On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the status of
the COVID-19 outbreak from epidemic to pandemic. Here are five important pieces
of information on what this means for you and your community.
1) What’s the difference between
an epidemic and a pandemic?
Before Wednesday’s WHO
announcement, the COVID-19 outbreak was described by the UN health agency
as an epidemic, meaning that it has been spreading to many people, and many
communities, at the same time.
Labelling the spread a pandemic, indicates that it has officially spread
around the world, and is also a reflection of the WHO’s concern at
what it calls the “alarming levels of the coronavirus spread, severity and
inaction”, and the expectation that the number of cases, deaths and affected
countries will continue to climb.
2) Should I be now be more
worried about COVID-19?
Calling COVID-19 a pandemic does not mean that it has become more
deadly, it is an acknowledgement of its global spread.
Tedros Adhananon Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO, said as much at a media
briefing on Wednesday, when he insisted that the pandemic label does not change
WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by the virus: “It doesn’t change what WHO
is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do”.
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Tedros also called on the world not to fixate on the word “pandemic”,
but to focus instead on five other words or phrases, beginning with “p”:
Prevention, Preparedness, Public health, Political leadership and People.
The WHO chief acknowledged that the COVID-19 spread is the first
pandemic to be caused by a coronavirus (i.e. any of the large variety of
viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe
diseases).
However, he also pointed out that all countries can still change the
course of this pandemic, and that it is the first ever, that can actually be
controlled.
3) What should countries
do?
WHO reiterated its call for countries to detect, test, treat, isolate,
trace, and mobilize their citizens, to ensure that those with just a handful of
cases can prevent wider spread throughout the community.
Although some 118,000 cases have been reported, in 114 countries, more
than 90 per cent of those cases are clustered in just four countries: China,
Italy, South Korea and Iran.
In two of those countries (China and South Korea) the numbers of new
cases are, in the words of WHO, “significantly declining”. 81 countries have
yet to report any COVID-19 cases and, in 57 countries, there have been only 10
or fewer cases reported.
However, there is still considerable concern that many countries are not
acting quickly enough, or taking the urgent and aggressive action that the
health agency says is required.
Even before the pandemic announcement, WHO was advocating a
whole-of-government approach to dealing with the crisis, on the basis that
every sector, not just the health sector, is affected.
Even countries in which the virus has spread throughout the community,
or within large population clusters, can still turn the tide of the pandemic,
said Tedros, adding that several nations have shown that the virus can be
suppressed and controlled.
4) What should I do?
Whilst it is understandable to feel anxious about the outbreak, WHO
emphasizes the fact that, if you are not in an area where COVID-19 is
spreading, or have not travelled from an area where the virus is spreading, or
have not been in contact with an infected patient, your risk of infection is
low.
Nevertheless, we all have a responsibility to protect ourselves, and
others.
Everyone should frequently wash their hands (and wash them thoroughly,
with soap); maintain at least one metre distance from anyone coughing or
sneezing, and avoid physical contact when greeting; avoid touching our eyes,
nose and mouth; cover the mouth and nose with a bent elbow or disposable tissue
when coughing or sneezing; and stay home and seek medical attention from local
health providers, if feeling unwell.
Whilst the virus infects people of all ages, there is evidence that
older people (60 and over), and those with underlying health conditions (such
as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer),
are at a higher risk.
People in these categories are being advised to take further measures,
including ensuring that any visitors wash their hands, regularly cleaning and
disinfecting home surfaces, and making a plan in preparation for an outbreak in
their community.
WHO and other UN agencies have underlined the importance of solidarity,
and avoiding stigmatizing community members in the face of the pandemic. “We’re
in this together”, said Tedros on Wednesday, urging everyone to “do the right
things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable.”
5) Where can I get reliable
information?
The best place to get reliable information is the WHO Website, www.who.int. Here you can find comprehensive advice, including more on how to
minimise the risk of spreading, or catching COVID-19.
The site is currently being updates on a daily basis, so check in
regularly.
It is also advisable to check the official Website of your local and
regional municipality, which may have specific health information, as well as
news concerning your community, such as travel guidance, and outbreak hotspots.
WHO warns that a number of myths and scams are circulating online.
Criminals have been taking advantage of the spread of the virus to steal money
or sensitive information and, says WHO, if anyone is contacted by a person or
organization claiming to be from the Organization, they should take steps to
verify their authenticity.
The WHO site includes a “myth-buster” section, debunking some
unsubstantiated theories that have been circulating online. For example, it is
a myth that cold weather can kill the virus, that taking a hot bath or eating
garlic can prevent infection, or that mosquitos can spread the virus. There is no evidence for any of
these claims.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
