Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – World TB Day, March 24th
Situation Each year we take this day to raise awareness about the health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to advance efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The average annual incidence of TB in our catchment area over the last 5 years is 6.9 active cases per 100,000. Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – HIV update
Situation Prior to 2021 the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) incidence rate for the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) catchment area had generally been lower than that of the province of Ontario; 4.1 per 100,000 in NWHU (2013-2021) compared to 5-6 per 100,000 in Ontario (2012-2022). NWHU incidence rates for 2022 and Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – Syphilis Surge
Situation Syphilis has surged throughout the world including North America and Canada over the past several years, and the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) area is included in that trend. Increased testing and prompt access to treatment are crucial to reducing morbidity and mortality related to syphilis. Of particular concern is the increase Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – Increased risk of measles related to travel
Situation Measles is on the rise globally, with an increase in cases being reported in Ontario and elsewhere in the world. The increases are largely due to the importation of measles by international travelers and the disruptions in immunization delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the increased number Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – High school tattooing
Situation Several youths at a high school in Kenora received tattoos from an unlicensed tattoo artist within the school. Best practices for preventing transmission of blood-borne infections were not followed, and there is the risk of transmission of blood-borne infection. Individuals are being directed to seek assessment by their primary Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – Fentanyl being sold as counterfeit Hydromorphone
Situation Northwestern Health Unit has received notice that Fentanyl has been detected in the unregulated drug supply in Manitoba region in an unexpected format: tablets, sold as counterfeit Hydromorphone. A person may be exposed to Fentanyl when using other substances. The high prevalence of Fentanyl in unregulated drugs is illustrated Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – Animal tranquilizer in unregulated drugs and increased toxicity events
Situation The city of Belleville, Ontario has declared a state of emergency due to a substantial increase in unregulated drug toxicity events in a short period of time. This follows an alert this week about a new drug in the Toronto drug supply: medetomidine/dexmedetomidine. This animal tranquilizer has been found Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – Increases in Invasive Meningococcal Disease Seen in Manitoba
Situation On January 11, 2024, Manitoba Public Health reported an increase in secondary bacterial infections associated with increased circulating viral respiratory infections. Eight cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) have been identified since December 21, 2023. Of these cases, 6 have been among adults and the other 2 in children Read more…
Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alert – Increase in cases of iGAS in Manitoba and Ontario
Situation Manitoba and Ontario have been seeing an increase in invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease (iGAS) cases recently. A trend of higher iGAS cases post pandemic is something that is being seen in many jurisdictions, including ours. Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) catchment area regularly has higher iGAS rates than the Read more…