Syphilis Outbreak: Alberta
Capital Health Edmonton Area is urging people to practise safe sex and get tested in a new awareness campaign in response to a syphilis outbreak in the Edmonton area, which now includes more than 290 cases. A further concern is that eight cases of congenital syphilis have been diagnosed in the region since 2005. This alarming outbreak is spreading throughout mainstream society occurring in individuals as young as 15 years of age as well as an 81-year-old. Alberta Health and Wellness is working closely with regional health authorities, nurses, and physicians throughout the province to remind all Albertans to practice safer sex with the use of a condom and to get tested if they suspect they may have been exposed to syphilis.
Source: News Release, Capital Health Edmonton Area, 26 April 2007

Information on Outbreaks of Mumps: Canada
In recent weeks, outbreaks of mumps have been reported in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Provincial and local health authorities are leading the investigation of the outbreaks, and managing the response with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Cases of mumps have declined significantly in Canada since the introduction of vaccination programs against the disease in the early 1970s. In the early 1950s, there was an average of 34,000 cases of mumps reported each year. By the late 1990s, the average number of cases had declined to less than 400 per year. Occurrence of the disease declined further following the introduction in 1996-97 of a second dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine - the “MMR” vaccine - for measles control. The second dose was introduced for children at either 18 months of age or 4-6 years of age, depending on the jurisdiction. There have been five mumps outbreaks reported in the past decade in Canada. Outbreaks of the same strain of the mumps virus that is currently occurring in Canada have also been reported in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is felt that most people over 40 have natural immunity to mumps through previous exposure to the virus. It is possible, however, that individuals who have not received a second dose of the vaccine dose may experience diminishing levels of immunity, and may be susceptible to the virus. In addition, some individuals may never have been vaccinated. For this reason, individuals between the ages of 12 or 17 (depending on the jurisdiction) and 40 years are considered to be among the most susceptible to mumps infection.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, 27 April 2007

Wound Botulism: United Kingdom (UK)
Cases of wound botulism continue to occur among injecting drug users in the UK. Twenty-two suspected cases were reported to the Centre for Infections in 2006, fewer than in each of the previous two years, with 28 cases reported in 2005 and 40 in 2004. A total of 134 suspected cases have now been reported since the first cases were reported in 2000. Of the 22 cases in 2006, 18 were in England, 3 in Scotland, and 1 in Wales. Cases in England were distributed throughout the country with 4 in London, 3 in the North West, 2 in Yorkshire and the Humber, 3 in the East Midlands, 2 in the West Midlands, 1 in the East, and 3 in the South East. As with previous years, the majority of individuals were male (73%). The average age was 40 years, which is older than in previous years. Nine of the cases in 2006 were laboratory confirmed either by detection of botulinum toxin in serum or wound tissue or by isolation of Clostridium botulinum from wound tissue. Of these, 6 cases were identified as type-A toxin, one as type-B and in two cases both type-A and type-B toxins were detected. All of the cases in 2006, where detailed patient information was provided, were admitted to hospital, the majority to intensive care. Only one individual reported that they did not have either a wound, boil or abscess present. Two individuals died, one of whom did not receive botulinum antitoxin. All of the other cases received antitoxin. All thirteen cases for whom information about drug use was available reported injecting heroin.
Source: Health Protection Report, Volume 1, No. 17, 27 April 2007

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.