Sunday, July 31, 2022
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Public Health Ontario reports 367 confirmed cases of monkeypox - Global News
Public Health Ontario says there were 367 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the province as of Thursday, up from 326 on Monday.
The agency’s latest report says most of the cases — nearly 78 per cent — were reported in Toronto.
Almost all of the people affected are male, with only two reported in female patients.
Public Health Ontario says the average age of confirmed cases is just under 36 years old.
The report says 11 people have been hospitalized with the illness and two are in intensive care.
It says there are also 12 probable cases, 10 of which are in men.
Public health says most cases are among men who report intimate contact with men but say anyone can get monkeypox.
Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, recently said monkeypox will likely be around for “many months” because of its lengthy incubation period but he noted that Ontario isn’t seeing rapid growth of the virus.
The virus generally doesn’t spread easily and is transmitted through prolonged close contact via respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions or bodily fluids, or through contaminated clothes or bedding.
Common symptoms include rash, oral and genital lesions and swollen lymph nodes.
The monkeypox disease comes from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated around the globe in 1980. Smallpox vaccines have proven effective in combating the monkeypox virus.
Local public health units across Ontario are holding vaccination clinics for those the province deems at high-risk of contracting monkeypox.
Moore has said the province is not looking to expand its vaccination strategy at this time because “it appears to be working.”
© 2022 The Canadian Press
Public Health Ontario reports 367 confirmed cases of monkeypox - Global News
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Friday, July 29, 2022
B.C. makes monkeypox vaccine available to close contacts and high-risk groups - Vancouver Sun
The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency because of the global monkeypox outbreak,
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Monkeypox vaccines will now be made available to high-risk groups, B.C.’s Ministry of Health announced Friday.
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The ministry said that although the number of cases in B.C. remains low, some community transmission has been identified.
As of Wednesday, there were 61 cases of monkeypox in B.C., including three cases in Fraser Health, 54 in Vancouver Coastal Health and four in Island Health. There are no cases in Interior Health and Northern Health.
Health officials will be doing contact tracing for those who have been exposed to the pox.
The vaccine can be used as a preventative measure or given after exposure to prevent illness or severe outcomes.
It would be available to contacts of people who have monkeypox or people who are considered high-risk, said the ministry.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, the vaccine would be offered primarily to transgender people or men who have sex with other men and meet any of the following criteria:
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• Have received a diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and/or syphilis in the past two months, or
• Have had two or more sexual partners in the last 21 days, or
• Have attended bath houses, sex clubs, or park play, or plan to
• Have had anonymous sex in the past 21 days, or plan to, or
• Engage in sex work or plan to, either as a worker or a client
Health officials in B.C. say the monkeypox virus does not spread easily from person-to-person. All identified local transmission has involved prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which is suspected to be the primary way the virus is spread
To date, B.C. has received 14,480 doses of vaccine for outbreak control, including post-exposure prophylaxis.
Vaccines are ordered weekly and all doses are distributed to health authorities for administration. As of Wednesday, 7,200 doses were administrated to high-risk people, according to the health ministry.
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Last week, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern to manage the global monkeypox outbreak.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has urged gay and bisexual men to practise safe sex and limit their number of sexual partners to lower the risk of contracting the disease, which spreads primarily among men who have sex with men.
Monkeypox can occur in two stages, with flu-like symptoms appearing first, followed by a rash, usually with sores or blisters, though many people only get the rash.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States says 21,148 cases of monkeypox have been reported globally, with most of the cases identified in 71 countries, including Canada, that have not historically reported the illness.
— With files from The Canadian Press
B.C. makes monkeypox vaccine available to close contacts and high-risk groups - Vancouver Sun
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Canada: Global AIDS conference kicks off amid fury over visas - DW (English)
Canada is hosting this year's International AIDS Conference. The event has been billed as a chance for "the world to come together." However, visa issues are causing frustration for would-be attendees from Africa.
Philomena Gori had a lot riding on her attendance at the 24th International AIDS Conference, which kicks off in the Canadian city of Montreal on Friday. The biennial event brings together thousands of scientists, politicians, activists and social workers from around the world to find solutions to the epidemic.
The 32-year-old, a social worker for people affected by AIDS in Cameroon, had taken time off from her current job and spent around $2,000 (€1,965) applying to the conference, securing accommodation and collecting the necessary documents for a visa.
Her hope was to gain vital connections and know-how in order to help her found a new HIV charity in her home country of Kenya.
But on July 22 — 88 days after she submitted her visa application — a rejection letter landed in her inbox. She was being denied entry, with no time to react.
"I am so disappointed, I am so angry right now," she told DW in a video call. "I sacrificed a lot, I gave a lot of effort to attend and be able to give back to my community.
"In Africa, we are the ones being affected mostly by these diseases, and I was expecting them to give us more opportunities. I feel like it's because we are coming from African countries."
Philomena Gori spent around $2,000 applying for the conference
Canadian authorities under pressure
Gori is not the only one in this situation. Organizers fear that hundreds of other delegates from Africa, Asia and South America are still waiting for, or have already been denied, visitor visas.
The situation has been turning into a scandal. The AIDS 2022 conference, organized by the International AIDS Society (IAS), had been billed as a chance to "call the world to come together to reengage and follow the science."
But a day before the event was set to begin, the International AIDS Society (IAS) released a statement saying it was "deeply concerned by the high number of denied and pending visas by Canadian authorities."
"This is preventing many people from some of the countries most affected by HIV from entering Canada and attending AIDS 2022, including IAS staff and leadership."
African voices most needed
According to the World Health Organization, Africa is home to more than two-thirds of the global population living with HIV, the virus that progresses into AIDS.
Sam W. Pionlay is one of the delegates invited by the conference but denied a visa by Canada
That is why Sam W. Pionlay, 26, shares the concern about a global AIDS conference taking place with many voices from Africa missing.
Originally from Liberia, he is studying computer sciences in Morocco. He continues to advocate for young people, including those with HIV and AIDS, at home.
With an invitation from the IAS and sponsorship from a Delaware church, he was aiming to travel to the conference to present a paper on violence and HIV prevention for young people and sex workers.
His rejection arrived on July 19, with the Canadian authorities stating in a letter that they were not "satisfied" that he would leave Canada and return to Morocco at the end of his trip.
"It just doesn't make any sense," Pionlay told DW. "My work helping young people is here in Africa, I will be finishing my degree next year, why would I stay in Canada?
"This year's conference should have been an opportunity for Africans to participate. I'm really disappointed in Canada as a whole. I'm feeling frustrated."
Canada 'a difficult choice'
The visa difficulties have led to criticism of the choice of host country. David Ndikumana, Executive Director of the WEKA Organisation, which provides support to LGBTQ minorities and people with AIDS in the Democratic Republic of Congo, argued that such conferences should take place in countries that are more accessible.
David Ndikumana is critical of the choice of Canada as a host country
His organization received two invites to the conference but had yet to receive a response about visa applications. "I think what Canada is doing is a kind of discrimination," he told DW. He added that his group wrote a letter asking why only Canada is organizing this international conference. "Why not allow other countries?"
Ken Monteith, director general of Quebec AIDS charity COCQ-SIDA, also saw problems: "It certainly seems like Canada is a difficult choice on this issue," he wrote in an email. "We do have to bear in mind that there are populations that have difficulty obtaining visas for many countries in the north and the south."
IAS President Adeeba Kamarulzaman told DW that Canada was chosen after negotiations with a "middle-income" country were ended over attempts to influence the conference program.
"Delayed and denied visas affect our ability to host a truly inclusive conference that is representative of communities most affected by HIV. The Conference Organizing Committee has escalated its concerns to the highest levels so that as many people who wish to attend AIDS 2022 are able to do so," she wrote.
Canada 'understands disappointment'
In an email to DW, Aidan Strickland, press secretary for Canada's Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said applications from around the world were "assessed equally and against the same criteria."
"We understand the disappointment that would result from some applicants not receiving their visas in time for the International AIDS Conference. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has taken every measure available to expedite as much as possible the processing of applications and facilitate travel for this event."
She added that IRCC had processed 91% of all applications received. A processed application can mean either an acceptance or rejection.
Strickland also pointed out that visa processing times can vary.
'If it's done in Africa, I will go'
Despite the furor over visas, there are still high hopes that the conference will lead to improved solutions for combating HIV and AIDS, especially given the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those unable to attend the conference in person do have the opportunity to participate in certain events online.
Philomena Gori intends to take part in some virtual events, and plans to launch her charity as soon as possible. She also hopes one day to have the chance to take part in a similar conference much closer to home.
"If it's done in Africa, I will go. It will be much easier for me to attend."
Edited by: Anne Thomas
Canada: Global AIDS conference kicks off amid fury over visas - DW (English)
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Public Health Ontario reports 367 confirmed cases of monkeypox - Global News
Public Health Ontario says there were 367 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the province as of Thursday, up from 326 on Monday.
The agency’s latest report says most of the cases — nearly 78 per cent — were reported in Toronto.
Almost all of the people affected are male, with only two reported in female patients.
Public Health Ontario says the average age of confirmed cases is just under 36 years old.
The report says 11 people have been hospitalized with the illness and two are in intensive care.
It says there are also 12 probable cases, 10 of which are in men.
Public health says most cases are among men who report intimate contact with men but say anyone can get monkeypox.
Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, recently said monkeypox will likely be around for “many months” because of its lengthy incubation period but he noted that Ontario isn’t seeing rapid growth of the virus.
The virus generally doesn’t spread easily and is transmitted through prolonged close contact via respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions or bodily fluids, or through contaminated clothes or bedding.
Common symptoms include rash, oral and genital lesions and swollen lymph nodes.
The monkeypox disease comes from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated around the globe in 1980. Smallpox vaccines have proven effective in combating the monkeypox virus.
Local public health units across Ontario are holding vaccination clinics for those the province deems at high-risk of contracting monkeypox.
Moore has said the province is not looking to expand its vaccination strategy at this time because “it appears to be working.”
© 2022 The Canadian Press
Public Health Ontario reports 367 confirmed cases of monkeypox - Global News
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COVID-19 outbreak declared at Hogarth Riverview Manor - Tbnewswatch.com
THUNDER BAY – An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared in a second area of the Hogarth Riverview Manor long-term care home.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit confirmed an outbreak of COVID-19 in the home’s 2 South (Bluebell) resident area in a statement on Friday.
Another outbreak was previously declared in the 5S area on July 15, and remains active according to the Thunder Bay Health Unit’s COVID-19 dashboard.
The health unit was tracking nine active COVID-19 outbreaks in vulnerable settings as of Friday. That figure is one among several COVID indicators that have been rising throughout July.
COVID-19 outbreak declared at Hogarth Riverview Manor - Tbnewswatch.com
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Visa denials denounced at Montreal AIDS conference, federal minister cancels speech - CTV News Montreal
The president of the International AIDS Society says her organization will re-evaluate how it organizes international conferences as a result of visa denials by the Canadian government.
Adeeba Kamarulzaman told attendees at the opening ceremony of the AIDS 2022 conference Friday morning in Montreal that "many" delegates, including staff members and leadership of her organization, were unable to get visas to attend.
A group of protesters took the stage during the opening ceremony, condemning the visa denials and inequalities in the global response to HIV.
International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan had been scheduled to speak at the conference opening but cancelled his appearance.
His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The conference, which draws researchers, medical practitioners, activists and people living with HIV, focuses both on the scientific progress in the fight against AIDS and the need for increased funding for HIV response.
More than 9,000 delegates are expected to attend in person, and another 2,000 are registered to participate remotely.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2022.
Visa denials denounced at Montreal AIDS conference, federal minister cancels speech - CTV News Montreal
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Thursday, July 28, 2022
Alberta expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility - Edmonton Journal
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The Alberta government is expanding the eligibility criteria for a monkeypox vaccine.
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Beginning Thursday, Albertans 18 and older who “self-identify as meeting the eligibility criteria for targeted prevention prior to an exposure” can begin booking immunization appointments, government officials said in a news release. Doses will be given out starting the next day.
The news comes the same day CBC reported some gay and bisexual Alberta men had been travelling to other provinces in order to receive shots.
Those eligible in Alberta now include:
• Transgender, cisgender or two-spirit individuals who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community, and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
• Have received a recent (in the last six months) diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection.
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• Are planning to have, or in the past 90 days had, sex outside of a mutually monogamous relationship.
• Have attended venues for sexual contact within the past 90 days (e.g., bath houses, sex clubs) or may be planning to, or who work/volunteer in these settings
• Any sexual contacts of the individuals described above
• Staff and volunteers in a social setting or venue or event where sexual activities between men (individuals described above) may take place.
“With the elevated risk of contracting the monkeypox virus in some segments of the population, every effort should be made to prevent it from spreading, including getting vaccinated if eligible,” Health Minister Jason Copping said in the news release.
“Anyone experiencing symptoms, such as fever, swollen glands, sores or a rash, is reminded to self-isolate and get the necessary care from a health-care provider.”
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Until now, Alberta was only offering the vaccine to to close contacts of a confirmed monkeypox case after exposure.
Because of a limited supply, vaccines are only available in Edmonton and Calgary where all 13 of the province’s confirmed cases have been located. As more vaccine becomes available “over the coming weeks” that will be expanded to other places across Alberta, the government said.
Since July 13, Alberta has received 1,200 doses.
“Alberta is working with the federal government to secure more doses of the vaccine. The federal government will release additional doses from the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile (NESS) based on usage,” Ministry of Health spokesman Mark Feldbusch said in an email.
Anyone who is eligible and interested in receiving the monkeypox vaccine must call Health Link at 1-866-301-2668 to book an appointment.
On Twitter, NDP critic for the status of women Janis Irwin said she was frustrated it took the government so long to act but glad officials were doing the right thing.
Alberta expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility - Edmonton Journal
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New Brunswick is ready to fight monkeypox, as Newfoundland announces 1st probable case - CBC.ca
New Brunswick is ready if any cases of monkeypox are confirmed in the province, says the acting chief medical officer of health.
Public Health currently has 140 doses of the Imvamune vaccine on hand, said Dr. Yves Léger.
"They will be used in alignment with NACI (National Advisory Committee on Immunization) guidance. So specifically for managing cases and contacts," he said.
The post-exposure vaccine may decrease the severity of the disease or prevent it entirely, according to health officials.
On Thursday, Newfoundland and Labrador announced it has a probable case. Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosann Seviour didn't confirm where the probable case originated but noted most viruses enter the province through travel.
Contact tracing is underway, and anyone identified as a close contact of a person who has monkeypox will be offered a vaccine, Seviour said.
A total of 745 cases of monkeypox have now been confirmed across Canada — 346 in Quebec, 326 in Ontario, 58 in B.C., 12 in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan and one in Yukon.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed the international outbreak of the virus a global emergency —its highest level of alert.
The number of cases globally has increased 48 per cent over the previous week and the disease has now spread to 75 countries, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
More than 16,000 cases have been reported worldwide, although officials believe the true number is higher.
Still time to stop the spread
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said Wednesday the spread of monkeypox is "of serious concern."
Still, "there is optimism that by focusing efforts in Canada and worldwide, we can seize this window of opportunity to contain the spread," she said during a news conference.
She noted the disease has, so far, been limited almost exclusively to men, with 99 per cent of those infected being male and over the age of 36. In Canada, most of the reported cases have been among men who have sex with men.
Tam contends the outbreak in Canada can be stopped by employing specific strategies that target the right groups of people.
Those strategies, she said, could include a public awareness campaign that focuses on gay and bisexual men through community organizations, educational settings and dating apps like Grindr.
'Working behind the scenes quite readily'
New Brunswick Public Health has "certainly been working behind the scenes quite readily to make sure that we're prepared for any cases should they occur here," said Léger.
This includes developing guidance on how to manage cases and contacts, and surveillance activities, he said.
"There will be some communications activities that will be occurring as well on that topic."
Léger was unable to provide more details.
Earlier this month, Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, said Public Health was working on a public awareness campaign, which will include messaging around prevention and risk.
Tam said little is known about how monkeypox is spread and how people can protect themselves.
But she urged vulnerable groups, such as men who have sex with men, to get vaccinated to curb the spread.
Canada has a sufficient supply of the vaccine for now, she said. About 70,000 doses of Imvamune have been sent to the provinces and roughly 27,000 of those have been administered, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The national health agency is also asking men who have sex with men to practise safe sex and to limit their number of partners, especially if those partners are casual acquaintances.
In addition to the public awareness campaign, New Brunswick Public Health is putting together some resources for clinicians, Russell has said. Many doctors have likely never seen a case, noted New Brunswick Medical Society president Dr. Mark MacMillan.
Monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus that causes a disease with symptoms similar to, but less severe than smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, monkeypox is usually a mild illness and most people recover on their own after a few weeks. But some people can become very sick and even die.
New Brunswick is ready to fight monkeypox, as Newfoundland announces 1st probable case - CBC.ca
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COVID-19 stalled fight against AIDS: Montreal conference - CTV News Montreal
Ahead of a major international AIDS conference in Montreal, researchers and officials on Wednesday promoted the progress toward finding a cure for HIV but lamented how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global fight against the disease.
A report released Wednesday by UNAIDS -- the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS -- said about 1.5 million people were infected with HIV in 2021. That number is 3.6 per cent less than the year before but the smallest drop in the number of new infections since 2016.
UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima told reporters in Montreal that global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, are responsible for "derailing" progress against HIV.
"The response to the AIDS pandemic has been derailed by global crises, from the colliding pandemics of HIV and COVID, to the war in Ukraine and the resulting global economic crisis," Byanyima said.
In the Asia and Pacific region, Byanyima added, the number of new infections rose in 2021 after declining for several years. In other parts of the world, she said, progress has stalled.
Approximately 650,000 people died from HIV in 2021, according to the United Nations.
"If these trends continue, we could see 7.7 million additional AIDS-related deaths in this decade," Byanyima said.
The report arrived two days before the beginning of AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference, in Montreal. More than 9,000 researchers, medical practitioners and people living with HIV are scheduled to attend the conference in person; another 2,000 delegates are registered to attend online.
Earlier on Wednesday, researchers spoke about the progress that has been made toward a cure for HIV.
Dr. Jana Dickter, a researcher at the City of Hope medical centre in California, told reporters that a 66-year-old man with HIV who was treated with a stem cell transplant for acute leukemia has been in remission from both conditions for 17 months.
Dickter, whose research is being presented at the conference, said the patient is the fourth person known to have achieved HIV remission after receiving a stem cell transplant from a donor with a rare genetic mutation.
"This case opens up possibilities for other older persons living with HIV and a blood cancer to receive a transplant and achieve remission from both diseases if a donor with this rare genetic mutation can be identified," she said, adding that stem cell transplants aren't an option for most people with HIV, due to the significant potential side-effects.
Madisa Mine, a virologist with Botswana's Ministry of Health and Wellness, will present research at the conference showing that 95.1 per cent of people in 2021 with HIV in the country knew their status, that 98 per cent of those individuals were on antiretroviral treatment and that 97.9 per cent of those receiving treatment had a suppressed viral load. More than 20 per cent of people aged 15 to 64 in the southern African country are HIV-positive.
"Overall, Botswana has made tremendous progress in the past 20 years, and we strongly believe that we are well positioned to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030," Mine said.
According to the UNAIDS report, in 2021, 85 per cent of people around the world living with HIV knew their status, 88 per cent of those people were receiving treatment and 92 per cent of people receiving treatment carried a suppressed viral load. UNAIDS has set a goal of reaching 95 per cent in all three categories by 2025.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2022.
COVID-19 stalled fight against AIDS: Montreal conference - CTV News Montreal
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Tuesday, July 26, 2022
issues alert after spike in drug overdose deaths | CTV News - CTV News Toronto
Toronto Public Health is warning the public after 10 people died of a suspected opioid overdose last week.
A July 22 drug alert issued by Toronto Public Health (TPH) indicated that these deaths occurred between July 17 and July 21.
So far this month, Toronto paramedics have have reported a total of 21 overdose-related fatalities.
“There appears to be a potential increase in deaths due to smoking opioids and stimulants,” TPH said in the alert, adding drug inhalation equipment, notably pipes, were present on scene in a number of the overdose deaths.
The health unit said a range of drugs were involved in this recent increase in fatal overdoses, which happened across the city.
Fentanyl does, however, continue to turn up in the local drug supply in a variety of colours “with unpredictable potency and contamination,” they said.
That assertion is supported by Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, which has recently found higher amounts of fentanyl present in expected fentanyl substances as well as “potential evidence” of crack cocaine being contaminated with fentanyl.
“A sample submitted as used crack cocaine equipment was found to contain cocaine, fentanyl, and caffeine; this equipment was reported not to have been reused,” TPH said.
Public health is urging people to try to not use drugs alone and use a supervised consumption service, if possible. Anyone who must use alone is being advised to have a safety plan in place and have someone check on them either by phone, in person, or even virtually.
RELATED: 'It's well overdue': Peel readies to open first supervised consumption site
Further, people who use drugs are being urged to vet their supply, ask others about what they are experiencing with the same drug or batch, determine what other substances could be in their drugs with the help of the local drug checking service, and get naloxone, which is available at Toronto Public Health’s The Works site at 277 Victoria St. and through several partner organizations. Free kits can also be obtained at some pharmacies, online, or by calling 1-800-565-8603.
The Ontario Coroner’s Office found those who died from “smoking opioids” represented 30 per cent of Toronto’s 164 accidental opioid toxicity deaths between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. All of these “opioid toxicity deaths” had evidence of smoking drugs and represented a 43 per cent increase in the proportion of overall overdose fatalities in Toronto compared to 2019 and a 178 per cent spike in overdose deaths with only evidence of pipe or foil present.
Last October, the City’s Drug Strategy Secretariat issued an alert following an increase in overdose deaths where drug inhalation equipment was used.
Supervised consumption sites in Ontario are currently not available to individuals who choose to consume drugs by inhalation as the 2017 Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking or vaping in enclosed public places and other designated places throughout the province.
issues alert after spike in drug overdose deaths | CTV News - CTV News Toronto
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Monday, July 25, 2022
U.S. weighs declaring monkeypox a health emergency -Washington Post - Regina Leader Post
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The Biden administration is weighing whether to declare the monkeypox outbreak in the country a public health emergency, the Washington Post reported on Monday.
The government is also planning to name a White House coordinator to oversee the country’s response to the outbreak, according to the report.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The news comes days after the World Health Organization issued a high-level alert, declaring the outbreak of the mild viral infection a global health emergency.
So far, nearly 70 countries in which monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with confirmed cases crossing 16,600.
Two cases of monkeypox, which causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, were identified in the United States among children for the first time last week. (Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Anil D’Silva)
U.S. weighs declaring monkeypox a health emergency -Washington Post - Regina Leader Post
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Toronto Public Health issues alert after increase in suspected opioid overdose deaths - Global News
Toronto Public Health (TPH) has issued an alert after an increase in overdose deaths in the city.
The alert, dated July 22, said preliminary data from Toronto paramedics shows that from July 17 to July 21, 10 suspected opioid overdose-related deaths were reported.
TPH said including those deaths, there have been a total of 21 suspected opioid overdose related deaths so far in July.
“There appears to be a potential increase in deaths from smoking opioids and stimulants,” the alert read.
TPH said it appears a “range of drugs” were involved in this increase in fatalities.
“Fentanyl continues to show up in the local drug supply in a variety of colours with unpredictable potency and contamination,” the alert said.
According to TPH, the city’s drug checking service has found higher amounts of fentanyl in fentanyl substances and potential evidence of crack cocaine being contaminated in fentanyl recently.
The alert said Toronto paramedics reported drug inhalation equipment — such as pipes — were present at the scene in a “number” of overdose deaths.
What’s more, the health unit said overdoses are occurring in “a variety” of neighbourhoods across Toronto.
Read more: Toronto Public Health reports record number of overdose deaths in December, calls for more action
TPH said if you are planning to use drugs, not to do it alone.
The health unit also said to use a supervised consumption site, if possible, and to have a safety plan.
TPH said those choosing to use drugs should also have their supply checked, and should always keep naloxone close.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Toronto Public Health issues alert after increase in suspected opioid overdose deaths - Global News
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Bavarian Nordic in talks to expand monkeypox vaccine output - Financial Post
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LONDON — Bavarian Nordic, the Danish company behind the vaccine being used to try to stem a global outbreak of monkeypox, is in talks to potentially expand production capacity, its CEO said on Monday.
The Copenhagen-based vaccine maker has a product with the brand name Jynneos, Imvamune or Imvanex depending on geography and which has U.S. and European approval to protect against monkeypox.
Bavarian has annual production capacity of 30 million doses, including the monkeypox vaccine and other vaccines it makes.
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It can meet current demand of tens of millions of doses for the monkeypox vaccine, Chief Executive Paul Chaplin said in an interview with Reuters, but it is working with a U.S.-based contract manufacturer to expand its production capacity.
Chaplin said he hoped that process would be completed later this year, and added the company was also in early talks with others, including contract manufacturers and other vaccine makers, in case a further expansion is needed.
Cases of the usually mild viral disease have risen to more than 16,000 in over 75 countries, the World Health Organization said on Saturday, as it labeled the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Countries in Africa have experienced sporadic monkeypox outbreaks since the virus was discovered in humans in 1970. In Nigeria, an outbreak has been ongoing since 2017.
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Before the current spate of cases, global health bodies were in discussions with Bavarian Nordic about supplying countries in Africa with the vaccine, Chaplin said, though since the latest outbreak there had been no requests from governments on the continent.
Like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy for HIV, people at high risk of contracting monkeypox – such as men who have sex with men – are being offered the vaccine in some European countries and the United States as a precautionary measure.
In addition, people who have been recently exposed to somebody who is infected, including healthcare workers, are also being invited to take the monkeypox vaccine.
In earlier stages of the outbreak, governments were looking for doses to vaccinate people quickly. Now, discussions are broadening to include stockpiles, said Chaplin.
Bavarian has received orders for millions of doses globally, including delivering nearly 7 million vaccine doses this year and next to the United States.
Earlier this month, Bavarian revealed that an unnamed European country had secured a 1.5 million dose supply that will also be delivered in 2022 and 2023, part of which will likely be stockpiled, he added. (Reporting by Natalie Grover in London; Editing by Barbara Lewis and David Holmes)
Bavarian Nordic in talks to expand monkeypox vaccine output - Financial Post
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Bavarian Nordic in talks to expand monkeypox vaccine output - Financial Post
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LONDON — Bavarian Nordic, the Danish company behind the vaccine being used to try to stem a global outbreak of monkeypox, is in talks to potentially expand production capacity, its CEO said on Monday.
The Copenhagen-based vaccine maker has a product with the brand name Jynneos, Imvamune or Imvanex depending on geography and which has U.S. and European approval to protect against monkeypox.
Bavarian has annual production capacity of 30 million doses, including the monkeypox vaccine and other vaccines it makes.
Article content
It can meet current demand of tens of millions of doses for the monkeypox vaccine, Chief Executive Paul Chaplin said in an interview with Reuters, but it is working with a U.S.-based contract manufacturer to expand its production capacity.
Chaplin said he hoped that process would be completed later this year, and added the company was also in early talks with others, including contract manufacturers and other vaccine makers, in case a further expansion is needed.
Cases of the usually mild viral disease have risen to more than 16,000 in over 75 countries, the World Health Organization said on Saturday, as it labeled the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Countries in Africa have experienced sporadic monkeypox outbreaks since the virus was discovered in humans in 1970. In Nigeria, an outbreak has been ongoing since 2017.
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Before the current spate of cases, global health bodies were in discussions with Bavarian Nordic about supplying countries in Africa with the vaccine, Chaplin said, though since the latest outbreak there had been no requests from governments on the continent.
Like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy for HIV, people at high risk of contracting monkeypox – such as men who have sex with men – are being offered the vaccine in some European countries and the United States as a precautionary measure.
In addition, people who have been recently exposed to somebody who is infected, including healthcare workers, are also being invited to take the monkeypox vaccine.
In earlier stages of the outbreak, governments were looking for doses to vaccinate people quickly. Now, discussions are broadening to include stockpiles, said Chaplin.
Bavarian has received orders for millions of doses globally, including delivering nearly 7 million vaccine doses this year and next to the United States.
Earlier this month, Bavarian revealed that an unnamed European country had secured a 1.5 million dose supply that will also be delivered in 2022 and 2023, part of which will likely be stockpiled, he added. (Reporting by Natalie Grover in London; Editing by Barbara Lewis and David Holmes)
Bavarian Nordic in talks to expand monkeypox vaccine output - Financial Post
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Can colour deficiency or blindness be a workplace safety issue? - Canadian Occupational Safety
Mostly men tend to be colour deficient, due to a missing or mutated gene on their X chromosome. The CAO estimates that around 1 in 10 men have colour deficiency. It is frequently an inherited condition.
There are three types of colour deficiency, explains the CAO on their website. Two different kinds of red-green deficiency, and one blue-yellow deficiency. The CAO says that red-green is the most common, is usually inherited, and leads to the “inability to distinguish between certain shades of reds, browns, pinks and oranges, or greens and blues.” Blue-yellow is more rare, and usually comes from damage to the optic nerve.
The CAO says that people with “complete colour blindness see objects in shades of black, white and grey.”
Does colour blindness or deficiency affect jobs?
There is no current cure, and being colour blind or colour deficient can seriously impact your career prospects. For example, depending on the severity of the condition, those who are colour deficient or colour blind may not become pilots (though contrary to popular belief it is not all or nothing).
A recent study by EnChroma (creators of glasses for colour blindness) revealed that nine our of 10 people with colour vision deficiency (CVD) said that identifying colours correctly plays a role in their job. 75 per cent of those surveyed said that being colour blind slows them down at work, and 65 per cent have trouble interpreting colour-coded materials.
Can colour deficiency or blindness be a workplace safety issue? - Canadian Occupational Safety
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Saturday, July 23, 2022
The Feds Are Giving $1 Million To Communities Affected By Monkeypox & Cases Have Gone Up - Narcity Canada
After Canada has been hit with a number of cases of monkeypox over the last few months, the federal government has announced a big chunk of funding for affected communities.
In a press release put out by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the feds confirmed a $1 million commitment to support organizations across the country that advocate for communities that have been disproportionately affected by monkeypox outbreaks.
The first installment of the funding was announced on July 21, with $350,000 going to several community groups for gay and bisexual men's health.
RÉZO in Montreal, the city that has seen the highest cases of the virus, got $150,000; the AIDS Committee of Toronto will receive $100,000; and MAX Ottawa will also get $100,000.
This government funding is to help amplify PHAC's messaging about the illness, with a focus on being "culturally appropriate" and "stigma-free."
This isn't the only cash going out to communities in Canada. A total of $550,000 is going to similar outreach and advocacy groups in Edmonton and Vancouver, too.
The remaining $100,000 is being held onto by PHAC in case of any further emergencies of the virus.
Monkeypox first hit Canada in May 2022 and has since spread across the country as well as the world.
As of July 20, the number of confirmed cases of the virus is up to 604 across the country, with 2 in Saskatchewan, 12 in Alberta, 40 in B.C., 230 in Ontario and 320 in Quebec.
This is a national increase of 304 since July 4.
In June, Canada announced a travel advisory related to the virus for anyone going abroad, advising people to "practise enhanced health precautions."
In response to numbers in their country, the United States has started distributing vaccines for the virus, which are effective against both monkeypox and smallpox.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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The Feds Are Giving $1 Million To Communities Affected By Monkeypox & Cases Have Gone Up - Narcity Canada
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WHO chief declares expanding monkeypox outbreak a global emergency - CBC News
The chief of the World Health Organization says the expanding monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries is an "extraordinary" situation that now qualifies as a global emergency, a declaration on Saturday that could spur further investment in treating the once-rare disease and worsen the scramble for scarce vaccines.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the decision to issue the declaration despite a lack of consensus among members of WHO's emergency committee. It was the first time the chief of the United Nations health agency has taken such an action.
"We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little and which meets the criteria in the international health regulations," Tedros said.
"I know this has not been an easy or straightforward process and that there are divergent views among the members" of the committee.
A global emergency is WHO's highest level of alert, but the designation does not necessarily mean a disease is particularly transmissible or lethal.
WHO's emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, said the director general made the decision to put monkeypox in that category to ensure the global community takes the current outbreaks seriously.
Although monkeypox has been established in parts of central and west Africa for decades, it was not known to spark large outbreaks beyond the continent or to spread widely among people until May, when authorities detected dozens of epidemics in Europe, North America and elsewhere.
WATCH | Cases of monkeypox climb in Canada:
As cases of monkeypox climb in Canada, there are growing concerns that the vaccine is not widely available, and time may be running out to contain the spread.
Declaring a global emergency means the monkeypox outbreak is an "extraordinary event" that could spill over into more countries and requires a co-ordinated global response.
WHO previously declared emergencies for public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, the Zika virus in Latin America in 2016 and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.
2nd attempt to assess situation
The emergency declaration mostly serves as a plea to draw more global resources and attention to an outbreak. Past announcements had a mixed impact, given that the United Nations health agency is largely powerless in getting countries to act.
Last month, WHO's expert committee said the worldwide monkeypox outbreak did not yet amount to an international emergency, but the panel convened this week to re-evaluate the situation.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 74 countries since about May. To date, monkeypox deaths have only been reported in Africa, where a more dangerous version of the virus is spreading, mainly in Nigeria and Congo.
In Africa, monkeypox mainly spreads to people from infected wild animals like rodents, in limited outbreaks that typically have not crossed borders. In Europe, North America and elsewhere, however, monkeypox is spreading among people with no links to animals or recent travel to Africa.
A total of 681 cases have been reported in Canada to date, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The majority have been in Quebec and Ontario.
WHO's top monkeypox expert, Dr. Rosamund Lewis, said this week that 99 per cent of all monkeypox cases beyond Africa were in men and that of those, 98 per cent involved men who have had sex with men. Experts suspect the monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America were spread via sex at two raves in Belgium and Spain.
"Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern for the moment, this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners," Tedros said. "That means that this is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups."
Emergencies chief Ryan explained what preceded the director general's decision.
"[Tedros] found that the committee did not reach a consensus, despite having a very open, very useful, very considered debate on the issues, and that since he's not going against the committee, what he's recognizing is that there are deep complexities in this issue," Ryan said. "There are uncertainties on all sides. And he's reflecting that uncertainty and his determination of the event" to be a global emergency.
WATCH | Growing frustration in U.S. over monkeypox response:
There is growing frustration in the United States over the government's response to the monkeypox outbreak, because testing capacity is limited, there are not enough vaccines, and some patients are struggling to find treatment.
Calls for equity
Before Saturday's announcement, Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University in England, said it was surprising that WHO hadn't already declared monkeypox a global emergency, explaining that the conditions were arguably met weeks ago.
Some experts had questioned whether such a declaration would help, arguing the disease isn't severe enough to warrant the attention and that rich countries battling monkeypox already have the funds to do so; most people recover without needing medical attention, although the lesions can be painful.
"I think it would be better to be proactive and overreact to the problem instead of waiting to react when it's too late," Head said. He added that WHO's emergency declaration could help donors like the World Bank make funds available to stop the outbreaks both in the West and in Africa, where animals are the likely natural reservoir of monkeypox.
Dr. Placide Mbala, a virologist who directs the global health department at Congo's Institute of National Biomedical Research, said he hoped any global efforts to stop monkeypox would be equitable. Although countries including Britain, Canada, Germany and the United States have ordered millions of vaccine doses, none have gone to Africa.
"The solution needs to be global," Mbala said, adding that any vaccines sent to Africa would be used to target those at highest risk, such as hunters in rural areas.
"Vaccination in the West might help stop the outbreak there, but there will still be cases in Africa," he said. "Unless the problem is solved here, the risk to the rest of the world will remain."
WHO chief declares expanding monkeypox outbreak a global emergency - CBC News
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