Hepatitis B, Influenza B on Maine Radar

January 4, 2007

CDC 01/02/07

MAINE: " Hepatitis B, Influenza B on Maine Radar "

Bangor Daily News (12.29.06):: Bowley

Officials in Maine have alerted health care providers to watch for symptoms

of hepatitis B following an outbreak in the Bangor area since June and for

influenza B after the state's first case was recently confirmed.

Geoff Beckett, assistant state epidemiologist for the Maine Center for

Disease Control and Prevention, said the hepatitis B outbreak involves some

eight cases. " We have seen a fairly steady stream of hepatitis B cases in

northern, central, and eastern Maine over the past several months, " he said.

While some of the cases are believed to have been transmitted sexually,

others were not, he added. Maine typically records an average of 12

hepatitis B cases per year.

Vaccination against hepatitis B has reduced US rates of the infection since

the 1970s and 1980s, said Beckett. Hepatitis B symptoms include jaundice,

abdominal discomfort and joint pain. Around 5-10 percent of people infected

with hepatitis B can develop chronic infection. " It's a significant health

program, " he said.

On Dec. 21, Maine recorded its first case of influenza B, which affects the

respiratory system and can cause high fever, Beckett said. The strain is not

as dangerous as influenza A, which led to a pandemic in the early 20th

century.

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