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Hello neighbors,

My name is Dr. Beth Trehu, and I am the new Health Officer for the towns of Mount Vernon and Vienna.  My husband and I have had a camp on Flying Pond in Mount Vernon since 2010 and moved here full time in 2018.   We now live in Vienna.  

I plan to contribute to the town newsletters on a regular basis.  This month I will describe the role of Local Health Officer, tell you a little about my background, and provide the latest guidance from Maine CDC on vaccines for this year’s respiratory virus season.

If there are topics that you would like me to address in future newsletters, please contact me at health@viennamaine.org. I look forward to serving this wonderful community and welcome your questions and suggestions!

I will be speaking about vaccines at two upcoming Muffin Mornings:

  • Oct 27, 9:30-11 at the Mill Stream Grange in Vienna
  • Nov 3, 9:30-11 at the Mount Vernon Community Center

Local Health Officer

Every town in Maine is required by law to have a Local Health Officer (LHO).  The LHO program is run by the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (MCDC) and forms a network across the state with the goal of improving and caring for the health of local communities. LHOs report to their Selectboards and often collaborate with the Selectboards, Code Enforcement Officers, and other town officials. 

The LHO network can also respond in a rapid and coordinated manner in the case of a public health emergency.  The MCDC provides on-going training for LHOs in issues that may be of importance to their communities, and I will share information when relevant.

Maine law requires LHOs to report diseases, conditions, or public health threats believed to be of public health importance.  A “public health threat” means any condition or behavior that can reasonably be expected to place others at significant risk of exposure to infection with a communicable disease.  

Some of the primary responsibilities of the LHO are:

  1. Notify MCDC regarding cases of communicable disease, particularly during declared health emergencies
  2. Respond to complaints made by members of the public concerning conditions posing a potential public health threat
  3. Order the suppression and removal of nuisances and conditions suspected of posing or found to pose a public health threat
  4. Act as a resource for connecting residents with the public health services and resources provided by the Maine CDC
  5. Enforce certain public health safety laws

My background

I am a recently retired physician and was board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology (blood diseases), and Oncology (cancer).  I was on the faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine, practiced in a Community Cancer Center, and spent the last 22 years of my career designing and conducting clinical trials of new cancer drugs in biotech companies.  Before taking on the role of LHO, I completed an on-line training course required by MCDC.

Maine CDC Recommended Vaccines to Protect You Against Respiratory Viruses

There are three recommended vaccines to keep you as healthy as possible during the high season for respiratory viruses.  Please see the summary provided here. 

If you have questions about increased risk, please consult with your primary care provider.  There are lots of great resources available on the Maine CDC website: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/diseases-conditions/immunization

Until next time,

Beth Trehu, MD

 

 

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