Though the midcoast city has dealt with an unprecedented number of rabid fox attacks and near-misses dating to last year, critics of the plan say it doesn’t account for predators’ role in keeping rodent populations in check.
Health
Maine saw dozens more hepatitis A cases in 2019
Aroostook and Kennebec counties accounted for more than half the number of cases in Maine last year.
Massachusetts sues Juul over e-cigarette marketing tactics
Attorney General Maura Healey’s office said the nation’s biggest e-cigarette maker is responsible for ‘creating a youth vaping epidemic’ with deceptive advertising tactics designed to lure in teen users.
Bill to give Maine DEP more authority over ‘forever chemicals’ advances in committee
The bill is one of multiple measures that lawmakers will consider this year in response to growing concerns about PFAS contamination in Maine.
Study shows 40% of deer tick samples tested positive for Lyme disease
The first-of-its-kind study by the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension Tick Lab included more than 2,000 ticks submitted last year by residents of all 16 counties.
Global experts study promising drugs, vaccines for new coronavirus
In at least two studies, patients are being treated with a combination HIV drug and another experimental drug.
Maine flu cases shot up 24% in first week of February
Nearly 1,000 new cases were confirmed in the week ending Feb. 8, the most in a single week since this flu season began in October, with York County hit especially hard.
Drugs fail to slow effects of inherited Alzheimer’s disease
Two experimental drugs have failed to prevent or slow mental decline in a study of people who are virtually destined to develop the disease because of rare gene flaws.
China’s daily death toll from virus tops 100 for first time
More than 1,000 total deaths have been recorded, and 42,638 people had been diagnosed as of 9 p.m. Monday.
Pharmaceutical companies fund ad campaign to support Maine’s new vaccine law
A lobbying firm is spending $476,000 for TV ads defending the law against a repeal vote on the March 3 ballot, prompting opponents of the law to say the funding is an effort by Big Pharma to control Maine’s vaccine policy.