[Infectious Diseases News Brief]

West Nile virus Infection: Saskatchewan
The first Canadian with a confirmed West Nile virus infection this year is a Saskatchewan resident from the Assiniboia area. The infected individual is healthy, and has not shown any symptoms of the disease. Canadian Blood Services (CBS) detected the virus after the person gave blood at a clinic on 22 July. As part of CBS's new screening program for the virus, a sample of the person's blood was tested on 23 July. The result of the screening test came back positive on 24 July and the unit of blood was withdrawn from the inventory prior to entering the distribution system. A supplementary test conducted by CBS on 25 July also came back positive.
Source: News Release, Government of Saskatchewan, 25 July 2003

Chickenpox Vaccine Program: Nova Scotia
The second phase of the province's chickenpox vaccine program will begin on 1 August, providing the vaccine free of charge to students entering primary school in September, as well as to some special-risk groups. The program is also being expanded to provide free vaccine to special-risk groups who have not had chickenpox. These groups include contacts of people who have weakened immune systems and susceptible health-care workers. Pregnant women who can't confirm whether they have had the disease will be screened for immunity, and if appropriate, can receive the vaccine after the birth of their baby. The first phase of the program made the vaccine available on the first birthday of all babies born on or after 1 January 2002. It is offered at the same time as the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Children who did not receive the varicella vaccine on their first birthday, and who have not had chickenpox, can still receive the vaccine with their 18-month immunizations.
Source: Media Release, Nova Scotia Department of Health, 28 July 2003

E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak: Ontario
Peel Health and Halton Region Health Department have concluded an investigation of an outbreak of E. coli infection associated with a banquet hall in Mississauga. The investigation focused on five events held at the banquet hall between 25-29 June 2003. Over 400 guests from the different events were contacted by public health authorities, including attendees at a 25 June high school graduation dinner. In total, 117 people reported having symptoms associated with food borne illness, including bloody diarrhea. Forty-six have tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, with DNA typing confirming a common source of infection. There was significant illness among the secondary school students who attended the graduation dinner. Peel Health investigated food sources and food handling at the banquet hall, and samples from food, water, the kitchen environment, and food handlers were tested by the Central Public Health Laboratory. Despite a thorough investigation, the precise means by which the food became contaminated could not be identified. No other recent cases of E. coli infection with the same strain have been discovered in Ontario, which indicates that the health risk was restricted to this banquet hall, and is not due to a contaminated food product available elsewhere. Although how the bacteria came to contaminate the food served at the banquet hall was not pinpointed, the fact that people who ate at different events at the same banquet hall became ill with the same strain of E. coli confirms that food served at the hall was the source of infection.
Source: News Release, Region of Peel, 25 July 2003

Chlamydia: Alaska
In 2001 and 2002, Alaska reported the highest chlamydia case rates in the United States. A total of 3,805 cases of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection were reported in 2002, a 40% increase compared to 2001. The annual number of reported cases in females increased 31% (from 1,968 in 2001 to 2,576 in 2002), and cases in males increased 63% (from 753 in 2001 to 1,229 in 2002). CT rates are higher for females than males, reflecting a much higher incidence of screening and testing in females than males. There were 48 reported cases of CT pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Peak rates occurred at ages 15 to 24 years for both genders. Approximately 5% of CT cases reported in 2002 were simultaneously reported with gonorrhea (GC). Rising CT rates reflect broader use of noninvasive screening technology and adherence to national screening recommendations, intensified case finding through partner notification activities statewide, and a high rate of disease incidence.
Source: State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin, Division of Public Health, Epidemiology Section, Bulletin Number 18, 7 July 2003

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.

[Infectious Diseases News Brief]