The top four reportable communicable diseases in Brantford and Brant
County last year were chlamydia, gonorrhea, influenza and hepatitis C,
according to a report released by the Brant County Health Unit.
In 2015, there were 448 reported cases of chlamydial infections, 110 of gonorrhea, 90 of influenza and 62 of hepatitis C.
Of the 448 reported cases of chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infectious disease, the majority of cases - 368 - fell into the 15 to 29 age group, according to the report.
Last year, cases of chlamydia among women (297) were roughly double those among men (151).
Health unit staff are attempting to combat those numbers with plans to set up satellite clinics offering testing and treatment, board members heard.
Gonorrhea, also a sexually transmitted illness, was second on the list for 2015 with 110 local cases, which was a near doubling of the 59 cases reported in 2014, according to the report. Last year's cases included 47 women and 63 men.
The five-year average for gonorrhea cases is about 49.
Public health nurse Shawna Wilson said that the increase in gonorrhea cases could be due to a number of factors, such as the bacteria having progressively developed a resistance to the antimicrobials used for treatment, an increase in testing and higher levels of risky sexual behaviour, which includes not using condoms.
"Identifying cases and their sexual partners is critical in controlling the infection," as well as providing education regarding prevention practices to individuals most at risk, Wilson said.
Influenza was third on the local list of reportable communicable diseases.
Although there were 90 lab-confirmed cases of influenza in 2015, the actual number would have been much higher because the majority of flu cases are not lab confirmed, said Ruth Gratton, manager of infectious diseases.
The timing of flu season can vary and most flu seasons span two calendar years, from October of one year to March of the next year, she said.
"The full duration of the current season will not be known until later. We are experiencing a late flu season with seven confirmed lab cases in January and 48 in February," Gratton said. Word of the first lab-confirmed case of the current flu season came on Dec. 31, 2015.
"This year saw a late start to the flu season and a good match with the vaccine," which may have contributed to fewer cases than previous years, she said.
There were 118 cases of flu reported in 2014-2015.
Hepatitis C was the fourth most common reportable communicable disease locally, with 62 cases reported last year throughout Brantford and Brant, compared to 53 cases in 2014.
The five-year average of hepatitis C cases is about 56, according to the report.
This illness is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person, Wilson said.
People at risk for hepatitis C are those who use injection drugs and share drug-related equipment, people with tattoos and body piercing done with shared equipment and those having unprotected sex, she said. There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.
In 2015, there were 448 reported cases of chlamydial infections, 110 of gonorrhea, 90 of influenza and 62 of hepatitis C.
Of the 448 reported cases of chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infectious disease, the majority of cases - 368 - fell into the 15 to 29 age group, according to the report.
Last year, cases of chlamydia among women (297) were roughly double those among men (151).
Health unit staff are attempting to combat those numbers with plans to set up satellite clinics offering testing and treatment, board members heard.
Gonorrhea, also a sexually transmitted illness, was second on the list for 2015 with 110 local cases, which was a near doubling of the 59 cases reported in 2014, according to the report. Last year's cases included 47 women and 63 men.
The five-year average for gonorrhea cases is about 49.
Public health nurse Shawna Wilson said that the increase in gonorrhea cases could be due to a number of factors, such as the bacteria having progressively developed a resistance to the antimicrobials used for treatment, an increase in testing and higher levels of risky sexual behaviour, which includes not using condoms.
"Identifying cases and their sexual partners is critical in controlling the infection," as well as providing education regarding prevention practices to individuals most at risk, Wilson said.
Influenza was third on the local list of reportable communicable diseases.
Although there were 90 lab-confirmed cases of influenza in 2015, the actual number would have been much higher because the majority of flu cases are not lab confirmed, said Ruth Gratton, manager of infectious diseases.
The timing of flu season can vary and most flu seasons span two calendar years, from October of one year to March of the next year, she said.
"The full duration of the current season will not be known until later. We are experiencing a late flu season with seven confirmed lab cases in January and 48 in February," Gratton said. Word of the first lab-confirmed case of the current flu season came on Dec. 31, 2015.
"This year saw a late start to the flu season and a good match with the vaccine," which may have contributed to fewer cases than previous years, she said.
There were 118 cases of flu reported in 2014-2015.
Hepatitis C was the fourth most common reportable communicable disease locally, with 62 cases reported last year throughout Brantford and Brant, compared to 53 cases in 2014.
The five-year average of hepatitis C cases is about 56, according to the report.
This illness is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person, Wilson said.
People at risk for hepatitis C are those who use injection drugs and share drug-related equipment, people with tattoos and body piercing done with shared equipment and those having unprotected sex, she said. There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.
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