Medical Officer gives September Public Health update

This week, the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Board of Health held its first fall meeting after a summer hiatus, and it was packed with information.

At the Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2024, meeting, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Piotr Oglaza updated the board on the summer activities at KFL&A Public Health, gave a glimpse of the fall respiratory virus season, and more. 

West Nile Virus

Oglaza noted that with an increase in West Nile virus (WNV) in the KFL&A region over the summer, “we collaborated with both the Environmental Health and Communicable Disease teams to create new social media messaging to warn residents that they must protect themselves from mosquitoes, even well into September. We are also in the process of updating our West Nile virus web page. A [public service announcement] was released in the late summer months.”

He noted that West Nile virus is a vector-borne disease carried by mosquitoes, and Public Health’s role includes active surveillance. Seven test locations trapped mosquitoes across the region and tested each week for 12 weeks between June and August. Mosquitoes were collected and pooled as one group and sent for testing. Testing showed positive within the city of Kingston and the region.

“We also had human cases of West Nile virus,” Oglaza said. “Two cases [were] reported in August and September, both most likely acquired locally… One patient had the neurological symptoms: inflammation related to the nervous system. And the other one had non-neurological symptoms. Both are recovering.”

According to the KFL&A Public Health website, the risk of becoming seriously ill from WNV is low. Most people (about four in five) infected with WNV will not have any symptoms; one in five will have symptoms such as fever, headaches, body aches and tiredness, rash, vomiting, and diarrhea. About one in 150 people infected will develop serious symptoms affecting their nervous system, such as encephalitis (swelling of the brain) or meningitis (swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord). Severe illness is most likely to occur in older people and in people who have poorly functioning immune systems due to other medical conditions or certain medications.

There have also been human cases “within eastern Ontario and Ottawa," Oglaza said. The region's last West Nile cases were two in 2017 and one in 2018. 

Oglaza emphasized that prevention is key. Wearing insect repellent containing the active ingredient DEET is highly encouraged, even into the fall, to prevent mosquito and tick-borne diseases.

Pertussis (whooping cough)

In late summer, as cases of pertussis were rising in the KFL&A region, Oglaza stated, “We sent out a media release to warn the public and did media interviews on the matter." The pertussis page of the KFL&A website was also updated.

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD)

According to the report, KFL&A Public Health is continuing an IMD awareness campaign after a surge in cases in the Kingston region last year. New social media reels are circulating online, educating the public on the warning signs of IMD. In February, the local Health Unit advised of IMD in the region, with further details on meningitis B detected in the area discussed at the March meeting of the KFL&A Board of Health.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory illness that affects the lungs and airways. Oglaza explained that although the virus usually causes mild illness with cold-like symptoms, it can lead to more serious illness for babies, toddlers, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions like asthma, chronic heart or lung disease, and/or a weakened immune system.

Vaccination and immunization can reduce severe outcomes from RSV, which may help protect health care and hospital capacity within our region. Oglaza noted that in July 2024, the Ontario government announced an expansion of its RSV prevention program to protect more high-risk populations during the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season. Starting in the fall, Oglaza said, the following populations will have access to an RSV vaccine:

• Babies born in 2024 before or during their first RSV season (fall to early spring, typically November to April)
• Children up to 24 months of age who are also at high risk of severe illness from RSV
• Certain high-risk adults aged 60 years and older

Oglaza said that KFL&A Public Health is currently finalizing an RSV campaign that highlights the new eligibility criteria for RSV protections, which will start in late summer and fall. 

“We are producing a fact sheet for [obstetricians and] midwives to hand out to pregnant individuals to help them decide what options are best for them and their babies," the MOH explained. 

"We are also creating a social media campaign, digital slides, bookmarks, and an updated web page to help inform the public of the expanded immunization campaign.”

COVID-19

Oglaza explained that on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, all previous COVID-19 vaccines were withdrawn from the market to prepare for the release of new KP.2 strain products this fall. 

“The reason for that is that they would share some of the drug identification numbers, and it's in the best interest not to have these products sitting in in storage. So that was the decision behind it [provincially]; plus the new vaccine has been updated for the specific KP.2 strain,” he said. 

The new KP.2 vaccines will provide greater protection for circulating COVID-19 strains compared to earlier vaccine formulations available before September 1, 2024.

Residents can subscribe to the vaccinations page of the KFL&A Public Health website by clicking on the link at the bottom of that page; they will then receive an email when Public Health adds details on the rollout of new COVID-19 vaccines for fall 2024.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are no longer available at KFL&A Public Health locations. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has indicated that the distribution of free RATs to the public is being discontinued, and retailers are currently distributing their remaining supply.

RATs are available for purchase online at some retailers. If you are symptomatic and eligible for Paxlovid antiviral medication, speak to your health-care provider or pharmacy regarding molecular (PCR) testing.

Vaccine rollout and more

KFL&A Public Health will offer vaccine clinics and outreach opportunities to people with limited access to vaccines through primary and pharmacy care, such as children under the age of five without primary care and individuals experiencing homelessness. Others can access the vaccines at pharmacies and through primary care physicians.

Over the summer months, Public Health's knowledge management team worked on refreshing existing surveillance products and finishing off a new surveillance product. The community and internal respiratory dashboards were updated to prepare for the fall and winter respiratory season. Oglaza explained, “Given the cessation of some existing data sources, other methods of getting data required a renewal of the dashboard. Plans are to update the dashboard weekly, which will also provide situational community risk assessments for the upcoming respiratory season.” 

In preparation for the upcoming 2024 influenza season, Oglaza reported that the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer signalled a review of related medical directives, clinical services policies, and modules. An additional medical directive is under development in response to Ontario’s expanded RSV prevention program, which is designed to reach and protect more infants. This medical directive will authorize the administration of Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody that provides effective and sustained protection against RSV with a single dose.

New French prenatal classes

Oglaza called the last update of his presentation "something we're very excited to announce."

"This will be the first time we're offering prenatal classes in French, which is done in collaboration with the Kingston Military Family Research Centre. This is a free and publicly funded six-week course that will be offered at the Centre in the evening, starting October 21," he said.

"This series will be open to any expectant francophone individuals, and the series will be taught by two Public Health nurses: one from the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children and Early Years program, and the francophone nurse from School Health."

For further information on any of the subjects covered in Dr. Oglaza's update, visit the KFL&A Public Health website. To find out more about the Board of Health, click here.