PORTLAND (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland says it’s OK to shake hands at Mass again, though churchgoers should still be mindful of the presence of influenza. The diocese, which includes all of Maine, announced protocols to avoid spreading flu in January. Those included suspending sharing of consecrated wine during communion and holding […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Bruce Poliquin presses for more federal aid for Maine's opioids crisis
Despite facing one of the most serious opioid problems in the nation, Maine collected only 40 cents of every $100 allocated by the federal government under a $1 billion federal program approved in 2016 to assist states trying to deal with the crisis. For some, including U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin of Maine, that doesn’t seem […]
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Debate rages in Augusta about female genital mutilation measure
AUGUSTA — There are parts of the world where it has long been common for adult women to slice away girls’ genital tissue with a sharp blade in a bid to dampen their sexual desires. Though Maine is a long way from anywhere this has traditionally been a problem, a battle is raging among lawmakers […]
Posted inLocal & State
Flu cases in Maine jump 63% from previous week
Portland Press Herald graphicLast week saw a dramatic rise in the number of new flu cases and hospitalizations in Maine, adding to what already has been one of the worst years in nearly a decade. There were 876 new cases of influenza, a 63 percent increase over the previous week, as well as 120 new […]
Posted inLocal & State
Flu patients cram into Portland emergency departments
Emergency rooms at Portland’s two largest hospitals were crammed with patients Monday, a surge that hospital officials attributed to the state’s influenza outbreak. By late Monday, there were more than 115 people seeking treatment at Maine Medical Center’s emergency department — a number that was above average, said Dr. Mike Baumann, Chief of MMC’s Emergency […]
Posted inNation / World
Florida nurse sick of flu season: ‘Wash your stinking hands’
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A nurse’s Facebook rant about the “cesspool of funky flu” in emergency room waiting areas is getting a lot of attention. “Wash your stinking hands,” Katherine Lockler says in a six-minute video that’s been viewed 4.8 million times since she recorded it in frustration after a 12-hour shift during this particularly nasty flu […]
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This flu season is on track to be one of the worst in 15 years
[media-credit name=”AP graphic” align=”aligncenter” width=”967″][/media-credit] This flu season is on track to be one of the worst in 15 years, with nearly 12,000 people needing to be hospitalized, federal health officials reported Friday. The latest weekly report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the season, which started early and hit many […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Influenza cases accelerating in Maine
Reported flu cases continued to accelerate in Maine during the past week, and the numbers have yet to peak. The Maine Center for Disease Control on Wednesday reported 531 new cases for the week ending Jan. 20, with 1,749 total cases for this flu season. The previous week, through Jan. 13, there were 391 new […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine flu deaths rise to 21 so far this season
The number of flu-related deaths this season in Maine has reached 21, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Emily Spencer, a spokeswoman for the state agency, said the number includes people who have died from complications from flu. “This is likely an under-representation because many individuals die of secondary infections that […]
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Bill would require meningitis vaccines for middle and high school students
AUGUSTA — It has been almost 15 years since Jerry Greenwell Jr., a lively 23-year-old with a bright future, woke up with what seemed like the flu. His condition worsened quickly as rashes appeared on his legs and his ability to walk vanished. In no time, he was at the emergency room in critical condition. […]