National

Wastewater testing expanding to monkeypox: Tam

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Aug, 2022 10:41 AM

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.

Reminder health care providers📣: #Monkeypox virus can infect anyone via close contact with a case/contaminated objects no matter their sex, race, gender or sexual orientation. Atypical presentations may occur, learn what’s unique to the 2022 outbreak:https://t.co/5sTvh1TJx6
— Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) August 12, 2022

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.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

China Omicron claim on Canada 'ludicrous': expert

A Chinese state-controlled news outlet first reported that the Jan. 7 infection of a Beijing resident was the result of receiving a letter or parcel from Canada that passed through Hong Kong.

China Omicron claim on Canada 'ludicrous': expert

Health Canada approves Pfizer COVID-19 drug

The agency authorized Paxlovid for adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are also at high risk of becoming more seriously ill. Health Canada did not authorize it for use on teenagers or on patients who are already hospitalized because of COVID-19

Health Canada approves Pfizer COVID-19 drug

Pfizer antiviral approved in Canada

The authorization posted to the Health Canada website Monday morning says the treatment can be used for adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are also at high risk of becoming more seriously ill.

Pfizer antiviral approved in Canada

Schools open in the West as teachers question plan

Schools in British Columbia and Alberta reopened on Monday with health and education officials stressing the need for in-person learning. Schools in Saskatchewan returned the previous week as scheduled.

Schools open in the West as teachers question plan

2,275 COVID19 cases for Friday

There are 35,943 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 251,846 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 646 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 95 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

2,275 COVID19 cases for Friday

B.C. amends process to change gender on ID cards

Grace Lore, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, says the change will reduce a barrier that two-spirit, transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people face when trying to change their identification documents.