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Tag: outbreaks

Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Respiratory virus levels mostly steady, but 13 flu hospitalizations in latest update

Published March 21, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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Respiratory disease levels have remained mostly steady in the past week, Ottawa Public Health says in its latest update.

Influenza remains a major concern with 13 more patients hospitalized in the seven days ended March 16. There were 14 new hospitalizations for COVID-19, which OPH described as “low and decreasing since last week.”

There were 45 more confirmed COVID-19 cases, about half of them in patients 65 years of age and older.

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Topic: studentsView all posts for the topic: students

Probe links COVID spread to school bus riders from sick driver

Published March 21, 2024

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Published by: CIDRAP
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By Mary Van Beusekom

The proportion of children infected with COVID-19 while riding a bus to a school in Germany was about four times higher than in peers who didn’t ride the bus, illustrating efficient transmission during multiple short rides on public transport, finds a study published this week in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

A team led by researchers from the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin and public health officials used surveillance data, lab analyses, case-patient and household interviews, a cohort study of all students in grades 1 to 4, and a cohort study of bus riders to investigate a 2021 COVID-19 outbreak that involved an infected bus driver and his passengers. The rides lasted 9 to 18 minutes, and multiple schools in a single district were involved.

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Topic: TorontoView all posts for the topic: Toronto

Second case of measles confirmed in Toronto

Published March 18, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Katherine DeClerq

A second lab-confirmed case of measles has been identified in Toronto.

The city’s public health agency said that an infant who recently returned from travel has contracted the disease. The child is recovering at home.

The first Toronto case was identified on Feb. 16.

Toronto Public Health is warning that anyone who attended the Agincourt Public Library between 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on March 11 may have been exposed. Individuals should monitor for symptoms until April 1 and double check that their vaccinations are up to date.

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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Canada heading toward major measles outbreak without vaccine boost, new modelling suggests

Published March 16, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Lauren Pelley

As measles cases keep appearing in more parts of the country, new projections suggest there’s a high chance Canada may experience a “sizable outbreak” — with anywhere from dozens to thousands of people infected if the disease strikes communities with low vaccination rates.

As of Friday, at least 31 cases of measles have been reported so far this year across Canada, according to a CBC News tally of provincial and regional figures released by public health teams.

That’s already the largest annual total since 2019 and more than double the number of cases reported last year, as medical experts fear the number will rise while more Canadians travel in and out of the country this month for March break.

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Topic: MontrealView all posts for the topic: Montreal

Mask mandate reinstated in some Quebec health facilities following rise in measles cases

Published March 15, 2024

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Published by: CityNews
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By Miguel Fowke-Quintas

New data shows Quebec with 21 measles cases as of Friday 2 p.m., including 15 in Montreal.

According to the CIUSSS de l’Est, health centres in the eastern part of the island have responded by reinstating mask mandates and launching a vaccination campaign in elementary schools.

Notre-Dame and Sainte-Justine Hospitals are also among those requiring patients to wear masks to stop the spread.

“I feel like it’s necessary, especially to protect those who are more vulnerable,” said Montrealer Selena Ringwald. “Masking really doesn’t bother me, even as someone who has breathing issues after having COVID.”

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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Doctors urge myth-busting, education to counter misinformation as measles cases rise

Published March 15, 2024

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Published by: The Canadian Press
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By Camille Bains

It was a horrible thing to see this young girl who was brain dead. She died in that hospital. We were told that one in 1,000 people who got measles had a serious complication and one in 10,000 could die. You think that’s pretty rare but millions of kids got it before vaccination. So even though the percentage was low the absolute numbers were considerable.

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Topic: OntarioView all posts for the topic: Ontario

COVID-19 : six recours collectifs contre des foyers pour aînés iront de l’avant

Published March 14, 2024

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Published by: Radio-Canada
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By Camille Gris Roy

The Ontario Superior Court authorizes six class actions against private operators of long-term care homes charged with negligence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The complainants allege that the operators of these homes were not at all prepared for a pandemic and did not take the necessary measures to protect their residents and visitors. More than 200 centres, owned and managed by Chartwell Retirement Residences, Extendicare, Responsive Group, Revera, Schlegel Villages and Sienna Senior Living, are subject to these class actions.

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Topic: PEIView all posts for the topic: PEI

COVID-19 outbreak in Montague hospital’s in-patient unit ends

Published March 10, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Stephen Brun

An outbreak of COVID-19 at Kings County Memorial Hospital’s in-patient unit is over, Health P.E.I. confirmed Sunday.

The outbreak at the hospital in Montague was declared on Feb. 22. Visitor restrictions were put in place to limit the number of partners-in-care per patient.

The health agency is encouraging visitors to the in-patient unit to wear a mask and to stay away if they feel ill.

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Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

Deux nouveaux cas de rougeole à Montréal, pour un total de 12 au Québec

Published March 7, 2024

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Published by: Radio-Canada / The Canadian Press
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The Quebec Ministry of Health reports on Thursday two more cases of measles, bringing to 12 the total number of confirmed infections in the province since the beginning of the year.

The Quebec Ministry of Health indicates that since the beginning of the year, two cases of measles have been reported in Laval, north of Montreal, and another in Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec.

The Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal states that seven cases reported in its territory, including the two new infections, are due to transmission in the community. The other two cases are related to international travel.

The regional agency says it is intensifying its efforts to trace the contacts of infected people.

Authorities said last Monday that the number of cases in Quebec was worrying, noting that measles vaccination rates were sometimes as low as 30% in some schools in Montreal.

Continue readingDeux nouveaux cas de rougeole à Montréal, pour un total de 12 au Québec
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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Four provinces confirm measles cases, including rare case in fully vaccinated man

Published March 5, 2024

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Published by: CTV News / The Canadian Press
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By Camille Bains, Nicole Ireland

Seventeen cases of measles have been confirmed in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia — more than half of those in the Montreal area, while one Ontario case has been linked to a high school.

Quebec public health director Dr. Luc Boileau confirmed 10 cases on Monday, almost all of them involving children and making Montreal the country’s epicentre. He said only three of the cases were linked to travel outside of the country, indicating community spread in and around the city.

Public Health Ontario confirmed five cases of measles and said all but one involved travel.

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Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

Quebec urges measles vaccination to prevent spread of highly contagious disease

Published March 4, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Amy Luft

Quebec public health officials are urging people to get themselves and their young children vaccinated for measles, a highly contagious disease that is making a comeback several years after its eradication.

Quebec’s public health director Luc Boileau, Montreal public health director Mylene Drouin, and pediatrician, microbiologist and infectious disease specialist Caroline Quach-Thanh are holding a news conference in Montreal Monday afternoon.

So far about 10 cases have been detected in the province, mainly in Montreal, but Boileau warns that it could be just the beginning.

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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

1st case of measles reported in B.C. over the weekend: Health Ministry

Published March 4, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Alyse Kotyk

One case of measles was reported in B.C. over the weekend, the provincial Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement Monday morning.

This weekend’s confirmed case is the first the province has recorded since 2019. As of Feb. 29, nine other cases of the disease have been confirmed across Canada.

B.C.’s Health Ministry announced the case in a statement warning locals to confirm their immunization records, especially before going on spring break trips.

“With measles outbreaks being reported internationally and spring break on the horizon, the provincial health officer, BC Centre for Disease Control and public health officials are reminding people in British Columbia to check their vaccination records before travelling to ensure they are protected,” the statement said.

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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Canada’s chief medical officer warns of March break measles risk

Published February 23, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Elizabeth Payne

Canada’s chief medical officer of health is warning people to make sure they have had two doses of measles vaccine, especially if they are travelling. That message, coming just before the heavy travel period of March break, is urgent this year with cases of measles spiking around the world and vaccination rates lagging, including across Canada.

It is also potentially complicated. Many adults are not aware of their vaccination status, and particularly whether they have had one or two measles vaccines. As well, a growing percentage of the population is without family doctors, making it more difficult to access care.

Measles can cause serious illness and even be deadly. Among potential severe complications are pneumonia, deafness and brain damage caused by inflammation of the brain.

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Topic: Waterloo RegionView all posts for the topic: Waterloo Region

Senior dies of COVID-19, raising death toll to 11 this year in Waterloo Region

Published February 23, 2024

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Published by: Waterloo Region Record
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By Jeff Outhit

A man in his 70s has died of COVID-19, the regional public health unit announced Friday in a weekly update.

This raises the death toll to 11 this year where the pandemic disease was a main or contributing cause.

Hospitalizations for the disease are stable and relatively low, averaging 13 patients per day on Feb. 17. This compares to a typical day in the pandemic with 27 patients in three local hospitals.

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Topic: OntarioView all posts for the topic: Ontario

More than 260 Ontario long-term care residents died after getting COVID-19 in last four months

Published January 3, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Katherine DeClerq

Respiratory virus outbreaks in Ontario’s long-term care homes remains dominated by COVID-19, with nearly 16,000 cases of the virus reported in the last four months.

According to a newly released report by Public Health Ontario, there have been 850 confirmed outbreaks in long-term care homes since Aug. 27, 2023.

This is compared to 32 influenza outbreaks and 32 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) outbreaks.

Continue readingMore than 260 Ontario long-term care residents died after getting COVID-19 in last four months
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Topic: Waterloo RegionView all posts for the topic: Waterloo Region

COVID-19 outbreaks on the rise in Waterloo Region

Published December 29, 2023

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Published by: Waterloo Region Record
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The number of active COVID-19 outbreaks in high-risk settings increased by more than 50 per cent this past week, according to the Waterloo Region public health unit’s weekly dashboard update.

There are 15 outbreaks in high-risk settings — up from seven last week — including two in congregate settings, such as group homes or shelters, one in hospital and 12 in long-term care/retirement homes.

One new death was reported. So far this year, COVID-19 has been a direct or contributing cause in 41 deaths reported by public health in the region.

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