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

Tories, NDP want emergency debate on B.C. floods

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Monday his party intends to request an emergency debate as soon as possible to get a handle on the government's plans to combat the climate change emergency but also on the need to better prepare Canadian communities for the extreme weather they can expect to see in the months and years to come.

Tories, NDP want emergency debate on B.C. floods

Journalist released with conditions in B.C.

Amber Bracken was released on the condition that she appear in court in February and that she comply with the terms of the injunction order first granted to Coastal GasLink by the same judge in December 2019.

Journalist released with conditions in B.C.

Warning needed about weather: First Nations leader

Terry Teegee, regional chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, said the province could have acted faster after a heat dome this summer claimed nearly 600 lives and a wildfire destroyed much of the town of Lytton in the Fraser Canyon.

Warning needed about weather: First Nations leader

VPD investigates multiple stabbings in Yaletown

The five victims, all men from Surrey and Langley, suffered a variety of stab wounds, including injuries to their faces, stomachs, backs, and legs. The injuries are not life-threatening. Two suspects in their 30s, also men from Surrey, have been identified but are not currently in custody.

VPD investigates multiple stabbings in Yaletown

Revenues up, deficit down in pre-flood B.C. update

Selina Robinson says the province will factor in the cleanup costs associated with the disastrous floods and mudslides that hit communities, highways and railways in February's budget.

Revenues up, deficit down in pre-flood B.C. update

Another rainstorm expected to hit Canada's British Columbia

Environment Canada also warned of heavy snow in inland parts of the province on Sunday, saying that the snow could change to heavy rain as the temperature rises.