Health
No new cases of measles detected in N.S. since initial infection reported Friday
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There have been no new cases of measles detected in Nova Scotia since Nova Scotia Health issued exposure warnings after a case was detected Friday.
The health authority issued multiple exposure warnings on Friday after a confirmed case of measles was detected in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Potential exposure sites were listed in Bedford, Lower Sackville and Halifax.
Symptoms of measles may develop as early as eight days after exposure and as late as 21.
Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, a blotchy rash on the face that can spread to the body, and small white spots on the inside of the mouth and throat.
The majority of people recover in a couple of weeks, but measles can have serious complications among higher-risk groups.
According to Dr. Cristin Muecke, the regional medical officer of health for the northern zone, a notice has been issued to health-care providers to increase their awareness for measles despite no new cases being reported
Muecke told CBC on a video call the authority will be monitoring closely for any new cases in the next few weeks.
That conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity and length.
Have you had many calls from people who were in vulnerable groups who are afraid they may have been exposed to measles?
We’ve approached notification to the public in a couple of different ways.
We’ve issued a public service announcement with the details of the exposure dates and times so that we can capture people that way.
We’ve also been working hard internally, through lists of individuals we’ve received, those who might be at higher risk.
We have been reaching out to those individuals directly through phone and we have a dedicated phone line that people can call into as well.
Is measles as easily contracted as COVID-19?
Measles is actually one of the most highly infectious diseases that we know of, so it is quite infectious.
The good news is though, at the risk of the to the general public, is quite low.
Almost all Nova Scotians have been immunized against measles in childhood, it doesn’t normally circulate in our province. And, when it does appear, it tends to be single cases that appear as a result of travel from outside of Canada.
So, the vast majority of people are well protected.
However, when there are exposures because of the contagiousness of the disease, we do take it quite seriously and make lots of efforts to follow up with individuals.
In some cases, we may provide additional protection through vaccination, or something called immune globulin, if we’re able to catch people within the right time window.
We also are looking for people who may have been exposed to watch themselves very closely for symptoms.
If an individual has developed signs and symptoms and they were in one of the exposure locations, we ask that they reach out right away either to 811 or to public health.
If they are feeling really ill, if they could call ahead before going to any healthcare provider, we can ensure that the right infection control measures are in place.
You mentioned that most Nova Scotians have been immunized against measles and since the 1970s most people have had two doses? What about before the 1970s and do the two doses give you a lifetime of protection?
For individuals who are born before 1970, measles was circulating in Canadian communities at that time, so most of those people are generally considered to be naturally immune.
They would have been exposed or infected through exposure in the community rather than through vaccination
Those born in the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s would have typically had one dose, and there’s been many efforts since then to catch those folks up with a second dose.
Anyone since probably about the mid 1990s would have been receiving two doses in childhood.
So, it’s not like COVID-19 where you have booster doses that we’re all used to at this point?
If you’ve had two two doses of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, then you’re considered protected.
In terms of people who are in a vulnerable position, people who are immune-compromised and other examples of groups, what are the dangers of measles poses for them?
We’re particularly concerned with people who may have immune-compromising conditions or are taking immune-suppressive medications, pregnant women and young children.
There can be quite a few potential complications of measles including things as serious as encephalitis which is an inflammation of the brain. It can cause seizures, it can cause other long-term complications.
It’s definitely something that we that we’re looking to avoid in our communities and, in fact, it is quite rare
Is there anything else we should know about measles?
Although it’s quite rare, it is possible for individuals who are vaccinated, typically with partial vaccination, to develop measles if they’ve been exposed significantly enough.
And the reason I mentioned that is because sometimes when those folks develop symptoms, they are milder and the rash is not as extensive. If folks have had partial vaccination and they develop mild symptoms or a partial rash. They should still ensure that they reach out to public health or 811.
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The USask Global Institute for Water Security wastewater survey for Prince Albert shows that the COVID-19 viral RNA load in Prince Albert’s has decreased by 46.5 per cent.
This was after there was a single decrease in last week’s report.
The number is based on averages of three individual daily measurements in this reporting period up to May 22 which are then compared to the weekly average of the previous week.
This week’s viral load of approximately 10,000 gene copies / 100 mL SARS-CoV-2 is the 85th-highest value observed during the pandemic.
This concentration of viral particles is considered Low because it is below the range and regarded as low in Prince Albert.
This week’s viral RNA load indicates that the SARS-CoV-2 infections in Prince Albert are reducing.
Whole genome sequencing confirmed the presence of BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BQ.1.1.4, BQ.1.18, XBB.1.5, BA.5.2.1 and BE.1.1 in earlier samples; which have S:Y144del, S:R346T, S:K444T, S:N460K mutations associated with immune escape. In addition, the sequences of the most recently collected sample relative to the previously collected samples indicate the level of presence of BA.2 and BA.5 in Prince Albert’s wastewater to be 94 per cent and 78 per cent stable respectively.
All data has been shared with Saskatchewan health authorities.
USask and Global Water Futures researchers are using wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford wastewater, providing early warning of infection outbreaks. This work is being done in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Public Health Agency of Canada, City of Saskatoon, City of Prince Albert and City of North Battleford.
This variant tracking data should be seen merely as an indicator of trends which need to be verified using sequencing technology through the Public Health Agency of Canada. Because individuals are at varying stages of infection when shedding the virus, the variant levels detected in sewage are not necessarily directly comparable to the proportion of variant cases found in individual swab samples confirmed through provincial genetic sequencing efforts.
editorial@paherald.sk.ca
Health
Just when we were starting to see COVID and RSV rates drop this spring, another type of virus contributed to a spike in respiratory infections
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- Human metapneumovirus spiked this spring as cases of COVID and RSV fell.
- According to the CDC, 19.6% of antigen tests and nearly 11% of PCR tests for HMPV, were positive in the US in early March.
- Symptoms of HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
Cases of another type of respiratory virus have spiked this spring, just as COVID-19 and RSV rates were finally falling in the US.
According to the CDC, 19.6% of antigen tests and nearly 11% of PCR tests for human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, were positive in the US in early March.
The nearly 11% of positive PCR cases is up 36% since before the COVID-19 pandemic when PCR tests for HMPV were coming back with a rate of 7% positivity, according to the CDC.
In contrast, COVID-19 cases were down nearly 30% at the beginning of March, according to the World Health Organization, and the number of people being hospitalized for RSV was down to 1.2 people per 100,000 in March from 4.5 people per 100,000 in January, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. The symptoms could progress into bronchitis, pneumonia, or other similar viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory infections.
The CDC said some might be sicker for longer than others, and the duration of the virus depends on the severity, but for the most part, is similar in length to other respiratory infections caused by viruses.
The virus is spread by coughs and sneezes, close personal contact, and touching surfaces infected with the virus, then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
According to CNN, there’s no vaccine for HMPV, nor is there an antiviral drug to treat it.
Health
Just when we were starting to see COVID and RSV rates drop this spring, another type of virus contributed to a spike in respiratory infections
|
|
- Human metapneumovirus spiked this spring as cases of COVID and RSV fell.
- According to the CDC, 19.6% of antigen tests and nearly 11% of PCR tests for HMPV, were positive in the US in early March.
- Symptoms of HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
Cases of another type of respiratory virus have spiked this spring, just as COVID-19 and RSV rates were finally falling in the US.
According to the CDC, 19.6% of antigen tests and nearly 11% of PCR tests for human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, were positive in the US in early March.
The nearly 11% of positive PCR cases is up 36% since before the COVID-19 pandemic when PCR tests for HMPV were coming back with a rate of 7% positivity, according to the CDC.
In contrast, COVID-19 cases were down nearly 30% at the beginning of March, according to the World Health Organization, and the number of people being hospitalized for RSV was down to 1.2 people per 100,000 in March from 4.5 people per 100,000 in January, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. The symptoms could progress into bronchitis, pneumonia, or other similar viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory infections.
The CDC said some might be sicker for longer than others, and the duration of the virus depends on the severity, but for the most part, is similar in length to other respiratory infections caused by viruses.
The virus is spread by coughs and sneezes, close personal contact, and touching surfaces infected with the virus, then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
According to CNN, there’s no vaccine for HMPV, nor is there an antiviral drug to treat it.
Read the original article on Insider
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