Town of Long Island

Health Officer

 October 10, 2009 

Finally the Flu Vaccine will be here:

On October 18, 2009 between 1:00pm to 4:00 pm at the VFW.

Please get your Flu vaccine.

This is NOT the H1N1 vaccine. 

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September 14, 2009

This is an update on the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine. 

The October 4, 2009 date for the seasonal flu vaccine may be changed.  As soon as I am aware of the new date I will post a notice at all the usual places.

We will not have an H1N1 clinic on Long Island.  The logistics do not add up.  The school children will probably go to one of the schools (King) intown with permission from their parents to have this vaccine.  Other options for all residents are to see your pediatrician, family doctor, or go to one of the several clinics the State will have in the Portland area.

If you have questions, please let me know.  766-0092

Emily Jacobs

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August 26, 2009

I would like all those with computer access to make www.maineflu.gov a favorite website to follow what the State, and all Districts are proposing, planning and will implement in the next few months to prepare the State of Maine residents for the H1N1 flu season. 

 Kim MacVane, Jim Wilber (representing EMS) and I attended the "Maine H1N1 Influenza Preparedness Summit" at the Augusta Civic Center on August 20, 2009. Dora Mills, State Health Officer and Director, Maine CDC/DHHS, hosted over 1,300 participants. Gov. John Baldacci, Commissioner Brenda Harvey, DHHS, Majoy General John Libby, Adjutant General, Dept. of Defense, Veterans & Emergency Management, Commissioner Susan Gendron, Dept. of Education and Commissioner Ann Jordan, Dept. of Public Health gave the opening remarks.

Please go to maineflu.gov to learn more about the Summit and keep up-to-date with notices and information to help you better understand this flu strain.

Emily

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Maine’s statutes established a health agency, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and a system of municipal Local Health Officers.  The DHHS has primary responsibility for the general health and wellbeing of the people of the State and for enforcement of health laws.  The general responsibility includes supervision of Local Health Officers (LHO), whose duties include enforcement of all relevant laws, the rules of the DHHS, and local health ordinances.  The DHHS is expected to provide LHO’s with information and with education resources pertaining to the regulation of health issues.  I have been certified since I completed the Local Health Officer Training delivered by the DHHS, Maine CDC and the Office of Local Public Health, as required by Title 22, Chapter 153, §451(2).

Briefly, my duties will include:

a.       An Annual Report to the DHHS;

b.       Reporting disease to the DHHS (and CDC), prevention and suppression of diseases and all conditions injurious to health, prompt reporting of notifiable diseases and occupational diseases;

c.       Complaints:  the LHO receives and examines all complaints concerning nuisances dangerous to life and health with jurisdiction limits; i.e. landlord tenant issues such as mold, nuisances, sanitary examinations, dangerous buildings, unsafe drinking water; report suspected child or adult abuse or neglect, noxious or offensive smells, abandoned wells, abandoned motor vehicles, and faulty septic systems;

d.       Disease Control:  the LHO is authorized to develop a system of inspection control over persons and things liable to cause the spreading of contagious (communicable) disease, matters of environmental concern, including occupational health.  A “public health threat” means any condition or behavior that can reasonably to be expected to place others at significant risk of exposure to infection with a communicable disease.  I will participate in the vaccine clinics on the Island;

e.       The LHO is responsible to ensure that all State laws, rules of DHHS and local health ordinances be strictly enforced;

f.       Report occupational disease;

g.       Work with physicians, school officials, public health nurses, local EMS service and food establishment, etc.  When an outbreak is noted, the LHO and DHHS work together for the investigation and institution of control measures;

h.       Report to the DHHS rabid animals or animals that are suspect of having rabies, and report dead wild animals; also

i.        Keep a record of residents of Long Island that have been diagnosed or are being treated for Lyme disease. Please contact me if this diagnosis affects you.

j.        Optional: Health and wellbeing educational programs in schools and in the community.

This is a general overview of my duties. You can access Public Health issues and information on the Town website (townoflongisland.us).  Click under Government and go to the Health Officer link.  I will keep this page updated as I receive materials from DHHS, the CDC or the Local Health Officer offices.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. My email address is healthofficer@townoflongisland.us

Emily C Jacobs

Town of Long Island

Local Health Officer

207-766-0092