Demographic, Risk Behaviour and Personal Network Variables Associated with Prevalent Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV Infection in Injection Drug Users: Canada
Previous studies have used social network variables to improve our understanding of HIV transmission. Similar analytic approaches have not been undertaken for hepatitis C (HCV) or B (HBV), nor used to conduct comparative studies on these pathogens within a single setting. A cross-sectional survey consisting of a questionnaire and blood sample was conducted on injection drug users in Winnipeg between December 2003 and September 2004. Logistic regression analyses were used to correlate respondent and personal network data with HCV, HBV and HIV prevalence. At the multivariate level, pathogen prevalence was correlated with both respondent and IDU risk network variables. Pathogen transmission was associated with several distinct types of high-risk networks formed around specific venues (shooting galleries, hotels) or within users who are linked by their drug use preferences. The findings suggest that consideration of both respondent and personal network variables can assist in understanding the transmission patterns of HCV, HBV, and HIV. It is important to assess these effects for multiple pathogens within one setting as the associations identified and the direction of those associations can differ between pathogens. The electronic version of this article can be found online at:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/6/229.
Source: BMC Public Health, Volume 6, 13 September 2006

Legionella: Ontario
The City of Hamilton continues its ongoing investigation into an increase in the number of reported Legionella cases in Hamilton in 2006. As part of its investigation, Public Health Services has submitted water samples for testing, from cooling towers within the downtown core of the city. As of 29 September, 11 human cases have been confirmed (the last confirmed case was reported on 8 September). Twenty-five cooling towers were tested, of which 4 cooling towers were positive for legionella bacteria, 2 cooling towers were positive for legionella like bacteria, 17 cooling towers were negative for legionella bacteria and 2 cooling tower results are pending. Operators of the cooling towers have been notified of the results. To date, none of the legionella types of bacteria identified from the towers matches the types found in the affected human cases.
Source: News Release, City of Hamilton, 29 September 2006

Mumps: Illinois
Several cases of mumps have been reported on university campuses in the DuPage County. A total of 86 cases of mumps with 4 under investigation have been reported so far this year. Wheaton College has reported 61 cases with 2 under investigation, Benedictine University in Lisle has reported one case with one under investigation and Elmhurst College has reported one case. Twenty-three cases have been reported in the community with one under investigation. There were 19 cases of mumps reported in DuPage County during the first five months of 2006. It has not been determined if the DuPage County cases have a connection to an outbreak in Iowa that began in December 2005. Illinois has reported more than 600 cases so far this year. Prior to 2006, Illinois averaged about 10 cases per year. DuPage County averages from 0 to 3 cases per year over the past 5 years. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: News Releases, DuPage County Health Department, 3 October 2006

Botulism: United States
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning consumers not to drink Bolthouse Farms 100% Carrot Juice, Earthbound Farm Organic Carrot Juice and President's Choice Organics 100% Pure Carrot Juice due to botulism concerns. The manufacturer, Wm Bolthouse Farms Inc. in Bakersfield, California is voluntarily recalling the affected brands of carrot juice. These products may have been distributed across Canada. There have been no reported illnesses in Canada. In the US, 4 cases of botulism poisoning have been reported. It is also reported that one link between the illness and the consumers appears to be that the juice they drank was not properly refrigerated once it was in the home. Other possible links are being investigated in the US.
Source: Health Hazard Alert, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 30 September 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.