct further research start looking online start with The American Cancer Society is a great place to start.

Mesothelioma can be devastating news for a person even if they suspected it might develop sometime in their life. Maybe they worked at a diner that catered to asbestos miners, or maybe they were miners themselves.

Either way, they have been exposed and know the chances are high of getting this type of cancer. It is not just hard on the person who has it but their entire network of family and friends. There are many places to get support from others who have mesothelioma or have had experience with it.

Many towns have cancer support groups that meet on a weekly basis to share their experiences and offer hope to others. This is a great way to reach out and get the support you need from others in the same situation.

Family members are often encouraged to attend so they can express their feelings as well. Though often skipped, this is a very useful tool and the people who attend these meetings often know specialists in the field and can offer great advice.

Mesothelioma websites and message boards are also a great option. If you feel fatigued and don't want to leave the house, this the place to go. You can join forums, get information, and find out all the latest news you need to know on the Internet.

Smaller towns may not have an "in-person" option when it comes to support groups and the Internet is full of sites dedicated to just what you are looking for. You can also find a ton of information about lawyers if needed.

Benefits and History of Clinical Trigger Point Therapy Massage

Although not considered a part of conventional medicine, trigger point therapy has been widely used for decades. Sometimes referred to as myotherapy or neuromuscular therapy, the therapy involves using concentrated pressure on specific 'trigger points' within affected muscles to relieve pain and treat muscle spasms.

A trigger point is a malfunction of an area of muscle fibers. The fibers undergo a strong sustained contraction at the nerve/fiber junction of the innervating nerve. It is the malfunctioning of the nerve junction that produces tension and pain, either locally within that muscle or referred pain to other areas of the body. The locations and associated referral areas of these malfunctions are consistent from person to person. The therapist applies pressure to specific points, in a particular order to properly affect a change, releasing malfunctioning fibers and relieving the associated pain and/or tension.

Some in the medical community are beginning to acknowledge the validity of this manual therapy. Patients dealing with chronic pain have also reported vast improvement in their conditions. However, the overall benefits of this therapy extend beyond pain relief. These benefits include increased flexibility, improved circulation, better range of motion, reduced stiffness or muscle tension and fewer headaches.

American physicians Dr. Janet Travell and Dr. David Simons are widely credited with developing many of the theories of trigger point therapy. Dr. Travell treated US President John F. Kennedy for back pain leading to her becoming his personal physician. Having published a number of papers on the subject, Dr. Travell wrote and published Volume 1 of The Trigger Point Manual, later continuing her work with her colleague Dr. Simons to publish the manual's second volume, released in 1992.

The Institute of Trigger Point Therapy was founded in 2001 by Dr. Laura Perry and her husband Jeff Geanangel. Frustrated with the current state of the health care industry, the two sought to establish an alternative option for general public that would offer highly effective clinical services in a less formal setting. Based on the work of Drs. Simons and Travell, Dr. Perry developed the Institute's protocols for Clinical Trigger Point Therapy and a curriculum for educating therapists in this most effective treatments.

Confessions from a Sanctuary

I've never shared impromptu thoughts and feelings on this blog before, but tonight is not like all other nights.

HEALTH originated out of a desire to continue my scholarship and advocacy outside of the university. While in graduate school it then became an outlet for personal research and stuff that wouldn't make it into a philosophy term paper. Presently, I've been out of school for eight months. The main difference between now and then (four years ago) is that I became burnt out between teaching apathetic students, struggling as a grad student, frustrated as a scholar, and devastated as a friend and a domestic partner. After the final brutal semester of grad school, I decided I needed new direction, one that centered around creativity and embodiment.

Six months later, I've completed a two month excursion across the West through nine of the USA's National Parks and several of its most exciting cities. Just a month ago, I arrived at an animal sanctuary whose vision is that of reciprocal healing (whereby "people" heal "animals", the animals heal people, and both heal the land). When I found it in a catalogue, it sounded like a perfect opportunity to learn more about animal care taking, therapy, and an alternative to incarceration etc. Unfortunately, this has not been so much the case. I'm going to bite my tongue on this topic and instead share something I've experienced that is much more profound and unsettling.

I. Moral Monsters
If you're on the listserve or email trail of some large animal nonprofit, you are well exposed to brutal narratives of animal cruelty. Upon seeing people kick and torment the animals, one is instantaneously engulfed in moral outrage and perhaps tears: "Those sick monsters! Those evil fuckers are going to hell! They deserve to be treated just like they've treated those poor, innocent animals!" These are just some of the reactions I've seen posted  in response to new investigative footage. For a compassionate and righteous person, these attitudes are expressed effortlessly; one must exercise willpower to hold them back.

Those bearing witness are wounded by these recorded testimonies. The trauma they experience is utter powerlessness. The powerlessness and woundedness they experience are their exposure to a will-less identification with the animal others. What makes these narratives so traumatic is the lack of mercy for those perceived as having so little power. Humans have so much power, the animals have so little, and what an injustice it is to see the abuse of human power over animal innocence.

As much as people generally identify with the animals undergoing abuse, few identify with the perpetrators of the violence. Although the purpose of these videos is to evoke empathy for the animals and consequentially political action on their behalf, the disturbing truth is that those committing the injustices are human, those bearing witness are human, and those bearing witness are often financially supporting the companies that employ these "monsters." To realize this would perhaps be another trauma, one that would move one who cared generally down one of two paths: to recognize one's participation and become veg*n or to experience intense cognitive dissonance and convince oneself that everything will be better once one of these monsters is behind bars.

Neither witness, however, is likely to place themselves in that worker's circumstance and potentially risk confronting a terrifying truth about their own nature. I would (hesitantly) agree that many of the folks in these videos who practice the most wanton cruelty are moral outliers in our society. A recent study by Amy Fitzgerald concluded that of all industrial workplaces, packing plants had the greatest rates of crimes per capita in their communities. Fitzgerald speculated her finding is based on the kind of desensitizing work of the slaughterhouse and/or the type of people who are attracted and willing to work there. Regardless, in no way should environmental conditions or personality type excuse such behavior and guard people from responsibility.

It's difficult imagining myself--an 8-year anti-speciesist from an affluent suburban background with a graduate degree--as one of these animal abusers. With all the sympathy I have for animal others, with all the theory I have learned, without any history in domestic (animal) abuse, and with experience at animal sanctuaries, identifying with these detested human beings would be a stretch. At least, so I thought until recently.

Read more »

Six in 10 adults now get physically active by walking

Sixty-two percent of adults say they walked for at least once for 10 minutes or more in the previous week in 2010, compared to 56 percent in 2005, according to a new Vital Signs report from US CDC.
However, less than half (48 percent) of all adults get enough physical activity to improve their health, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey. For substantial health benefits, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends at least two and a half hours per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, such as brisk walking. This activity should be done for at least 10 minutes at a time.

To learn more about Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and ways to get active, visit www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity

Third-hand smoke

Ever take a whiff of a smoker's hair and feel faint from the pungent scent of cigarette smoke? Or perhaps you have stepped into an elevator and wondered why it smells like someone has lit up when there is not a smoker in sight. Welcome to the world of third-hand smoke.

 

“Third-hand smoke is tobacco smoke contamination that remains after a cigarette has been extinguished," says Jonathan Winickoff, a pediatrician at the Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston and author of a study on the new phenomenon published in the journal Pediatrics. “Third-hand smoke," a term coined by Winickoff's research team, is a relatively new concept, but one that has worried researchers and nonsmokers for several years.

 

Third-hand smoke refers to the tobacco toxins that build up over time—one cigarette will coat the surface of a certain room, a second cigarette will add another coat, and so on. The third-hand smoke is what remains after visible or "second-hand smoke" has dissipated from the air.

 

The 2006 surgeon general's report says there is no risk-free level of tobacco exposure. There are more than 250 poisonous toxins found in cigarette smoke.

 

For more information:

• http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2006/index.htm
• http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/1/e74.abstract
• http://www.portlandmaine.gov/hhs/phbreatheeasy.asp
• http://www.smokefreeforme.org

Influenza

The Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for influenza for the 2012-2013 season are now available.

Multiple infections with variant influenza A (H3N2v) viruses have been identified in three states in recent weeks. From July 12 through August 3, 2012, 16 cases of H3N2v were reported and confirmed by US CDC. This virus was first detected in humans in July 2011. It has also been isolated in U.S. swine in many states.

 

Since July 12, 2011, there have been 29 cases of H3N2v virus infection, including the 16 cases occurring in the last three weeks. Maine confirmed two cases of H3N2v influenza in 2011, but no new cases have been detected to date in 2012.

 

Each of the 16 recent cases reported contact with swine prior to illness onset; in 15 cases, contact occurred while attending or exhibiting swine at an agricultural fair. While the viruses identified in these cases are genetically nearly identical, separate swine exposure events in each state were associated with human infections. Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Agriculture remind everyone to exercise good judgment while attending agricultural fairs.

Interim Recommendations for the Public

• Persons who are at high risk for influenza complications (e.g., underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or neurological conditions, or who are pregnant or younger than 5 years, older than 65 years of age or have weakened immune systems) should consider avoiding exposure to pigs and swine barns this summer, especially if ill pigs have been identified.
• Persons engaging in activities that may involve swine contact, such as attending agricultural events or exhibiting swine, should wash their hands frequently with soap and running water before and after exposure to animals; avoid eating or drinking in animal areas; and avoid close contact with animals that look or act ill.
• Patients who experience influenza-like symptoms following direct or close contact with pigs and who seek medical care should inform their health care provider about the exposure.
• Patients with influenza-like illness who are at high risk for influenza complications (e.g., underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or neurological conditions, or who are pregnant or younger than 5 years, older than 65 years of age or have weakened immune systems) should see their health care provider promptly to determine if treatment with antiviral medications is warranted.
• Influenza viruses have not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork or other products derived from pigs. For more information about the proper handling and preparation of pork, visit the USDA website fact sheet “Fresh Pork from Farm to Table.”

 

Interim Recommendations for Health Care Providers  

• Clinicians who suspect influenza in persons with recent exposure to swine should obtain a nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate from the patient, place the swab or aspirate in viral transport medium, and contact their state or local health department to arrange transport and request a timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory.
• Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for influenza should be considered for patients with influenza-like illness prior to the start of the traditional influenza season in October.
• RT-PCR testing for influenza should be considered throughout the year for patients with influenza-like illness reporting recent swine exposure and for those who can be epidemiologically linked to confirmed cases of variant influenza.
• Commercially available rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) may not detect H3N2v virus in respiratory specimens. Therefore, a negative rapid influenza diagnostic test result does not exclude infection with H3N2v or any influenza virus. In addition, a positive test result for influenza A cannot confirm H3N2v virus infection because these tests cannot distinguish between influenza A virus subtypes (they do not differentiate between human influenza A viruses and H3N2v virus). Therefore, respiratory specimens should be collected and sent for RT-PCR testing at a state public health laboratory.
• Clinicians should consider antiviral treatment with oral oseltamivir or inhaled zanamivir in patients with suspected or confirmed H3N2v virus infection. Antiviral treatment is most effective when started as soon as possible after influenza illness onset.

 For more information, see the health alert Maine CDC issued on Aug. 7.

 

National Immunization Awareness Month

We all need immunizations (also called vaccines or shots) to help protect us from serious diseases. Shots can prevent infectious diseases like measles, diphtheria, and rubella. But people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases. It’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them.

Everyone age 6 months and older needs a seasonal flu shot every year. Other shots work best when they are given at certain ages. Here are some general guidelines:

• Children need a series of shots from birth to age 6.
• Pre-teens need recommended shots at age 11 or 12.
• All adults need a booster shot every 10 years to help protect against tetanus and diphtheria.

We are seeing many cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in Maine right now. Pertussis is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that can last for many weeks. Immunity to pertussis following infection is not lifelong. Persons with a history of pertussis should continue to receive pertussis-containing vaccines according to the recommended schedule. Because vaccination is not 100% effective and immunity wanes over time, even fully vaccinated persons can become infected with pertussis. However, unvaccinated children have an 8 times higher risk of becoming infected with pertussis than fully vaccinated children. Furthermore, vaccinated children who do get infected with pertussis have milder symptoms, shorter duration of illness, fewer severe outcomes (including hospitalization) and are less infectious than their non-vaccinated counterparts. Therefore, vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent pertussis.

 

Talk to your doctor or nurse to find out which immunizations you need. For more information, visit
www.immunizeme.org 

 

If you choose not to vaccinate, understand the risks and responsibilities.

Psychological Disorder and Illnesses

Delusional disorder is an uncommon psychological condition in that patients present with circumscribed symptoms of non-bizarre delusions, but with the absence of prominent hallucinations and no believed disorder, mood condition, or substantial flattening of impact. For that diagnosis to be made, auditory as well as visible hallucinations can't be notable, though olfactory or responsive hallucinations associated with the information from the delusion may be existing.

To be identified as having delusional disorder, the actual delusion or delusions cannot be because of the results of a medication, medication, or even common medical condition, and delusional disorder can't be diagnosed within an individual formerly diagnosed with schizophrenia. A person with delusional disorder might be high working in your everyday living because this condition has no relation to a person's IQ, and could not exhibit odd or even weird behavior aside from these types of delusions.

Delusional disorder is commonly found in people who suffer from weird schizophrenia, weird personality condition, and any additional weird disorders.

The actual DSM-IV, as well as researchers, generally agree that personal beliefs should be evaluated with excellent regard in order to intricacy associated with cultural as well as spiritual differences because a few cultures have broadly recognized beliefs which may be regarded as delusional within other ethnicities.

The War Within

Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder characterized by a breakdown associated with thoughts by poor emotional responsiveness. Typical symptoms include oral hallucinations, weird or even weird delusions, or even unorganized talk and considering, which is accompanied by significant social or even work-related dysfunction. The onset of signs and symptoms typically occurs in young adulthood, having a worldwide life time prevalence of about 7 %. Diagnosis is based on observed behavior and the patient's reported experiences.

Genetics, early atmosphere, neurobiology, and mental and sociable procedures seem to be important contributory factors; some leisure as well as prescription drugs appear to trigger or even worsen symptoms. Current scientific studies are focused on the role associated with neurobiology, although not one isolated organic trigger has been discovered. The many possible combinations of signs and symptoms possess brought on debate about if the prognosis represents a single condition or a quantity of under the radar syndromes. Despite the etymology from the term from the Ancient Greek roots skhizein "to split" and phren, phren- ("mind"), schizophrenia doesn't mean the "split personality", or even "multiple character disorder" (that is recognized these days because dissociative identification disorder)-a condition that it is usually confused in public places perception. Instead, the word indicates the "splitting associated with psychological functions", due to the symptomatic presentation from the illness.

The actual pillar associated with treatment methods are antipsychotic medicine, which mainly inhibits dopamine (and often serotonin) receptor exercise. Psychotherapy as well as professional and sociable rehabilitation will also be important in treatment. In additional serious cases-where there's danger to self as well as others-involuntary a hospital stay may be required, although medical center remains are now shorter and less frequent than they were in the past, according to Psychiatrists.

The actual condition is thought mainly in order to affect cognition, but it also generally contributes to chronic problems with conduct as well as emotion. Individuals with schizophrenia are likely to have extra (comorbid) conditions, such as depressive disorder and anxiety disorders; the actual lifetime occurrence associated with substance abuse is almost 50%. Sociable problems, for example long-term unemployment, lower income, and homelessness are typical. The typical life span of people with the condition is Twelve to 15 years less than individuals without, caused by elevated physical health issues along with a higher suicide rate (about 5%).

The Fear of Fear Itself

Weird personality condition is really a mental condition seen as a fear along with a pervasive, long-standing suspiciousness and generalized distrust of others. People with this personality disorder might be hypersensitive, effortlessly feel slighted, and habitually connect with the planet through vigilant scanning of the atmosphere with regard to hints or even recommendations that may verify their own fears or even dispositions. Paranoid individuals are keen observers. They think they are in danger and look for signs as well as risks of that threat, potentially not really appreciating other proof.