Transcript The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

How the World Keeps Diseases from
Spreading Pt.2
The Role Canada is Playing
The Public Health Agency of Canada
(PHAC)
 PHAC was created in 2004 in response to growing concerns
about the capacity of Canada's public health system to
anticipate and respond effectively to public health threats.
 Why 2004? What happened around this time that
scared Canadians?
After SARS ....
 The Canadian Government acknowledged that Canada lacked
a coordinated system to notify hospitals of global health
alerts, with accompanying recommendations for surveillance
and control .
 And so... The Public Health Agency of Canada was born!
What does PHAC do?
Prevent and control infectious diseases
2. Prepare for and respond to public health emergencies
3. Prevent and control chronic diseases and injuries
1.
How does PHAC do this?
Surveillance
2. Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans
1.
Surveillance
 Information on causation, risk patterns, and trends in the
occurrence of infectious diseases are monitored to assist in
the development of intervention strategies and control
programs.
Diseases Under National Surveillance
in Canada
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Botulism
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Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease
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Cholera
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Hantavirus
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Hepatitis A, B, C
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Influenza
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Salmonellosis
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Legionellosis
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Typhoid

Leprosy

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Invasive Meningococcal Disease

Chlamydial Infection
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Tuberculosis

Gonorrhea

Lyme Disease

HIV Infection

Malaria

Syphilis

Plague

Diphtheria

Rabies

Measles

Mumps

Anthrax
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Pertussis

Plague

Poliomyelitis

Smallpox

Rubella

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

Tetanus
 FluWatch is Canada's national surveillance system that
monitors the spread of the flu and flu-like illnesses on an ongoing basis.
 FluWatch distinguishes between seasonal Influenza A and
Pandemic Influenza A (Swine Flu).
 What is a pandemic? And How is it different from
an epidemic?
FluWatch Cont...
 PHAC produces weekly FluWatch reports during the
influenza season (October - May) and biweekly reports
during the off season (June - September).
Influenza Activity Levels
 Level 1 = No activity: no laboratory-confirmed influenza
detections during the past four weeks
 Level 2 = Sporadic: sporadically occurring lab confirmed
influenza
 Level 3 = Localized: sporadically occurring lab confirmed
influenza together with outbreaks in schools, worksites
and/or residential institutions
 Level 4 = Widespread: lab confirmed influenza occurring
in greater than or equal to 50% of the surveillance region
Summary of FluWatch Findings for the
Week ending March 17, 2012
 Influenza activity in Canada continued to increase overall compared to the
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previous week; most indicators (such as laboratory detections, outbreaks and
hospitalizations) showed higher levels in week 11 compared to the previous
week. Certain regions in the country (in ON, the Prairies and the Atlantic
Region) are showing higher levels of activity compared to other regions.
Fifty-four outbreaks of influenza or ILI were reported this week (31 in LTCFs, 5
in hospitals, 3 in schools and 15 others).
In week 11, 1,219 laboratory detections of influenza were reported (11.6% A(H3); 8.9% - A(H1N1)pdm09; 22.2%- unsubtyped and 57.3% influenza B).
The percent positive for influenza B detections increased in all regions in
Canada except in BC in week 11 compared to the previous week.
107 influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported this week (54
paediatric through IMPACT surveillance and 53 adult through aggregate
surveillance)
The ILI consultation rate declined compared to the previous week but remains
within expected levels.
What about Kingston??
 http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/bid-bmi/dsd-dsm/rvdi-
divr/2008-2009/rvdi2009-40.pdf
Canada’s Flu Pandemic Preparedness
Plan
The plan is based on six key strategies:
1. Early detection
2. Ongoing updates to keep Canadians well-informed about what
is happening and what to do as a result.
3. Emergency health services to care for those who are sick.
4. Antiviral medications
5. Pandemic flu vaccine
6. Public health measures to prevent the spread of infection —
recommendations about travel, airports, public gatherings, and
advice to schools, businesses, and communities.
Video Clip – Swine Flu Vaccine
 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20
091019/H1N1_vaccine_091019/20091019?hub=Health
Testing your Knowledge of Swine Flu!
 PHAC has spent millions in Public awareness campaigns –
have you been listening?
1. Cough into your ______________
2. Wash your hands for how long? ______________
3. Does eating pork products put you at risk for swine flu
infection?
4. Do the symptoms of swine flu differ from the symptoms of
seasonal flu?
5. When are you most infectious?
6. How many flu vaccines should you get this upcoming year?