National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) - Statement on Influenza Vaccination for the 2006-2007 Season: Canada
The antigenic components of the influenza vaccine have been updated for the 2006-2007 season. This statement contains new information on human and avian influenza epidemiology. NACI has grouped the various subgroups of persons at increased risk of the complications associated with influenza into a single grouping of those with chronic conditions. Neuraminidase inhibitors are recommended as the first-line antiviral agents for the prevention of influenza rather than amantadine. In Canada, two available measures can reduce the impact of influenza: immunoprophylaxis with inactivated (killed-virus) vaccine and chemoprophylaxis or therapy with influenza-specific antiviral drugs. Immunization is the most effective means to reduce the impact of influenza. Programs should focus on those at high risk of influenza-related complications, those capable of transmitting influenza to individuals at high risk of complications, and those who provide essential community services. The statement can be accessed online at:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/06vol32/acs-07/index.html.
Source: Canada Communicable Disease Report, Volume 32, ACS-7, 15 June 2006

HIV Testing Among Canadian Tuberculosis Cases from 1997 to 1998: Canada
Recent evidence suggests a global rise in adult tuberculosis (TB) cases associated with HIV/AIDS. The World Health Organization, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Public Health Agency of Canada advocate universal screening of all TB cases for HIV. The contribution of HIV to the TB burden in Canada remains unclear. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all TB cases reported in Canada from 1997 to 1998. The aim was to determine the proportion of patients that had an HIV test on record, and of these, the number of patients infected with HIV. From 1997 to 1998, 3,767 TB cases were reported to the national TB surveillance system. In the present study, 3,416 case records (90.7%) were included. The number of cases with a record of an HIV test was 736 (21.5%), and of these, 41.2% were tested within one month of TB diagnosis. Among the 703 cases with known HIV test results, the prevalence of HIV infection was 14.7%. Cases with an HIV test on record were more likely to have one or more risk factors for HIV, and also were more likely to be male, aged 15 to 49 years, of Aboriginal ethnicity, and to have smear-positive TB and both pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease at the time of diagnosis. These results suggest that HIV testing of TB patients is not universal, but rather selective, and is likely based on perceived risk factors for HIV as opposed to TB diagnosis alone.
Source: Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, Volume 17, No. 3, May/June 2006

Sexually Transmitted Infections Figures for 2005: United Kingdom
New figures released by the Health Protection Agency show that the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other conditions diagnosed in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the United Kingdom increased by 3% between 2004 and 2005. However over the same period new cases of gonorrhoea fell by 13%, a substantial decrease for the second successive year. There was a significant increase in the number of new syphilis diagnoses, which rose by 23% from 2,278 in 2004 to 2,807 in 2005. However this was a smaller increase than in previous years - new cases rose by 39% from 2003 to 2004. New syphilis cases were particularly marked among women, where the increase was almost two and a half times higher than that among men. Chlamydia remains the most commonly diagnosed STI, with 109,832 new cases in 2005, a 5% increase on the previous year. The highest rates of infection and highest increases in diagnoses were seen for both sexes in the 16 to 24 age group.
Source: Press Statement, Health Protection Agency, 4 July 2006

The details given are for information only and may be very provisional. Where incidents are considered of national importance and are ongoing, the initial report will be updated as new information becomes available.