Archived Announcements and Press Releases
If you have any queries regarding the items below, we encourage you to contact
our Communications Coordinator at
(613) 260-3233 ext. 104 or by e-mail at communications@ammi.ca.
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Ottawa, April 19, 2005 -- At the AMMI
Canada-CACMID Annual conference held in Ottawa last
week the opening day was dedicated to International
Health. The news was dire; pledges in aid to developing
nations for controlling infectious disease are not only inadequate,
but also fail to achieve the results promised by aid agencies.
In the opening plenary of the day Dr. Amir Attaran,
associate professor, Faculty of Law and Institute of Population
Health, University of Ottawa stated that both WHO and World
Bank were failing to fulfill their own mandates in the area
of global infectious disease control. He urged the WHO and
the World Bank to increase their transparency and accountability.
Dr Attaran challenged western countries and international
agencies to step forward and correct the grossly inadequate
funding currently pledged for the control of the most important
infectious causes of death in the world: malaria, HIV and
tuberculosis. "The World Health Organization says they and
others need $275 m (US) for 2005-06 to eradicate polio - or
not. The fact that the rich world, with about $30 trillion
of economic output, struggles to find that pocket change is
embarrassing; but the fact that, for 19 years now, Canada
has been outspent by the Rotary Club about 10:1 is humiliating.
It is hard to believe that now that Canada no longer has polio,
it matters so little to us."
Dr. Steven Reynolds, Country Director of
the National Institute of Health Intramural Research Program,
Uganda, spoke on the UN 3x5 Goals for control of HIV. The
goals were intended to provide antiretroviral treatment to
3 million people living with AIDS in developing countries
by the end of 2005. Dr Reynolds reported that at the end of
2004 only 23% of this target had been met. In order to fulfill
the goals another 2.3 million people will need to receive
treatment in 2005. He went on to demonstrate how inadequate
the 3x5 goals actually are; they target only 10% of the 39.4
million people living with AIDS worldwide.
Dr. Kevin Kain, Director of the Global Health
Program, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University
of Toronto spoke specifically on malaria. While malaria is
a preventable disease, the incidence of the disease is increasing
in certain areas, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Dr Kain indicated that the biggest problem with malaria prevention
and treatment was that the drugs that cure and prevent malaria
were not getting to those who need them most, the children
and pregnant women of Africa.
In her session on tuberculosis, Dr. Anne Fanning,
founder of "STOP TB Canada" and Professor in the Faculty of
Medicine, University of Calgary reported on the devastation
caused by TB worldwide. She explained that while there was
a decrease in TB in some countries, TB is actually on the
rise worldwide, having particularly devastating effects in
the areas most affected by HIV/AIDS. She went further to explain
that with western commitment the Millennium Development goals
could indeed be reached by 2015, as they require less funding
in this 10-year period than the amount spent on the military
in 2003 alone. She called participants to action stating that
CIHR, Health Canada, IDRC and CIDA should be lobbied heavily
to commit more resources to global health.
The AMMI Canada/CACMID Annual Conference's International
Health Day featured experts in all aspects of international
health issues, from efforts at global control or eradication
of infectious diseases, to health issues of Canadian Immigrants
and travellers. The day was attended by over 200 Canadian
infectious disease specialists and medical microbiologists,
who were charged with the task of working towards worldwide
health through lobbying, liaison and international health
initiatives.
For more information or to book an interview please contact:
Antje Richter
Communications Manager
AMMI Canada
613-260-3233
comm.ammicanada@magma.ca
www.ammi.ca |
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Ottawa - March 21, 2005 -- The
Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Canada (AMMI Canada) and The Canadian Infectious
Disease Foundations would like to applaud CBC News
for their three part series that raises public awareness on
the issue of on hospital acquired infections.
As an association of experts in infectious diseases and medical
microbiology AMMI Canada believes that hospital acquired
infections are a major problem that deserve increased
public recognition.
AMMI Canada members are the clinical leaders in the field,
and have been concerned with this issue for quite some time.
AMMI Canada members have long been working on the prevention,
surveillance, diagnosis and treatment of these infections:
Members have worked individually and collectively to set up
both surveillance programs to recognize these infections and
specific programs to stop the spread of these infections,
they also work in the area of diagnosis by developing methods
to rapidly diagnose these types of infections; and they work
on the actual treatment of these infections.
AMMI Canada's sub-committee: The Canadian Hospital Epidemiology
Committee (CHEC) works specifically on the issue, and
has, since 1995, worked on the surveillance of important hospital-acquired
organisms and other nosocomial infections. The committee works
in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada through
the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP).
AMMI Canada is the largest association of Microbiologists
and Infectious Disease Specialists in this country. The Association
has experts available who are prepared and available to provide
the media with further commentary on the various elements
of the issue including: Infection prevention & Control;
Infectious Disease related to Surgery; Anti-Microbial
Resistance; and Public Health in general.
For more information or to contact an expert please contact:
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Experts available for comment Ottawa
- January 7, 2005 -- The Association of Medical
Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI Canada)
is concerned that the death toll from the tsunami disaster
could increase significantly if urgent measures aren't taken
to prevent infectious disease outbreaks in the affected areas.
The tsunami has left behind stagnant waters, uncontrolled
animal populations and millions of malnourished and destitute
survivors living with injuries and weakened immune systems.
Collectively these conditions present ideal conditions for
the spread of known infectious agents and possibly the creation
of new strains of microorganisms that could infect humans,
as occurred with SARS.
New infectious disease challenges – some predictable,
others impossible to foresee – will arise in the aftermath
of our history’s largest natural disaster. These
challenges are unavoidable and expected.
AMMI Canada is the largest association of Microbiologists
and Infectious Disease Specialists in this country. The Association
has experts in the fields of infectious diseases, microbiology
and tropical medicine, who are prepared and available to provide
the media with further commentary on the urgent health risks
in the tsunami stricken areas.
Infectious Disease Risks In Tsunami Affected
Areas – Information at a Glance
People in areas worst affected by the tsunami are at risk
of developing and spreading illness or succumbing to death,
especially if they are crowded together and have little access
to decent shelter, warmth, food, and sanitation.
- Water - widespread damage to
sanitation systems and overcrowded conditions in temporary
settlements are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Drinkable water is unavailable in many areas, resulting
in people resorting to drinking sewage water. This substantially
increases the risk of communicable and diarrhoeal diseases
and could potentially create epidemics of serious and often-fatal
infection, especially in young children.
- Standing water - an ideal breeding
spot for mosquitoes carrying the malarial parasite, or the
viruses that cause yellow or dengue fever – is another
serious health risk.
- Malaria - is a parasitic disease
transmitted by mosquitoes. The most serious form of the
disease can be fatal. Malaria kills more than a million
people a year worldwide, with a child dying of malaria every
30 seconds. It is present in 90 countries and infects one
in 10 of the world's population. Malaria is endemic to tropical
and subtropical regions, including the countries worst affected
by the tsunami - India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Although
flooding may initially flush out mosquito breeding sites,
malaria epidemics are common in affected countries in the
wake of floods.
- Cholera - is a bacterial intestinal
infection spread by contaminated water and food. Cholera
causes a severe form of diarrhea that is often fatal without
treatment because of massive fluid loss from the intestines.
Sudden major outbreaks are usually caused by tainted water
supplies. Cholera is endemic in Sri Lanka and southern India,
two of the countries worst hit by the tsunami. Outbreaks
often follow flooding, when the bacterium contaminates drinking
water supplies.
- Diarrhea - is caused by bacterial,
viral or parasitic infections of the intestines that cause
an imbalance between the amount of fluid lost from the bowel
and the amount absorbed from food and fluids. Serious illness
is more severe in young infants and children, and in those
with dehydration, malnutrition or a compromised immune system.
Breast-fed babies are protected from this illness, but the
death of parents, especially mothers, and the separation
of families during the tsunami disaster has left a host
of orphaned children who are at risk for this and other
infections. Infectious diarrhea can develop anywhere in
the world and could affect any of the countries hit by the
tsunami disaster as an aftermath of the flooding.
- Dengue fever - is a viral infection,
also transmitted by mosquitoes that can cause a severe,
life-threatening illness characterized by fever, headache,
aches and pains and rash. In severe cases, shock and severe
bleeding from many sites of the body may occur. Dengue fever
is endemic in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Maldives,
Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- Typhoid fever - is a serious
blood stream infection caused by Salmonella typhi.
It is transmitted in the setting of poor sanitary conditions
especially via drinking water contaminated by sewage, or
by eating or drinking something handled by a person "shedding"
bacteria. Typhoid will strike wherever the water supply
is compromised and good hygienic practices break down. It
occurs regularly in the tsunami-affected countries and could
develop into a widespread epidemic if sanitation is not
improved as soon as possible.
- Hepatitis A - is an infection
of the liver causing the organ to become inflamed. Hepatitis
A is easily passed from one person to another in areas of
poor sanitation. It can also be contracted through contact
with an infected person's stools.
- Childhood diseases - childhood
disease immunization rates are generally good in the affected
part of the world. However, the enormous disruption caused
by the disaster could leave many children vulnerable to
disease if they are not immunized. Without immunization
against measles, mumps, German measles polio, diphtheria,
whooping cough or tetanus, many children could develop these
conditions.
- Chest infections - there are
a variety of illnesses ranging from mild respiratory illness
(bronchitis) to life threatening conditions such as severe
pneumonia. Chest infections are generally caused by bacteria
or viruses, including the influenza virus and tuberculosis.
They are more common in malnourished people and are more
easily spread in crowded living conditions such as refugee
camps. In pneumonia, one or both lungs become infected,
impairing the ability of the lung to deliver oxygen to the
body.
AMMI Canada is working with the Canadian
Foundations for Infectious Diseases (CFID/FRDID)
to minimize the impact the Tsunami will have on the health
of people at home and around the globe by continuing to conduct
relevant research projects to better understand, treat, control
and prevent infectious diseases.
AMMI Canada is an association of professionals
in the field of infectious diseases and medical microbiology.
The association's mandate includes: developing guidelines
and policies for the prevention, diagnosis and management
of infectious diseases; contributing to the health of people
at risk of, or affected by, infectious diseases; and communicating
important issues in infectious diseases and microbiology to
the medical community and to the public.
The Canadian Infectious Disease Foundations (CFID)
- Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases and FRDID
- Foundation for Research and Development in Infectious Diseases)
are registered charities committed to helping protect Canadians
and people worldwide from infectious diseases. The Foundations
are supported through corporate and personal donations to
fund the critical work of Canada’s medical microbiologists
and infectious disease specialists who are conducting research
to better understand, prevent, control and treat the hundreds
of existing and emerging infectious diseases threatening our
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National Guidelines required for approach to HIV
Infected physicians OTTAWA, Jan. 26,
2004 -- The Canadian Infectious Disease Society
(CIDS) is deeply concerned by the situation of St. Justine
Hospital for children in Montreal.
The hospital said on January 23rd that they would
begin testing for HIV in 2,614 patients operated on by between
1990 and 2003 said director of professional services
Dr. Lucie Poitras.
Despite the fact that the chance of doctor-to-patient HIV
transmission is miniscule, CIDS is interested in helping change
the way hospitals and health institutions handle and other
blood borne pathogens in the workplace.
"The Canadian Infectious Disease Society is certainly concerned
about this issue," says CIDS President Coleman Rotstein. "At
this time, no policy is in place across the provinces. CIDS
would like to promote further discussion on the issue on a
national level, and work has already being to convene a workshop
to further explore and investigate the implementation of Canada-wide
guidelines."
For more information please contact Communications Coordinator
Matt Perry at (613) 260-3233 or comm@magma.ca. |
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OTTAWA, Oct. 7, 2003 -- The Canadian Infectious
Disease Society (CIDS) and the Canadian Hospital Epidemiology
Committee (CHEC) congratulate Dean David Naylor and his Committee
on this in-depth report with its comprehensive and detailed
recommendations. The National Advisory Committee on
SARS and Public Health identified many deficiencies in the
response to SARS. These deficiencies in our public health
infrastructure and infectious diseases surveillance, prevention,
and control systems at both the community and facility level
typify the situation as it currently stands, a situation which
has been recognized for at least the last decade and addressed
previously (Lac Tremblant Report, 1993; Krever Report, 1998;
Kirby Report, 2002; Romanow Report, 2002).
Among its key recommendations is the creation of a Canadian
Agency for Public Health, led by a Chief Public Health Officer
of Canada, and advised by a National Public Health Advisory
Board. The Agency would be at arms length from government,
which is crucial to developing long-term strategic health
goals. Core functions would include disease surveillance systems,
health emergency preparedness and epidemic response capacity,
development of public health human resources, augmentation
of research spending, enhancement of federal laboratories,
capacity-building partnerships with provincial and hospital
laboratories, and coverage of areas such as environmental
health, mental health, injury prevention, and public health
ethics. This new Agency must give special priority to linking
research in government and academic institutions with a focus
on infectious diseases.
The Report calls for federal funding specifically earmarked
for public health with three programs of transfers: one to
build general capacity in public health at the local/municipal
level; a second targeted at communicable disease surveillance
and control; and, the third, to bolster the National Immunization
Strategy.
Federal/provincial/territorial (F/P/T) governments are recommended
to urgently strengthen surveillance programs, focusing initially
on communicable diseases, coupled with short-term investments
in support of hospital infection control.
The Report recommends the formation of a F/P/T Network for
Communicable Disease Control along the lines of the Network
for Emergency Preparedness and Response. The time-line for
this is tight, given the influenza season being just weeks
away.
The acute shortage of highly qualified personnel for core
public health functions or at the interface of clinical and
public health activities was highlighted. There is an urgent
need to develop and implement a national strategy to renew
and sustain public health human resources.
As suggested by the Lac Tremblant Report in 1993, Canada
should initiate an active collaborative laboratory surveillance
system to anticipate, detect, and respond to infectious disease
threats.
One Canadian success from the SARS epidemic was its key
role in identifying the causative agent, the SARS coronavirus.
This success arose from prior collaborative arrangements and
capacity, underscoring the importance of support for research
and the need for research networks that are operational in
advance of an outbreak.
While it was not the mandate of the Committee to address
local infection control issues, the report does make mention
of the need for healthcare facilities to enhance awareness
of outbreak/infectious diseases issues and institutional/clinical
infection control are among the recommendations directed to
hospitals and health regions.
This represents the third federally sponsored report on
health care in Canada in a little over one year. The current
report notes that there were many lessons to be learned, in
large part because too many earlier lessons were ignored.
There is no gain, and in fact substantial financial loss,
if government continues to commission reports and fails to
implement the recommendations. Establishing new agencies will
require considerable financial support. For too long public
health and infection control activities have been done on
a shoestring budget or with no budget at all. Provincial premiers
must forgo longstanding territorial concerns and work with
their federal counterparts in developing a comprehensive and
integrated public health system with mutually determined goals,
objectives, and deliverables as recommended by the Agency
for Public Health. CIDS and CHEC call for the Federal Government
to take tangible action on this report and for Provincial
Governments to support the recommendations. There were fewer
than 50 deaths directly from SARS in Canada. Unless we embark
on a course of action to improve our capabilities of handling
similar situation, the consequences may be dire.
For more information please contact Communications Coordinator
Matt Perry at (613) 260-3233 or comm@magma.ca. |
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OTTAWA, March. 18, 2003 -- Health Canada
and provincial, territorial and local health departments are
working closely with each other and infectious disease physicians
and microbiologists to identify the cause of this new syndrome,
identify cases and individual risk for infection, and prevent
further transmission.
On March 12th, 2003, the Hong Kong Administrative
Region (SAR) Department of Health reported an outbreak of
respiratory illness in one of its hospitals. Around the same
time cases were reported in Viet Nam in healthcare workers
providing care to a patient (index case) who became ill in
Viet Nam and was later transferred to Hong King SAR to receive
medical care. As of March 17th, the World Health
Organization (WHO) has received reports of Switzerland, Thailand
and Germany, occurring since February 26th. This
includes cases from Canada. There have been unconfirmed reports
of cases in the Philippines and Indonesia. Beginning in November
and peaking in mid-February, Chinese authorities have reported
an outbreak of respiratory illness (more than 300) cases from
Guangdong province in southern China, which may or may not
be the same syndrome.
The main symptoms of SARS are high fever (>38 degrees
C), cough, and shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
A proportion of individuals develop pneumonia. Other symptoms
may include headache muscular stiffness, loss of appetite,
confusion, rash, and diarrhea. Many of these symptoms mimic
those of influenza. The WHO has devised a case definition
to assist physicians in identifying suspect cases. All reported
cases have livened in or travelled to Viet Nam, Singapore,
or Hong Kong SAR, or have been very close contacts of cases.
Many of these secondary cases have been health care workers
providing care to individuals with SARS. To date there is
no evidence that it is spread by casual contact.
The cause of the syndrome has not yet been determined. However,
evidence to date indicated that it is not due to bacteria
that normally cause pneumonia or to any of the influenza viruses.
Until the cause is known, however, physicians have been empirically
treating cases with antibacterial and antiviral agents. The
WHO is working closely with a number of organizations including
the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United
States, the Institut Pasteur in France and Viet Nam, Medecins
Sans Frontieres, and the National Health Service in the United
Kingdom to investigate and manage the epidemic in Hanoi and
Hong Kong SAR. In Canada, the National Microbiology Laboratory
in Winnipeg, in collaboration with provincial, territorial,
and international laboratories is activity performing testing
to try and identify the cause of this illness and has developed
guidelines for specimen collection and testing.
To prevent transmission in the healthcare setting, special
information control precautions have been recommended. These
include placing cases in isolation or private rooms and the
use of personal protective barriers including masks, gowns
and gloves. It is recommended that suspect cases be quickly
triaged to a designated area where they can be assessed without
posing a risk to other healthcare workers and patients. Health
Canada is working with members of the Canadian Hospital Epidemiology
Committee and other infection control experts to develop and
make available guidelines for hospitals and physician's offices
throughout the country. Health Canada, again in collaboration
with provincial, territorial, and local health units as well
as infectious disease physicians, microbiologists and infection
control experts has begun or is beginning enhanced surveillance
for the recognition of SARS cases, including among exposed
health care workers.
This outbreak demonstrates the role that international travel
plays in the rapid spread of disease throughout the world
and that we truly live in a "global village". It emphasizes
the need for realtime surveillance at the hospital and community
levels between key groups. This speed with which action has
been taken shows that well-coordinated efforts are achievable
with adequate support and resources.
Sources:
http://www.who.int
http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.hc-gc.ca
Drs. Lynn Johnston (CIDS Public Relations Committee Chair
and Coleman Rotstein (CIDS President)
For more information please contact Communications Coordinator
Matt Perry at (613) 260-3233 or comm@magma.ca. |
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Organ Donations Still a Risk of Virus Transmission
OTTAWA, Dec. 16, 2002 -- The Canadian
Infectious Disease Society (CIDS) congratulates the Canadian
Blood Services and Hema Quebec for their proactive approach
to protecting our national blood supply from the West Nile
Virus.
"Within a short time of learning that there were significantly
more West Nile infections in Ontario than initially recognized,
Canadian Blood Services and Hema Quebec took the important
step of requesting the removal of potentially infected blood
products," says Dr. Coleman Rotstein, CIDS President.
However, as important as these steps are in the process of
protecting citizens there are still dangers that exist in
terms of the virus being transmitted. Specifically, the presence
of West Nile virus also poses a problem for organ donation
and transplantation periods of peak West Nile virus activity
i.e., the late spring, summer and early fall. It is crucial
that a program for screening donor organs as well as blood
products for West Nile virus be implemented to protect future
recipients in Canada to prevent West Nile infections as seen
in US.
"We are pleased to learn that Blood Services is developing
contingency plans should a rapid test not be available by
next summer," says Dr. Rotstein. "The society views critical
issues such as the protection of the blood supply, rapid screening
of blood products and the safety of organ donation as all
equally high in priority."
Also, the ability to respond in a timely manner to new infectious
threats requires a surveillance system that rapidly identifies
new cases. CIDS feels the current delay associated with
diagnosing West Nile virus infection in Ontario is too long.
The Society urges all provinces to ensure that their provincial
laboratories have the capability to provide a serological
diagnosis of West Nile virus infection with a turnaround time
of no more than one week.
For more information please contact Communications Coordinator
Matt Perry at (613) 260-3233 or comm@magma.ca. |
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OTTAWA, December 6, 2002 -- The Canadian
Infectious Disease Society is very please by Health Canada's
plans to develop national guidelines protecting people from
infectious illnesses in day cares and nursing homes.
"The Canadian Infectious Disease Society feels that Health
Canada's initiative in preparing guidelines for the handling
of waterborne or foodborne infections is laudatory," says
CIDS President Coleman Rotstein. "This is an ever increasing
problem and the Canadian people must feel secure that the
water and food we drink and eat is free of infectious potential."
Health Canada should be praised for their reaction to a recent
report into last year's tragic death of a 23-month-old boy.
Jeffery Bates died of an E. Coli infection that has been linked
back to a day care run by the YMCA in Saint John.
Officials from New Brunswick and Health Canada worked together
to prepare the report. It calls on the province to immediately
hire more medical health officers, improve laboratory facilities,
train staff and develop a more coherent protocol for dealing
with dangerous, infectious outbreaks. Other recommendations
include important national guidelines for the management of
outbreaks of intestinal diseases in day cares and other high-risk
communities, such as homes for the elderly and infirm.
CIDS and its members will be following the evolution of these
guidelines and any other changes made in regards to this issue.
For more information please contact:
Communications Coordinator Matt Perry at (613) 260-3233 or
comm@magma.ca |
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OTTAWA, September 3, 2002 -- In October
of 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
in the United States reported an outbreak of encephalitis
(inflammation of the brain) in New York City residents that
had begun in late August. Subsequent testing confirmed that
the encephalitis was due to West Nile virus (WNV), not previously
found in the Western Hemisphere. Since that time cases have
been diagnosed in 27 US states. The peak incidence of disease
in the US has been from late August to early September. Clinical
West Nile infection in humans has now been confirmed in Ontario.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus. It is spread
to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes
become infected by biting an infected bird. The virus is not
spread from human to human or from bird to human. The incubation
period is reported to be 3-14 days. Most people who are infected
do not become ill; one in five develops a mild febrile illness
and 1 in 150 develops a more severe illness with meningitis,
encephalitis, or both. The biggest risk for developing severe
disease is older age. Symptoms commonly reported in those
hospitalized with WNV are fever, weakness, gastrointestinal
symptoms, headaches and changes in mentation (i.e. drowsiness,
confusion). Severe muscle weakness, especially in the presence
of encephalitis, seems to be an important clue to the possibility
of infection with WNV. A skin rash occasionally occurs.
The case fatality rate (i.e. the proportion of people who
die of this disease) in the US for patients diagnosed in 2002
has been 5%, with elderly individuals having the greatest
risk of death. Information to date suggests that approximately
50% of patients with severe disease may have long-term effects
such as weakness and fatigue.
A variety of diagnostic tests are available for WN virus
infection. The usual diagnostic test is to look for antibodies
to WNV in the blood or spinal fluid. However, there can be
false positive tests due to cross-reactions with similar viruses.
Therefore, the clinical picture must be carefully considered.
Virus may be isolated from blood, spinal fluid, and other
tissues by a variety of techniques.
Since 2000 there has been a program of mosquito, animal,
and human surveillance for WNV in several Canadian provinces.
To date WNV has been detected in birds in Quebec, Ontario,
Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. As well, there have been deaths
in horses due to WNV in Manitoba. It is clear that the virus
has emerged in Canada and is a potential cause of human disease
in those areas where WNV has been detected.
It is important to remember that even in areas where WNV
has been detected in humans, it is a rare cause of disease.
Additionally, there are steps people can take to decrease
the likelihood of mosquito bites. These include:
- wearing clothing that fully covers the arms and legs,
- wearing insect repellant,
- minimizing the time spent outdoors when mosquitoes are
most active (between dusk and dawn),
- making sure that windows and doors at home are tight fitting
and properly screened
- removing standing water from your property in such places
as old tires, wading pools, stagnant ponds, and eavestroughs
(where mosquitoes can breed).
For more information on this topic please contact the Canadian
Infectious Disease Society's Communications Coordinator Matt
Perry at (613) 260-3233 or comm@magma.ca. |
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OTTAWA, July 10th, 2002 -- The
Canadian Infectious Disease Society is reiterating the importance
of monitoring the situation with Vancomycin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus in the United States. Yesterday
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed the first case
of a Staphylococcus aureus resistant to
the antibiotic Vancomycin, in a Michigan man last month.
"We have not had any cases of this antibiotic resistant
strain in Canada as of yet, but we are watching the situation
very vigilantly," says Dr. Coleman Rotstein, President
of the Canadian Infectious Disease Society." We are aware
of how highly significant this situation is because of Michigan's
close proximity to the Canadian border and propensity of the
Canadian population to travel."
Dr. Rotstein says we must be assertive in our approach, but
not over-confident that this situation will not occur in Canada.
"There are other agents that can be used against Staphylococcus
aureus that may be effective in treating the infection,"
he explains. "We can't be over-confident because some
strains may develop resistance to these antibiotics as well."
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply
as "staph," is a bacteria commonly found on the
skin of healthy people. Occasionally, it can get into the
body and cause infections. These infections can be minor (such
as pimples, boils, and other skin conditions) or serious (such
as blood infections or pneumonia). Methicillin is an antibiotic
commonly used to treat staphylococcal infections. Although
methicillin is very effective in treating most infections,
some bacteria have developed resistance to methicillin and
can no longer be killed by this antibiotic. These resistant
bacteria are called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus, or MRSA. Approximately, 6% of all Staphylococcus
aureus isolates in Canada are resistant to methicillin.
For more information please contact Communications
Coordinator Matt Perry at (613) 260-3233 or comm@magma.ca.
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The Honorable Anne McLellan, Federal Minister of Health,
announced a meeting set for June 12, 2002. The meeting was
attended by:
| Infectious Disease-Related
Organizations Canadian Infectious Disease
Society
Canadian AIDS Society
Canadian Hemophilia Society
Canadian Liver Foundation
Canadian Paediatric Society
Canadian Public Health Association
Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada |
Chronic Disease-Related Organizations
Alzheimer Society of Canada
Arthritis Society of Canada
Canadian Association of Mental Health and Mental Illness
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Lung Association
Diabetes Council of Canada
Heart and Stroke Foundation |
The morning and afternoon sessions were coordinated by the
senior officials of the Population and Public Health Branch
of Health Canada. The afternoon session generated discussion
regarding the future between Health Canada and the different
participants at the meeting. In between the two sessions the
Minister of Health attended a lunch with the participating
groups. The lunch lasted for an hour and a half and each group
representative was permitted to ask the Minister one pertinent
question. The issues raised ranged from the Romanow Commission
to antibiotics, including surveillance, disease management,
determinace in aboriginals and immunization. One of the Minister's
main concerns was the drug application approval system. The
group was asked for their recommendations and these recommendations
were later discussed by the group at length. There was a strong
feeling of encouragement among the participants that the Minister's
interest on the topic could help change the system. It was
felt that the meeting was very successful from the standpoint
of both the Minister and the participants. This is the first
meeting of its kind and Ms. McLellan expressed interest in
holding similar meetings in the future.
If you have any comments or concerns please feel free to
contact:
Richard McCoy at rmccoy.cids@magma.ca. |
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Amalgamation will offer a stronger voice on urgent
health issues facing public OTTAWA,
June 7th, 2002 -- It is with great excitement that
Dr. Coleman Rotstein, President of the Canadian Infectious
Disease Society (CIDS), and Dr. Susan Richardson, President
of the Canadian Association of Medical Microbiologists (CAMM),
announce the successful amalgamation of their respective organizations.
In the past both CIDS and CAMM have been active in promoting
health issues relating to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention
of infectious diseases, to the government, the medical community
and to the public. CIDS and CAMM have been involved in promoting
and initiating research in many areas ranging from water safety
to HIV.
The decision on the amalgamation was made by both memberships
after extensive discussions and the creation of new by‑laws
for a combined society. Over 80 per cent of both societies
were in favor of the amalgamation. The CIDS and CAMM presidents
are enthusiastic about the opportunities this creates for
Infectious Disease specialists and Medical Microbiologists
in the future. They believe the new organization will be stronger
and offer a better voice for its members and all Canadians.
Dr. Richardson comments; "The diagnosis, treatment,
prevention and control of infectious diseases continue to
be among the most urgent health care issues facing Canadians
today, as we know by recent and continuing problems in Canada
with infections such as tuberculosis, shigellosis, E. Coli
0157:H7 and HIV. We need a concerted, powerful, organized
effort to meet the challenges posed by newly emerging and
traditional pathogens. Microbiologists in Canada are happy
to join hands with our infectious disease colleagues to achieve
our common goals."
"This long‑awaited news of our national specialists
joining forces is wonderful for the members and Canadians
in general," says Dr. Rotstein. "We look forward
to a fruitful cooperative venture leading to a stronger and
ever‑thriving organization."
For more information please contact Communications Coordinator
Matt Perry at (613) 231-3134 or comm.@magma.ca |
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The Canadian Infectious Disease Society is pleased
with Health Canada's position on immigrant testing for HIV.
However, specifics on the testing process, along with testing
of other diseases remain unsettled. Ottawa,
May 9, 2002 -- The Canadian Infectious Disease Society
would like to applaud Health Canada's stance with regard to
HIV testing of individuals who seek immigration to Canada.
However, there are aspects of this issue Health Canada neglected
to state a stance on. These are issues that are imperative
to the safety of the Canadian population and in preserving
our health care system.
In recent correspondence with the Honourable Anne McLellan,
Minister of Health, she outlined the importance of HIV screening
in all individuals seeking immigrant status. The Minister
also outlined Health Canada's belief that an HIV-infected
person should not be excluded on this basis. This is a belief
the Society has been advocating for quite some time.
In July of 2001, Dr. Mark Miller, then President of the
Society, issued a letter to Health Canada pointing out the
threats that exist if Canada does not begin to administer
mandatory HIV tests to those applying for immigrant status.
The CIDS recommended testing be carried out for HIV, Tuberculosis,
Syphilis as well as Hepatitis B and C to ensure the safety
of all Canadians.
In her response, the Minister addresses the importance of
mandatory HIV testing for all individuals seeking immigrant
status, as the CIDS previously recommended. However, the Minister
did not comment on where this testing will be performed. The
CIDS recommendation was to have all HIV testing of prospective
immigrants be performed only in accredited Canadian laboratories.
The reasoning for this is medical testing in developing countries
doesn't meet the same rigorous standards that exist in Canadian
laboratories. Another factor is that in many of these countries
false laboratory results or reports can be obtained through
criminal means, bribery or patient impersonation.
As well, additional clarification is still needed from Health
Canada in regards to other areas of the testing immigration
applicants. The CIDS President Dr. Coleman Rotstein explains,
"The Health Minister postponed any decision with regard to
screening and testing prospective immigrants for Hepatitis
B and C, as well as Tuberculosis. The public health policy
regarding screening for Hepatitis B is still under development
within Health Canada. Moreover, Health Canada has not formulated
advice on screening immigrants for Hepatitis C." Currently,
Tuberculosis prevention and control activities in immigrants
are under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Tuberculosis Committee.
This committee is working with Citizenship and Immigration
Canada to prioritize and address recommendations for prospective
immigrants. Finally, in our correspondence with the Health
Minister, no comments whatsoever were provided with regard
to mandatory Syphilis testing.
The CIDS is pleased with the common view shared between
our society and the Health Minister on the importance of HIV
testing on immigrant applicants. We eagerly anticipate further
guidelines to be offered by Health Canada with regards to
Hepatitis B and C, as well as Tuberculosis. We feel such guidelines
are an important part of the immigration process and will
help maintain the health of Canadians and prevent excessive
demand on our health care system. |
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"Controlling Antibiotic Resistance in Canada - Strategies,
Perspectives and Programs", a new Supplement to the Canadian
Journal of Infectious Diseases ( CJID), is now available.
This 32 page Supplement was produced by the Canadian Committee
on Antibiotic Resistance with partial funding from Health
Canada, Bayer and SmithKline Beecham. The supplement attempts
to compare Canadian programs with those in selected other
nations and provides a series of profiles on programs being
carried out in Canada within both the human health and agrifood
communities. For copies, contact 613-260-3233 or e-mail to:
cids@magma.ca |
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