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North Coast Seafood is recalling Fresh Tuna Steaks   (7/1/2009)
North Coast Seafood has voluntarily removed from sale Fresh Tuna Steaks that were sold at Shaw’s, Star Market and Big Y Stores in New England. More

Hannaford warns consumers about recalled beef  (6/29/2009)
Hannaford Supermarkets is warning its customers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont to check their freezers for recalled beef. More

Rabies in Florida Beach Community  (6/24/2009)
Eyewitnesses saw five boys ages ~10-12 years handling, playing with, and kissing a bat confirmed to have rabies at the Ft. Myers Beach pier in Florida on June 15. More

Updated Advisory on Striped Bass, Bluefish Consumption  (6/3/2009)
Fish consumption advisory updated for two marine species caught in coastal and intertidal waters of Maine. More

Practice the 'Three Cs' to Reduce Likelihood of Lyme Disease, EEE, and West Nile Virus  (6/1/2009)
While it is important for our overall health to enjoy the outdoors, it is also important to take some simple precautions that will reduce one’s chances of tick and mosquito bites in order to prevent Lyme Disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and West Nile Virus. More

Refusing Whooping Cough Vaccine Shown to Raise Risk  (5/26/2009)
One in 20 children whose parents do not get them vaccinated against whooping cough catch the highly contagious illness, researchers said on Tuesday. More

Watch Out for Food Borne Illiness  (5/22/2009)
Summer is here and so is the potential for food borne illness! Check here for some tips about staying safe. More

Portland to Host Health Fair for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities   (5/14/2009)
The Multicultural Exercise for Health and Love: a health fair to focus on health screenings and referrals More

Portland Public Health Division Strategic Plan Now Available  (3/24/2009)
The Public Health Division's Strategic Plan for 2009-2011 is now available for public viewing. More

Grant to Fund Community Health Center  (3/10/2009)
$1.5 million from Recovery Act to fund new clinic in Portland; City Public Health Director says it will make a “real difference in people’s lives.” More

Report urges boost for US family planning program  (2/24/2009)
Publicly-funded family planning prevents nearly 2 million unintended pregnancies and more than 800,000 abortions in the United States each year, saving billions of dollars, according to new research intended to counter conservative objections to expanding the program. More

Attention Employers: Public Health Division Launches Collaborative Worksite Initiative  (2/20/2009)
With guidance from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and the Healthy Maine Partnership, the City of Portland's Public Health Division and the People's Regional Opportunity Program have teamed up to educate employers about the impact of substance abuse in the workplace. More

Portland Public Health 2007-2008 Annual Report is Now Available!  (1/22/2009)
The Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Annual Report for the Portland Public Health Division is now available for public viewing. More

Worksite Wellness Packets Now Available  (1/12/2009)
Local Healthy Maine Partnerships team up to produce a monthly collection of health-related materials to promote worksite wellness. 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

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 5:45 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 and supplies for used equipment at no cost. In addition, participants receive education on risk-reduction, case management services, testing for HIV, hepatitis C, STDs and referrals to drug treatment programs upon request.