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

Canadians urged to donate blood as supplies low

The organization says it currently has only four days worth of O+ blood type supply and five days worth of O- and B- blood types, along with six days worth of A- blood type and seven days worth of A+ and B+ blood types. Spokeswoman Delphine Denis says collections have been steadily decreasing since July 1.

Canadians urged to donate blood as supplies low

Suppression efforts for Okanagan, B.C., wildfire

The nearly 60-square-kilometre wildfire is located about 21 kilometres southwest of Penticton. It has prompted an evacuation order of more than 500 properties and put more than 1,000 others under orders to be ready to leave at short notice.

Suppression efforts for Okanagan, B.C., wildfire

Two dead in Abbotsford, BC following police chase

Police say the car was first spotted at about 3 p.m. and then again in a different area just after 4 p.m. They say they knew based on recent information that the vehicle had been involved in a recent violent crime in another jurisdiction and authorized a police pursuit.

Two dead in Abbotsford, BC following police chase

Man dies after double shooting in Burnaby, B.C.

The surviving victim, who was driving, is believed to have a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Police say they are working to find out when and where the shooting happened, and how far the vehicle travelled before the driver pulled over.

Man dies after double shooting in Burnaby, B.C.

IHIT identifies victims in South Surrey Park shooting, suspect in custody

The victims have been identified as 26-year-old Harbir Khosa, 20-year old Robeen Soreni, and 19-year-old Jordan Krishna. Khosa and Krishna are both known to police. Two of the three victims died. All three victims are from Surrey.

IHIT identifies victims in South Surrey Park shooting, suspect in custody

Wind shifts have fire-threatened villages on edge

Winds in the area are known to change constantly and their unpredictability has firefighters and emergency officials preparing for the worst, said Tim Roberts, the area's elected regional director. Much of wildfire was concentrated in steep, mountainous terrain on Friday, and was less threatening to Olalla's estimated 400 properties, but that could change, Roberts said.