Dr. Sheila Pinette, Osteopathic physician
Director, Maine CDC
Public
Health
Update
In this update
Public health
accreditation
Blood pressure
Hepatitis
Lyme and other
tickborne diseases
Pertussis
Updates
Public health accreditation
Maine CDC submitted an application to become accredited by
the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) on May 28.
Several Maine CDC staff were present to celebrate this
milestone. The application for Public Health Accreditation is the
formal notification to PHAB of a health department's official
commitment to initiate the accreditation process.
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Public Health Accreditation is the measurement of Maine CDC's
performance against a set of nationally recognized, practicefocused and evidence-based standards. These standards
emphasize process improvements, quality assurance, and
effective stewardship of public health resources. Currently, two
state health departments and 29 local health departments have
achieved accreditation.
Throughout the summer, Maine CDC staff will continue
preparations, and will receive training from PHAB. This fall, the
Maine CDC will begin to finalize the documents that will serve as
evidence to the Accreditation Board that the agency is meeting
the national standards. Stay tuned for more updates as we
continue to move through this process!
Dr. Sheila Pinette, surrounded by some Accreditation
champions and staff, electronically submitted the Maine
CDC's application for Public Health Accreditation
Know your numbers: Blood pressure
About 1 in 3 Mainers are told they have high blood pressure, also
called hypertension. Many people do not know they have it
because there are usually no symptoms. High blood pressure is
like having high pressure in a pipe. It damages the pipe, but you
often don't see a problem until it bursts.
What is a normal blood pressure?
A normal blood pressure is less than 120 (top number) over 80
(bottom number). After that, the higher the numbers, the more at
risk you are for health problems.
Blood Pressure
Category
Normal
Prehypertension
Hypertension
Top
Number
(Systolic)
Bottom
Number
(Diastolic)
Less than
and Less than 80
120
120-139
or
80-89
140 or
higher
or
90 or higher
What can you do to prevent high blood pressure?
There are risk factors that you cannot change like age and family
history. Below are risk factors that you can control:
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Have your blood pressure checked. It should be
checked at least every two years since there are often no
symptoms. Talk with your health care provider to see if
you need to have it checked more often.
Prevent and manage diabetes. 60% of people with
diabetes also have high blood pressure.
Eat a healthy diet. Add lots of fruits and
vegetables. Limit foods high in saturated fat and
cholesterol.
Avoid sodium (salt). Limit the amount of salt you add to
your food. Many processed foods/restaurant meals are
high in sodium.
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Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can raise
your blood pressure.
Be physically active. Exercise for 30 minutes each day.
Do not use tobacco products. It injures blood vessels
and speeds up hardening of the arteries.
Limit alcohol use. If you drink alcohol, try to consume
less.
If you have high blood pressure, treat it. Your
healthcare provider can make a plan that is right for you.
Million Hearts Initiative
Million Hearts® is a national effort to prevent 1 million heart
attacks and strokes by 2017. Million Hearts® brings together
communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal
agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to
fight heart disease and stroke. To learn more about the initiative
or to make the commitment visit: www.millionhearts.hhs.gov.
For more information about heart disease visit:
http://mainehearthealth.org/.
Hepatitis
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month.
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases has
launched a free online CME course for primary care providers:
Identification and Care for Patients with Hepatitis B and C
Infection available at http://bitly.com/HepCourse
Lyme and other tickborne diseases
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Lyme disease is the
most common vectorborne disease in Maine. Cases have already
been reported in 2014, and the number will rise as the weather
continues to get warmer.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by the deer
tick. Cases have been increasing each year in Maine, and occur
in all 16 counties. More than 1,375 cases of Lyme disease were
reported statewide in 2013, a record high for Maine. Lyme
disease is most common among school age children and adults
older than 65. Most infections occur during the summer months.
For testing and treatment information, see the health alert
athttp://go.usa.gov/kscC
Other tickborne diseases:
Other diseases that are carried by ticks in Maine include
Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Powassan.
In 2013, providers reported 94 cases of Anaplasmosis, 36 cases
of Babesiosis, and 1 case of Powassan. Nine anaplasmosis
cases and four babesiosis cases have already been reported in
2014.
For more information:
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Lyme disease data are available on Maine CDC's
website at http://go.usa.gov/kGYx
For more information on tickborne diseases, including
Lyme: http://go.usa.gov/kGYV
A Physician's Reference Guide is available and
describes the most common tickborne diseases in
Maine. This guide can be found on our website at:
http://go.usa.gov/kGrw
For IDSA Lyme disease treatment
guidelines: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/43/9/108
9.full
To order Lyme educational
materials: http://go.usa.gov/kGYh
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a cyclical disease that continues to
affect a significant number of Maine residents.
There have been 85 reported cases of pertussis so far in 2014,
compared to 142 for the same period in 2013. Lincoln county has
the highest rate of pertussis in the state, with 41 cases per
100,000, compared to the statewide rate of 6.4 cases per
100,000.
Maine CDC encourages providers continue to test and treat
patients. DTaP vaccine is recommended for all infants and
children. Tdap vaccine is recommended for all preteens, teens,
and adults.
For more guidance and information, visit http://go.usa.gov/dCO
Follow us
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 Twitter (http://twitter.com/MEPublicHealth)
 Blog (http://mainepublichealth.blogspot.com)
For clinical consultation and outbreak management guidance, call Maine CDC's toll-free 24hour phone line: 1-800-821-5821
For questions and potential exposure to poison, call the Poison Center's 24-hour phone
line: 1-800-222-1222
For road conditions, closures, and detours: call 5-1-1 or visit www.511maine.gov.