US: Maine CDC wants to restrict what public is told about disease outbreaks

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.pressherald.com/2016/07/2...ase-outbreaks/


Maine CDC wants to restrict what public is told about disease outbreaks
A year after the Portland Press Herald sued to get the names of schools with multiple chicken pox cases, the agency looks for more authority to deny records requests.
By Joe Lawlor Staff Writer

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is proposing an administrative rule change that would give the agency more discretion to deny public records requests on infectious disease outbreaks.

The rule change would allow the CDC to more easily withhold information on the locations of outbreaks of communicable diseases such as measles, chicken pox and pertussis.

A rule is the same as a regulation, would have legal force behind it and implements an agency?s interpretation of a law.

Contacted Wednesday, CDC spokesman John Martins said the agency does not comment on pending rule changes...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.pressherald.com/2016/07/2...-disease-data/

Health groups oppose Maine CDC push for more control of disease data
Letting the agency withhold locations of outbreaks endangers the public and contradicts its mission, critics say in public comments on a proposed rule change.
By Joe Lawlor Staff Writer
Updated at 8:02 AM

A broad range of state health care organizations is opposing a proposed rule change by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention that would give the state agency wide discretion to keep secret the locations of infectious disease outbreaks...