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Stay Healthy This Winter!  (12/23/2008)
Stay healthy this winter with some useful tips from Maine Center for Disease Control. More

G&J Gourmet Market Cocoa Mix Recall  (12/19/2008)
Dorsey Marketing Inc. of Ville St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada, is voluntarily recalling three G&J Gourmet Market cocoa products because they may contain melamine. These products are sold at Big Lots stores around the country. More

Flu Virus Offically Here  (12/18/2008)
Influenza has officially arrived in Maine. The first laboratory confirmed cases of influenza were reported this week. More

*Health Advisory* Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault   (12/9/2008)
Domestic violence can take many different forms, including physical, sexual, economic, emotional, and psychological abuse, often forming a pattern of coercive and intimidating behaviors. More

Initiative to Support Healthy Youth in Portland - Request for Applications  (12/3/2008)
Two mini-grants now available from Healthy Portland for up to $1500. More

Hepatitis A in the Kennebunk Area  (11/7/2008)
Hepatitis A is an uncommon disease in Maine. An average of 11 cases are identified in Maine each year. More

Smoke-free Ordinance for Outdoor Dining Now in Effect  (10/2/2008)
A new smoke-free ordinance is now in effect in Portland. The ordinance prohibits smoking within the outdoor areas of restaurants and bars in Portland where beverage or dining service is available until 10:00 PM. More

Recall of Frozen Chicken Meals That May Contain Foreign Materials  (11/17/2008)
Nestlé Prepared Foods Company is recalling approximately 879,565 pounds of frozen chicken meals that may contain foreign materials. More

Mosquitoes in Arundel Test Positive for EEE  (10/9/2008)
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) within the Maine DHHS is reporting that a pool of mosquitoes, collected on September 30, 2008 from the town of Arundel in York County, has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). More

Cumberland Farms Joins the “NO BUTS” Program  (10/7/2008)
The program provides retailers with the materials they need to properly train employees to prevent underage tobacco sales, while stressing the underlying compelling health reasons for restricting sales of tobacco to teens. More

Maine's Immunization Coalition Decries State's Immunization Rates  (10/2/2008)
Maine falls from #1 in the country to the lowest ranking in the New England Region. More

Help us help you!  (6/3/2008)
Help the Public Health Division focus its efforts on the health problems in your community by participating in our Municipal Health Survey. More

FoodBorne Illness UnderReported Nationwide  (4/7/2008)
For every one case of salmoneliosis (a common foodborne illness) reported, there are an estimated 38 that go unreported. More

Adults Lack Vaccination Awareness  (3/20/2008)
Despite the proven effectiveness of vaccines and their potential to save thousands of U.S. lives every year, American adults are receiving needed immunizations at alarmingly low rates. More

The Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Annual Report is now Available.  (2/19/2008)
The Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Annual Report for the Portland Public Health Division is now available for public viewing. More

infectious disease program

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Disease Information
Immunization Program
HIV/STD Prevention
Portland Needle Exchange
Positive Health Care

The Infectious Disease Program is located at India Street Public Health Center, 103 India Street. Program staff carry out disease prevention, service delivery and case management activities related to vaccine-preventable diseases, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis. Services include the Immunization Clinic, STD Clinic, Positive Health Care and the Portland Needle Exchange.

The Positive Health Care provides comprehensive primary care services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Our clinicians include two HIV Specialists certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine, two nurses, a psychiatrist, and a case manager. In addition to comprehensive primary care, services include HIV/AIDS treatment, psychiatric services, case management, adherence counseling, risk reduction education, HIV testing, and an after hours call service. No one is denied treatment because of an inability to pay. Positive Health Care is Ryan White Care Act Title III program funded by a grant from the HIV/AIDS Bureau, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The HIV/STD Prevention Program offers walk-in clinics each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm where clients can be checked and treated for sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, venereal warts, herpes, bacterial vaginosis, trichmoniasis, yeast, hepatitis C and HIV infection. Counseling and testing for HIV and hepatitis C can be done by appointment and immunization against hepatitis A and B is available at the clinics. For more information on the STD Clinic please click here: HIV/STD Prevention Program.

Program staff carry out a number of community-based prevention activities that seek to increase awareness in the community and reduce the risk for and spread of hepatitis, HIV infection and other STDs.

The Portland Needle Exchange reduces the spread of blood borne pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis B and C by exchanging clean needles, syringes and supplies for used equipment at no cost. In addition to that, participants receive education on risk-reduction, case management services, free testing for HIV, hepatitis C, STDs and referrals to drug treatment programs upon request. These services are offered either on-site or in other community settings.