Distributed by e-mail on November 27, 2015
This update will provide information on the following:
- How you can help with Syrian refugees
- Increased Pertussis Activity in Middlesex-London
- Your input on how to address poverty in London
- We won a Pillar award!
1. Family doctors needed to care for Syrian Refugees
While there is still much to be determined about how Canada will bring 25,000 refugees from Syria, current estimates are that between 500 and 1,000 will settle permanently in the Middlesex-London region. A system is being set up to provide them screening medical examinations and support for urgent healthcare needs, but they will eventually need permanent primary care providers. Work is happening within OCFP and CCFP to support this, and in the meantime, Dr. Bhooma Bhayana has agreed to help coordinate finding family doctors for Syrian refugees in our region. Please consider being part of this important initiative, and contact Dr. Bhayana if you are interested: bbhayana@uwo.ca.
2. Increased Pertussis activity in Middlesex-London
The Middlesex-London Health Unit has recently declared a pertussis outbreak after being notified of two confirmed cases of pertussis at a school in London. In addition to these cases, the Health Unit has received reports of several children at the school with prolonged coughs, suspected of having pertussis. This may indicate a potential increase in pertussis circulation in the community. Many Canadian provinces are currently reporting a higher than average number of pertussis cases.
Vaccination is the best approach to prevent the spread of pertussis. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends vaccinating pregnant women (≥26 weeks of gestation) who have not been previously vaccinated against pertussis in adulthood. During an outbreak, one dose of pertussis vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women (≥26 weeks of gestation) regardless of their immunization history.
Chemoprophylaxis is indicated for pregnant women in their third trimester and for infants less than one year of age, as well as for household members if there was a known exposure to pertussis. Table 1 in the following link lists antimicrobials indicated for chemoprophylaxis: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/docs/pertussis_chapter.pdf
Antibiotics have limited value in changing the duration of the illness during the paroxysmal stage; however, they may prevent or moderate clinical pertussis when given during the incubation period or in the early catarrhal stage. Regardless of the stage, antibiotics eliminate the bacteria after a few days of treatment, reducing the potential for transmission.
Please note that nasopharyngeal specimens for PCR and/or culture must be collected using a specific kit, the Bordetella Pertussis BP collection kit, which has a colourless transport medium. The kit and Public Health lab requisition form can be obtained by contacting the Health Unit at the number below. For more information on testing please refer to http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/ServicesAndTools/LaboratoryServices/Pages/Bordetella_Respiratory.aspx
To report a suspect or confirmed case or if you have questions, please contact the Health Unit’s Vaccine Preventable Team at: 519 663-5317, extension 2330 or by email at shots@mlhu.on.ca
3. Your Input Requested to London Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Poverty
I have been asked to co-chair the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Poverty. This group has a six-month mandate to advise the Mayor on how to address poverty in our community. Consultation with stakeholders and community members is a key input to this process. We will be hosting an opportunity for medical staff to have input to this panel’s work on Tuesday, December 15 from 5:00-6:30 PM. There are limited spots available for this consultation; please contact Lynn Guy at Lynn.Guy@mlhu.on.ca if you want to participate.
4. The Naloxone Program receives a Pillar Community Innovation Award
On Wednesday, Pillar Nonprofit Network held its 2015 Community Innovation Awards at the London Convention Centre. This major event is attended annually by nearly 1000 people, including municipal leaders, representatives of social agencies, philanthropists, and media. At this event, it was announced that the Middlesex-London Health Unit, in partnership with the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, the London Intercommunity Health Centre, and the London Area Network of Substance Users, won the prestigious Community Collaboration award for our Naloxone Program. As you may know, this program provides substance users with naloxone kits to have on hand in case they or someone around them overdoses with an opioid. This empowering model has been proven to save lives, and also reduce the risk of overdose, as users begin to feel greater control over and responsibility for their drug use. Hundreds of kits have been distributed since the program began last summer, and several have already been used to save lives in our region.
For a major mainstream organization such as Pillar to recognize a program that serves the most marginalized people in our community is a milestone that marks shifting attitudes in our community. Pillar makes high-quality videos describing each nomination, and you can view ours here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-AvZpxcNBY&index=12&list=PLkpOJhFuTo-UKJAbnpTOJDLikqdHEBCdu