Close X
Monday, March 18, 2024
ADVT 
National

Wastewater testing expanding to monkeypox: Tam

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Aug, 2022 10:41 AM
  • Wastewater testing expanding to monkeypox: Tam

OTTAWA - Canada's chief public health officer says plans are underway to sift through Canadian sewage to test for and measure new health threats like monkeypox and polio.

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic wastewater detection became a key way to track the spread of the virus.

Dr. Theresa Tam says the experts at the National Microbiology Lab have now discovered a promising approach to detect monkeypox in wastewater and will use the infrastructure developed during the pandemic look for it.

How that monitoring fits into the Public Health Agency of Canada surveillance efforts on monkeypox is not yet clear.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also intends to start testing for polio as soon as possible after United States health officials say they found the polio virus in New York City's wastewater.

Tam says wastewater detection is still imperfect but there' is a lot of innovation happening now and the public health agency is looking for the best method to help standardize the process in Canada.

MORE National ARTICLES

Woman charged after officers 'swarmed': police

Woman charged after officers 'swarmed': police
A statement from Vancouver police says 44-year-old Alene West was charged after an officer was hit in the head with an object on Tuesday. The statement says several other suspects are also under investigation for what is described as a "swarming" of officers who were responding to reports of an unruly man at a community centre in the same block as the encampment.

Woman charged after officers 'swarmed': police

Charges in June machete attack in Vancouver

Charges in June machete attack in Vancouver
Vancouver police say the 37-year-old suspect was arrested Wednesday near the city's Chinatown neighbourhood. He is now charged with two counts of aggravated assault and remains in custody awaiting an Aug. 17 court date.

Charges in June machete attack in Vancouver

More thunderstorms threaten southern B.C.

More thunderstorms threaten southern B.C.
The BC Wildfire Service website says 45 new fires have been recorded in the last two days, including one suspected lightning-caused blaze near Monte Lake, the same area where a massive wildfire destroyed homes last year.

More thunderstorms threaten southern B.C.

'Transformative' change possible, says Anjali Appadurai, 2nd NDP leadership candidate

'Transformative' change possible, says Anjali Appadurai, 2nd NDP leadership candidate
Anjali Appadurai is the second declared candidate in the leadership contest, joining NDP member of the legislature David Eby, who stepped away from his jobs as attorney general and minister in charge of housing to run for leader.

'Transformative' change possible, says Anjali Appadurai, 2nd NDP leadership candidate

Sentencing next month for man guilty of sextortion

Sentencing next month for man guilty of sextortion
Justice Martha Devlin set the hearing for Aydin Coban to begin on Sept. 20 in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster. A jury delivered a unanimous verdict on Saturday convicting Coban of extortion, harassment, communication with a young person to commit a sexual offence, and possession and distribution of child pornography in Todd's case.

Sentencing next month for man guilty of sextortion

Lightning could complicate B.C. wildfire woes

Lightning could complicate B.C. wildfire woes
Severe thunderstorm watches blanketed the B.C. interior from Prince George south to the U.S. border on Thursday. BC Wildfire Service information officer Karley Desrosiers said the forecast of lightning, gusty winds and high temperatures could make firefighting a challenge.  

Lightning could complicate B.C. wildfire woes

PrevNext