Situation There has been an increase in invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) Disease cases in other parts of Ontario and in the US. Cases include a larger proportion of children under 18 than in the past and the highest rates are in those aged 0-4 and 65 and over. Increased Read more…
An Ontario resident with no travel history was recently identified as having gonorrhea that was non-susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime, and resistant to ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline. The individual is a male who reported sex with the opposite sex and one sexual contact. A multi drug resistant (MDR) strain of Read more…
Situation Since January 2023 there has been an increase in confirmed pertussis (whooping cough) cases being reported in Alberta and more recently, in Manitoba. There is an increased risk of pertussis cases in northwestern Ontario due to our proximity to Manitoba, and frequent travel between the provinces. Pertussis is a Read more…
Situation Internationally, there have been reports of multi-drug resistant (MDR) gonorrhea, and there has been an Ontario case of MDR gonorrhea identified in a patient with no known travel history. This strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae has reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime and resistance to ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline. Goal Read more…
Situation Issue Prevention and Harm Reduction Opportunities Messaging for patients: Resources Contact:Dr Kit Young HoonMedical Officer of HealthNorthwestern Health Unit
Issue Shigellosis is an acute infectious diarrheal disease characterized by severe abdominal cramps, tenesmus, fever and malaise, nausea, vomiting, and watery or bloody diarrhea which may contain mucus. It is highly infectious and a common cause of travel-associated diarrhea. Treatment includes rehydration and electrolyte replacement when indicated, and usually does Read more…
Situation COVID-19 made it harder for people to get preventive health care, like vaccines. Because of this, it is estimated that world-wide, 61 million doses of measles vaccine were postponed or missed during the pandemic. Due to the increased number of unimmunized people, cases of measles have been on the Read more…
The infectious syphilis outbreak in the Northwestern Health Unit catchment area is ongoing, and rates continue to increase. In 2022 syphilis rates increased by 21%, which is an incidence of 171.3 per 100,000. Prior to 2018 when rates started to spike, the area’s syphilis incidence was 2.9 per 100,000. Most Read more…
Please be reminded of the possibility of Blastomycosis infection in the region. Blastomycosis has been a reportable disease under the Health Protection and Promotion Act in Ontario since March 2018. In the 4 years since being reportable, an average of 27% of annual cases have been diagnosed in January – Read more…
There has been a higher rate of HIV cases in the Kenora area in 2022, particularly towards the end of the year. Last year alone, nine confirmed cases were reported in the Kenora area which is much higher than in previous years. Between 2013 and 2021 there were only eight Read more…