Board of Health Elections

The Board of Health for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit held its annual meeting which included elections to establish the Executive Committee for the year.

The Executive Committee was re-affirmed as it stood last year:

Chair- Connie Bryson, Schreiber/Terrace Bay
Vice Chair- Maria Harding, Shuniah
Committee Member - Gwen Garbutt, Conmee O"Connor
Committee Member - Lucy Kloosterhuis, Oliver Paipoonge
Committee Member - Neil MacOdrum, Provincial Appointee

"The Thunder Bay District Health Unit Board of Health is poised to meet the challenges coming in 2005. After a 70% changeover in membership last year, our members have had a year to become familiar with Public Health issues and balancing the role of municipal and provincial demands for health promotion and protection needs," says Connie Bryson, returned Chair of the Board of Health. "We are confident that we are in a good position to make the difficult decisions that await us regarding the increased demand for public health services from all levels of government."

Dates for the 2005 Board Meetings are as follows:

Wednesday, February 16
Wednesday, March 23
Wednesday, April 20
Wednesday, May 18
Wednesday, June 15
Wednesday, September 21
Wednesday, October 19
Thursday, November 16
Wednesday, December 14

Membership of the board remains unchanged from that which was determined after the 2003 municipal elections. The Board of Health is made up of representatives of the municipalities that the Health Unit serves. Municipalities may appoint their own city councilors or choose among citizens who apply to represent them.

Board of Health members include:

• Iain Angus, City of Thunder Bay
  
• Joe Virdiramo, City of Thunder Bay
  
• Vanessa Catalan, City of Thunder Bay
  
• Rudy Buitenhuis, Gillies/Neebing
  
• Claudette Trottier, Greenstone (Geraldton, Longlac/Nakina and Beardmore)
  
• Dave Bell, Marathon
  
• Gary Nelson, Dorion, Nipigon & Red Rock
  
• Cara Teichroeb, Manitouwadge

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2005

Low Turnout for Vaccine Concerns Health Unit Staff

Only 26 university students took advantage of the free meningococcal vaccine offered to them at a recent on-campus clinic. Staff were prepared for over 1000 students.

The vaccine normally costs $80. Due to the high risk at certain ages, the provincial government is providing the meningococcal meningitis vaccine free as part of an on-going childhood vaccination program. They also are offering a catch-up campaign to vaccinate 15-19 year olds and those in grade 7.

"I am disappointed and surprised that more university students didn't take advantage of the effort to protect themselves against this potentially devastating infection," says Darlene Binette, Manager of the Infectious Diseases Program at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. "As a result of the low turnout , we are reminding parents to encourage their young people to attend clinics."

A consent form and information about the vaccine and the disease is posted on the Health Unit web at www.tbdhu.com/vaccine. This will encourage parents to discuss the advantages of the vaccine with their child.

A special meningococcal meningitis vaccine clinic is scheduled at Confederation College on January 27th. Public Health Nurses will also be going to schools in both the city and district between February and June to offer the vaccine to 15-19 year olds and grade 7 students. The schedule of school clinics is posted on the website.

The information is also available on a phone line dedicated to the new vaccines:
624-9082.

The vaccine protects against the bacteria that can cause a very serious infection called meningitis. This is an infection around the brain and spinal cord. It can also cause meningococcemia, a very serious blood disease and internal organ infection that can progress very rapidly. The infection can be treated with antibiotics. However, it can cause serious permanent damage and 8-15% of the people who become ill will die.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2005

Northerners Can And Do Play A Valued And Critical Role In Provincial Matters

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is pleased to make their role known in fulfilling today's announcement of several initiatives to strengthen public health in Ontario. Three features of today's announcement made by Dr. Sheila Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of Health and Health Minister George Smitherman include:

1. The completion by the Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) of a manual for the prevention and control of Clostridium difficile in health care facilities. PIDAC was launched under Operation Health Protection. It is made up of clinical and public health experts who study and advise on the prevention, surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Ontario. PIDAC is currently co-chaired by Dr. David Williams, Medical Officer of Health for The Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and Dr. Dick Zoutman, Chief of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Medical Director of Infection Control Services, Kingston General Hospital.
2. Implementing the Integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), a central database for health units to collect and manage communicable and reportable disease information. The system will also assist in the early detection of outbreaks, more effective contract tracing and quarantine management. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is one of the primary sites to implement the new system. Staff are currently in training for it.
3. Announcing a committee to review local public health unit capacity. Lori Chow, Director of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease has been personally invited by Dr. Basrur to participate in the committee.

"We're excited about the opportunity to ensure that the unique position of the north is considered in decisions and policies made at the provincial level," says Dr. David Williams, Medical Officer of Health for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2005

Local Post-Secondary Students First Priority for Meningococcal C Vaccine

Post-secondary students attending Lakehead University and Confederation College will be the first to be offered free meningococcal vaccine as part of the new provincial initiative to vaccinate 15-19 year-olds against the infection.

Free drop-in clinics for students will be held:

• January 20, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Lakehead University in the Agora
  
• January 27, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. at Confederation College in Room C205

The vaccine protects against the bacteria that can cause a very serious infection called meningitis. This is an infection around the brain and spinal cord. It can also cause meningococcemia, a very serious blood disease and internal organ infection that can progress very rapidly. The infection can be treated with antibiotics. However, it can be serious and 8-15% of the people who become ill will die.

The infection can occur spontaneously. When it does occur, as part of their ongoing work, public health officials, investigate, do contact tracing and provide preventative treatment to close contacts of the case.

Although there are other types of meningococcal bacteria, the serogroup C bacteria causes most of the outbreaks in Canada. Since 1989, several outbreaks of serogroup C disease have occurred among teenagers especially in high school and university students. This is related to close living conditions and habits of this age group. The most recent outbreak of the disease occurred in Sudbury in 2003 when a mass immunization campaign was undertaken after three teenagers contracted the infection.

The infection can be spread when nose or throat secretions of an infected person come into contact with the nose or mouth of another person. This can occur by kissing, coughing, sneezing or sharing items like eating and drinking utensils, cigarettes or water bottles.

Although no vaccine guarantees 100% protection, the vaccine is over 92-97% effective in preventing serious disease. In the United Kingdom, their immunization program against meningococcal C disease has resulted in a 43% reduction in cases involving persons 20 years of age and younger and a 91% reduction in deaths in children under age 20.

The vaccine will also be offered to Grade 7 students with their second dose of Hepatitis B vaccine during in-school vaccination clinics. Other clinics targeted at the 15-19 year age group are planned. Young people who are not attending school can receive the vaccine from their family physician or by attending the Health Unit's Wednesday immunization clinic held at 999 Balmoral Street from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

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