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RSV infections surge as hospitals brace for return of ‘normal’ respiratory virus season

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On a weekday afternoon, coughs and cries echo throughout the brightly lit waiting room of the Just for Kids Clinic at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto.

It’s clear this year’s respiratory virus season is already underway, said Dr. Anne Wormsbecker, chief of pediatrics at the hospital, one of three health-care sites making up Unity Health Toronto. While most children who arrive for outpatient appointments aren’t given tests to figure out which virus is making them sick, she said inpatient units where patients are tested upon admission are seeing a striking trend.

In the last couple of weeks, the respiratory syncytial virus — or RSV — has just shot up, she said.

Country-wide data also shows RSV is on the rise. So far, 1,220 cases have been detected since late August, with roughly five per cent of tests coming back positive, according to the most recent respiratory virus report (new window) from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Activity of RSV is increasing and slightly above expected levels for this time of year, the report noted.

The virus usually causes common cold symptoms, but can turn serious among both the young and old.

WATCH | 4 key vaccines available for Canadian seniors this fall:

 

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SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is still circulating as well, and influenza activity is also increasing, although still within the typical levels for November, PHAC data shows (new window).

After a roller-coaster of viral dynamics during the pandemic — including a period where influenza nearly vanished, followed by an unusual RSV surge last year — some say this season could mark a return to relative normalcy, but with SARS-CoV-2 now firmly in the mix.

However, normal doesn’t mean it’ll be smooth sailing for either the public or Canada’s strained health-care teams, said McGill University infectious diseases specialist Dr. Donald Vinh.

The pattern that we’re seeing is not new, but it’s the return of what we’ve been used to — with COVID now superimposed, he said.

Pandemic caused unpredictable viral dynamics

In Canada, RSV typically poses a problem from October onward, said Vinh, with flu following behind, then possible subsequent waves of infections later in the season.

That’s actually been the norm, for years, if not decades, he said. “But COVID wiped that out — not the public health response to COVID, but [the virus] itself.

It was such a transmissible virus that it smothered the transmission of other viruses until we had a partially immune population to COVID.

Medical experts call that phenomenon viral interference — it’s what happens when a virus like SARS-CoV-2 pushes out other pathogens at a population level (new window) for a period of time, possibly because widespread infections keep people’s immune systems on high alert.

Other researchers have argued society-wide public health measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing likely mattered more in keeping other viruses at bay. Indeed, after COVID restrictions were lifted, infections from other threats such as RSV began to surge.

Wormsbecker said health-care teams like hers are bracing for another winter where high numbers of children are hospitalized. We’re certainly hoping not to see that again this year, she added, but that’s what we’re preparing for.

Quebec’s RSV reports are rising quickly, Vinh said, while data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (new window) shows in that province, RSV test positivity continues to increase and is higher in children.

One Toronto pediatric clinic is seeing visits for a variety of respiratory ailments are spiking fast.

Our baseline is about 300 visits a day, and now in the past two weeks we bumped up to 400 patients a day, said Dr. Daniel Flanders of Kindercare Pediatrics.

Physicians are also concerned about the impacts on seniors as these viruses spread to older populations.

We’re seeing some RSV outbreaks in long-term care facilities, but compared to COVID they’re way, way down, said Dr. Allan Grill, chief of family medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital, north of Toronto. But what’s to come in the next few months is hard to predict.

As for flu, more than 180 influenza-associated hospitalizations have already been reported since late August, PHAC said (new window). Adults aged 65 and older made up slightly more than half of those reported hospitalizations.

“The good news is that, in the Southern Hemisphere (new window) — which gets an influenza season earlier than we do here in North America and Canada — they didn’t get an overwhelming flu season like we’ve seen in the past,Grill noted. So, we’re hoping that the same will happen up here.”

 

Vaccines available for COVID, flu, RSV

Vinh warned that many Canadians could still get hit hard, given varying levels of immunity to each virus within the population. The majority of the public has already been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, vaccinated against it, or both, Vinh noted, but there are also populations that have not built up any partial immunity to RSV or flu who will be contracting either virus for the first time.

The silver lining, he added, is that Canada is still at the beginning of the season, which means there is time to mitigate dire consequences through widespread vaccination, including with updated COVID vaccines (new window) that better match circulating strains of the virus.

Health Canada also approved an RSV vaccine (new window) earlier this year for adults aged 60 and up. Many Canadians will have to pay out of pocket — at a cost of upwards of $200 — though Ontario is also providing it for free to residents of long-term care facilities.

<q data-attributes=””lang”:”value”:”fr”,”label”:”Français”,”value”:”html”:”It is not too late to get your COVID vaccineif you haven’t been updated, or your flu shot if you haven’t gotten it,”,”text”:”It is not too late to get your COVID vaccineif you haven’t been updated, or your flu shot if you haven’t gotten it,””>It is not too late to get your COVID vaccine if you haven’t been updated, or your flu shot if you haven’t gotten it, Vinh said.

 

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What’s the greatest holiday gift: lips, hair, skin? Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

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Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting

Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.

In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.

“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.

There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.

Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.

Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.

In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.

 

Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

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Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

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LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

X

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Pediatric group says doctors should regularly screen kids for reading difficulties

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The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.

New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.

The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.

Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.

Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.

“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.

“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”

McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.

But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.

The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.

He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.

“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.

“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.

McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”

McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.

He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.

“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

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