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[Infectious Diseases News Brief]
Tularemia: Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is advising Canadians in British
Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario
who have purchased a dwarf/pigmy or regular hamster in the past three
months of a potential health concern. Ill hamsters from a pet distributor
in Manitoba have tested positive for Type B tularemia. People who have
purchased a hamster in the past three months are to contact their health
care provider if both they and their hamster have experienced illness.
Ill hamsters, along with other small mammals (chinchillas, guinea pigs,
gerbils, degues) that were included in shipments with the hamsters,
were sent to pet stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. At present, there is no indication
of illness in the other animals. The British Columbia Centre for Disease
Control, Alberta Health and Wellness, Saskatchewan Health, Manitoba
Health, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-term Care and the PHAC
are working together closely on this investigation.
Source: Advisory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 2 October 2004.
Syphilis: Alberta
The Capital Health (Edmonton and area) region is experiencing a significant
rise in syphilis cases. Since June, the region has reported 18 people
as having locally acquired the sexually-transmitted disease. This is
of particular concern considering the expected number of cases during
this period should be zero. Most of the cases have stemmed from people
involved in casual or anonymous sex. The majority of cases have been
among heterosexual men. Approximately half of the heterosexual men
concerned have reported sex with a sex trade worker. Other communities
such as Vancouver and Winnipeg have experienced similar outbreaks of
syphilis in 2003. These outbreaks required actively searching for and
treating cases as well as reinforcing the importance of safe sex practices.
Source: News Release, Capital Health, 29 September 2004.
Addition to Universal Immunization Program: Manitoba
Four additional vaccines are now available to eligible Manitoba children
as part of the routine immunization schedule. The four vaccines will
be added to Manitoba's universal immunization program for children.
The four free vaccines are: conjugated meningococcal type C vaccine,
conjugated pneumococcal vaccine, varicella vaccine and influenza vaccine.
The vaccines will be delivered by public health nurses at schools and
clinics and by physicians in their offices, depending on the vaccine.
Source: News Release, Manitoba Health, 30 September 2004.
Hepatitis A: England
An outbreak of hepatitis A in gay men in southeast London has been identified.
Nine cases have so far been reported, all with symptom onset dates
between mid-August and mid-September 2004. Five of the affected men
reported visiting a gay pub in Southwark, southeast London, in the
two months before they became unwell. One of the nine patients is a
secondary case, who has a history of household contact with one of
the five patients who had visited the pub. The pub is, in effect, a
public sex environment that includes a 'dark room' where
sexual activities that carry a high risk of hepatitis A transmission
occur. Of the eight patients whose vaccination status is known, none
had previously been vaccinated against hepatitis A. The local health
protection unit is working with a number of agencies (including local
health authorities and social and health groups that work with gay
men) to advise gay men locally of the risk, and how this might be minimized,
including advice on immunisation. Increasing community outreach work
at this and similar venues, and actions to improve hygiene at the pub
are being considered.
Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly, Volume 8, Issue 40, 30 September 2004.
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]
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