Health
Search engine pulls ads promoting controversial weight loss drug
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Shonky websites purporting to sell an in-demand Hollywood weight loss drug have been appearing above health warnings in Australian search engine results, as the regulator continues to crack down on the illegal sale of Ozempic.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) confirmed it was contacting search engines and social media companies about content promoting semaglutide, better known by its brand name Ozempic, as part of its ongoing investigations into scams relating to the drug.
The TGA has asked Australians to be wary of businesses claiming to sell the prescription appetite suppressant injection online, amid reports of consumers both paying for the drug and never receiving the product, as well as receiving drugs which are not semaglutide.
A Google search for “buy Ozempic Australia” last week returned several sponsored results, including online stores claiming to sell the drug without prescription through bank transfer or credit card payment.
It is illegal to advertise a prescription drug in Australia.
After being alerted to the presence of the ads, a Google spokesperson confirmed they were removed.
“Google has strict policies that govern the kind of ads that we allow on our platform. When we find ads that violate our policies, we remove them,” the spokesperson said
Although the regulator said it could not comment on ongoing investigations that may result in compliance action, it confirmed it was “working with” several digital platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, eBay, Amazon and Gumtree, as well as Google and other search engines, to remove unlawful advertising and crack down on scams.
Last week, the Sun-Herald and Sunday Age revealed one online forum that purported to facilitate sale of the drug had falsified endorsements from current and retired health practitioners.
The TGA has requested the removal of almost 1000 advertisements for Ozempic appearing on social media and websites, including influencer posts, since July last year.
According to the regulator’s social media advertising guide, any “statement, pictorial representation or design that is intended, whether directly or indirectly, to promote the use or supply of the products is an advertisement”.
“When unlawful advertisements come to the TGA’s attention, we alert the particular social media platforms who typically quickly take action within their user policies,” the TGA said in a statement.
Prescriptions for Ozempic, which is registered as a Type 2 diabetes treatment in Australia, skyrocketed in early 2022 following a rise in doctors prescribing the drug for weight loss, a use it is registered for in the US.
The rise in these “off-label” prescriptions, which are a legitimate way for GPs to prescribe medications for uses other than their registered use in Australia, led to a national shortage and people with diabetes reporting they were unable to access the drug.
The TGA announced last month it was working with Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, and wholesalers to fairly distribute a new supply of the drug which arrived early this year.
It said supply was set to return gradually over the next few months but it “strongly recommended” the drug continue to be prioritised for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Health
CFIA continues surveillance for HPAI in cattle, while sticking with original name for disease – RealAgriculture
The Canada Food Inspection Agency will continue to refer to highly pathogenic avian influenza in cattle as HPAI in cattle, and not refer to it as bovine influenza A virus (BIAV), as suggested by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners earlier this month.
Dr. Martin Appelt, senior director for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in the interview below, says at this time Canada will stick with “HPAI in cattle” when referencing the disease that’s been confirmed in dairy cattle in multiple states in the U.S.
The CFIA’s naming policy is consistent with the agency’s U.S. counterparts’, as the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has also said it will continue referring to it as HPAI or H5N1.
Appelt explains how the CFIA is learning from the U.S. experience to-date, and how it is working with veterinarians across Canada to stay vigilant for signs of the disease in dairy and beef cattle.
As of April 19, there has not been a confirmed case of HPAI in cattle in Canada. Appelt says it’s too soon to say if an eventual positive case will significantly restrict animal movement, as is the case with positive poultry cases.
This is a major concern for the cattle industry, as beef cattle especially move north and south across the U.S. border by the thousands. Appelt says that CFIA will address an infection in each species differently in conjunction with how the disease is spread and the threat to neighbouring farms or livestock.
Currently, provincial dairy organizations have advised producers to postpone any non-essential tours of dairy barns, as a precaution, in addition to other biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of cattle contracting HPAI.
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Health
Toronto reports 2 more measles cases. Use our tool to check the spread in Canada – Toronto Star
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Canada has seen a concerning rise in measles cases in the first months of 2024.
By the third week of March, the country had already recorded more than three times the number of cases as all of last year. Canada had just 12 cases of measles in 2023, up from three in 2022.
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Cancer Awareness Month
Posted on: Apr 18, 2024
April is Cancer Awareness Month
As we recognize Cancer Awareness Month, we stand together to raise awareness, support those affected, advocate for prevention, early detection, and continued research towards a cure. Cancer is the leading cause of death for Métis women and the second leading cause of death for Métis men. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation Within Alberta is working hard to ensure that available supports for Métis Citizens battling cancer are culturally appropriate, comprehensive, and accessible by Métis Albertans at all stages of their cancer journey.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis, whether for yourself or a loved one, can feel overwhelming, leaving you unsure of where to turn for support. In June, our government will be launching the Cancer Supports and Navigation Program which will further support Métis Albertans and their families experiencing cancer by connecting them to OMG-specific cancer resources, external resources, and providing navigation support through the health care system. This program will also include Métis-specific peer support groups for those affected by cancer.
With funding from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) we have also developed the Métis Cancer Care Course to ensure that Métis Albertans have access to culturally safe and appropriate cancer services. This course is available to cancer care professionals across the country and provides an overview of who Métis people are, our culture, our approaches to health and wellbeing, our experiences with cancer care, and our cancer journey.
Together, we can make a difference in the fight against cancer and ensure equitable access to culturally safe and appropriate care for all Métis Albertans. Please click on the links below to learn more about the supports available for Métis Albertans, including our Compassionate Care: Cancer Transportation program.
I wish you all good health and happiness!
Bobbi Paul-Alook
Secretary of Health & Seniors
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