Download The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Mr. C’s Joke/Riddle of the Day
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.
Surveillance and early monitoring
 http://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_wolfe_hunts_for_the_n
ext_aids.html
Diseases Under National Surveillance
in Canada

Botulism

Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease

Cholera

Hantavirus

Hepatitis A, B, C

Influenza

Salmonellosis

Legionellosis

Typhoid

Leprosy

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Invasive Meningococcal Disease

Chlamydial Infection

Tuberculosis

Gonorrhea

Lyme Disease

HIV Infection

Malaria

Syphilis

Plague

Diphtheria

Rabies

Measles

Mumps

Anthrax

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 8, 2013
 In week 08, specific indicators of influenza activity continued to decrease, while
indicators of the circulation of respiratory viruses such as the ILI consultation
rate were similar to recent weeks.
 The percentage of laboratory detections positive for influenza continues to
decrease, while the proportion of positive tests for influenza B has increased in
recent weeks. The percentage of laboratory detections positive for RSV and
rhinovirus were similar to recent weeks.
 The number of regions reporting widespread or localized activity was similar in
weeks 07 and 08; however, there is an overall decline in influenza/ILI activity
from the peak in early January.
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.
News Clip – Swine Flu Vaccine
 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20
091019/H1N1_vaccine_091019/20091019?hub=Health
Preventing Spread, Not Lasers, but
Genetic Engineering
 http://www.ted.com/talks/hadyn_parry_re_engineering_
mosquitos_to_fight_disease.html
Virus Hunters Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A5GLJzqQGo
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?