Outbreaks are the occurrence of disease cases in excess of what would normally be expected for a community, geographical area or season (WHO). Examples of recent outbreaks affecting public health in Canada include Group A Streptococcus, Pertussis, Zika, Mumps and Measles.
The aim of this project stream at NCCID is to provide the most recent information available on emerging infectious diseases to public health practitioners, policy makers and public health inspectors, via webinars, podcasts, publications and other online resources. Through these products, we also aim to enhance and strengthen effective knowledge translation between health practitioners and the public amidst conflicting information from various sources.
What’s New
Measuring What Counts in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Equity Indicators for Public Health
Under the leadership of public health agencies, departments and units across the country, the 2020 responses to COVID-19 in Canada have seen an unprecedented mobilization of funds, human resources and materials. Responses have involved communities and multiple federal, provincial and territorial departments across the country.
Measuring what counts in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: Equity indicators for public health
In this webinar, speakers will discuss the development and application of a public health emergency preparedness framework, corresponding indicators and health equity prompts.
PHAC Agent-Based Model on COVID-19
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Article CMAJ Article – Projected effects of nonpharmaceutical public health interventions to prevent resurgence of…
Psychosocial Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Broad Investigation in Québec
Context: This is a two-year project financed by the CIHR ($500,000) and carried out by an interdisciplinary team from the…
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
This NCCID Disease Debrief provides Canadian public health practitioners and clinicians with up-to-date reviews of essential information on COVID-19 for Canadian public health practice.
Understanding the Effects of Communications and Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic
“The role of communication strategies and media discourse in shaping the psychological and behavioural response to the COVID-19 outbreak: an…
Resources
Canadian Databases for Disease Vectors
Mathematical modelling is a method of research that allows for simulations of the real world in a virtual space. For Public Health, the results of modelling can be used to determine possible interventions and optimize desired outcomes for populations.
At the 2016 5th biennial workshop of the Pan-InfORM research group, public health practitioners and analysts and mathematical modelling researchers were brought together to learn from each other how the two disciplines – modelling and public health – can collaborate to improve disease prevention and control. In the course of discussions about new frontiers for modelling and infectious diseases public health, modelers and epidemiologists expressed interest in knowing where to find data on vectors (e.g., mosquitos and ticks) that can be used to predict emerging diseases.
To address this gap, NCCID and NCCEH have compiled a list of provincial entomology datasets on vectors, including what information the databases contain and who to contact to access the data.
Public Health Quick Links: Group A Streptococcus
Outbreaks of Group A Streptococcus have intensified in the past few weeks in Canada. NCCID has developed this Quick Links resource for Canadian public health professionals to provide links to key resources and information. The pages below will be updated regularly, as needed, to remain relevant as new information emerges. Please feel free to forward this resource to others and post as needed.
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC):
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Group A Streptococcus Overview
- Diseases caused by Group A Streptococcus
- Information for Clinicians
- Treatment Guidelines
- Necrotizing Fasciitis
- Streptococcal Toxic-Shock Syndrome
News and Literature:
Ontario Specific News and Literature:
To share your questions or comments about our Group A Strep work, or to discuss the possibility of partnering with us, please contact us at nccid@umanitoba.ca
Climate Change and Vector-borne Disease (VBD)
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs), caused by agents such as West Nile, Chikungunya virus, etc., pose a risk to the health of Canadians. Climate change has been predicted to have a significant impact on the distribution of vector-borne diseases and thus introduce new challenges to public health in Canada. Additionally, factors such as international travel and northward spread from other endemic southern areas of the continent contribute to the establishment of new outbreaks. These diseases can successfully be prevented through informed protective measures. NCCID seeks to respond to the growing need of public health practitioners with new information on climate change trends and emergence of VBDs that threaten the health of Canadians.
RELATED
- Emerging challenges of vector-borne diseases and cities (Canada Communicable Disease Report, October 2016)
Public Health Quick Links: Zika Virus
Global attention to Zika virus continues with new information and developments nearly every week. NCCID has assembled these links to key leaders and sources in infectious diseases prevention, control and knowledge for public health in Canada.
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC): Zika virus
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Zika & Pregnancy
- European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC): Factsheet for health professionals
- World Health Organization / Pan-American Health Organization (WHO / PAHO): Zika Communications Materials
Podcast
Our first run of the Infectious Questions podcast focuses on an emerging infection very prominent in the media: Zika virus.
• IQ1: Zika Virus and pregnant travellers
• IQ2: Sexual transmission of Zika Virus
• IQ3: Birth defects and the Zika Virus
• IQ4: Should pregnant travellers to Zika-endemic areas undergo amniocentesis?
• IQ5: Should mothers infected with Zika during pregnancy breastfeed?
Disease Debriefs
Disease Debriefs answer questions about important and emerging infectious diseases for public health decision makers, physicians, inspectors and nurses in community.
- Disease Debrief: Ebola
- Disease Debrief: Group A Streptoccus
- Disease Debrief: Mumps
- Disease Debrief: Measles
- Disease Debrief: Pertussis
ARCHIVE:
- Disease Debrief: MERS-CoV
- Disease Debrief: EV-D68
- Influenza Season 2013/14
- Influenza H7N9
Events
One Infection, Four Continents & Eight Countries: the psychosocial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic
This webinar on the mental health challenges at the population level and their behavioural response is for public health practitioners, clinicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Detailed information on the project can be access here.
One Infection, Four Continents & Eight Countries: the psychosocial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic
The current pandemic represents a unique opportunity to evaluate the associated psychological impact in various sociocultural groups and contexts, providing important lessons that could be applied in response to future disasters. A Canadian-led collaboration of research in eight countries aims to measure the role communication strategies and media discourse play in shaping psychological and behavioural responses of the populations during the COVID-19 outbreak. With the second wave of the infection being reported in many countries, the study is timely to report and address the psychosocial manifestations people are facing.
Outil en ligne pour évaluer les risques épidémiologiques liés aux rassemblements
Les rassemblements peuvent contribuer de façon significative à la propagation des maladies infectieuses, et en particulier le COVID-19. Cet outil,…
Measuring What Counts in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Equity Indicators for Public Health
Under the leadership of public health agencies, departments and units across the country, the 2020 responses to COVID-19 in Canada have seen an unprecedented mobilization of funds, human resources and materials. Responses have involved communities and multiple federal, provincial and territorial departments across the country.
Measuring what counts in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: Equity indicators for public health
In this webinar, speakers will discuss the development and application of a public health emergency preparedness framework, corresponding indicators and health equity prompts.
PHAC Agent-Based Model on COVID-19
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Article CMAJ Article – Projected effects of nonpharmaceutical public health interventions to prevent resurgence of…