Latest news with #StMichaelsHospital
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
A new COVID-19 subvariant has emerged. Here is why experts in Ontario say there is no reason to panic
A new subvariant of COVID-19 that has been circulating in some parts of the world for months has now made its way to the United States but experts say that there is no cause for concern just yet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NB.1.8.1 derives from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1 and is one of six current 'variants under monitoring' due to its mutations and global spread. Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto and internal medicine physician at St. Michael's Hospital, tells CTV News Toronto that a variant under monitoring—or a VUM—is different from variant of concerns, which often resulted in an exponential rise in transmission when they emerged and quickly became dominant during the pandemic. The key difference between both variant types, Razak says, is that VUMs will likely not swamp the health-care system or cause more severe illness like variants of concern will. 'Over the last couple of years, despite seeing many mutations, we have not had a new variant of concern emerge and this current variant, NB.1.8.1 is being called a variant (under) monitoring, meaning that it is clearly spreading, but it is not showing any of those concerning features that make us more worried,' Razak said. Here's what we know about the new subvariant so far: What is NB.1.8.1? The WHO says NB.1.8.1 has been detected in 22 countries as of May 18. This represented 10.7 per cent of COVID cases seen worldwide in the last full week of April, which the WHO says is a notable rise from the 2.5 per cent noted in the first week of April. Compared to other co-circulating variants, the number of cases related to NB.1.8.1 is growing faster—however, the WHO notes its expansion has only recently started to rise and that some regions have not yet detected it. Has it made its way to Ontario? Based on the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which breaks down the percentage of COVID-19 cases by variant grouping on a weekly basis, there are no cases of NB.1.8.1. recorded in the country. Both Razak and Infectious diseases expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch say it is likely the new variant will make its way here eventually but Razak notes Canada does not provide a 'reliable estimate across the country anymore.' 'We used to do regular testing for sequence across the country. They would be coordinated by public health labs in each province and then collated federally,' Razak said. 'That was done during the peak of the pandemic and (had) a lot of value in helping us understand the degree of spread, especially when we had these variants of concern.' If there was a new variant that showed more severe disease, a high degree of spread or evading the vaccine, Razak thinks many parts of the world would be vulnerable since the level of monitoring is not what it used to be. 'We don't have the level of uptake of vaccines that we had two or three years ago, and so those factors would mean you could have something spread and you would have lower levels of protection, and so you could have a lot of people sick,' Razak said. But, Razak says, that there hasn't been a major variant of concern in years. Public Health Ontario tells CTV News Toronto that, to date, this variant has not been included in its reporting but note its next report will be published next week. Toronto Public Health, meanwhile, does not break down what variants of COVID-19 are seen in in the city. It does provide general data for how prevalent the virus is at this time. The latest epidemiological data from TPH shows a 1.8 per cent positivity rate from May 11 to May 17, showing the activity levels of the virus are currently 'low.' Are the symptoms any different? Bogoch says the symptoms from NB.1.8.1. are similar to what one would get if they contracted any Omicron sub-lineage in the last three years, which could cause fever, fatigue, cough, and shortness of breath. 'There's a well-trodden path of who's at greater risk for more severe manifestations of the virus, namely, people on the older end of the spectrum and people with underlying medical comorbidities,' Bogoch said. 'So, it doesn't sound like, apart from a subtle genetic change, it doesn't sound like there's anything new about this (variant) in terms of clinical presentation, risk factors for severity of illness (and) transmission.' The guidance on how to protect yourself also remains unchanged, Razak says. 'When you have periods like this, like, let's say we have started to see a high degree of spread in Canada, the advice that we've given the last few years would hold just as strongly. If your vaccine hasn't been updated, update your vaccine,' Razak said. Masking in crowded places, frequently washing hands and enhancing air circulation when indoors are also other methods to prevent the virus from spreading between person to person. What if you haven't had a recent vaccine? Bogoch says that, for some time now, the COVID-19 vaccines 'doesn't protect against infection nearly to the same extent as it once did.' 'The vaccines can provide a little bit of protection against infection for a short period of time—they can—but the real role of the vaccine is to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness that is primarily in those with risk factors for severe illness,' Bogoch said. 'Long are the days where the vaccine was a formidable force in preventing infection and subsequent onward transmission. We haven't been that era in years.' The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection but after about six months, its protection starts to wane, Razak says. 'Our National Advisory Committee on Immunization, they have continued to say that high-risk individuals—for example, older individuals, people who are immunosuppressed, people who are being treated for rheumatologic illness or cancer where their immune systems are notworking—they would benefit from getting their updates every six months,' Razak said.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
A new COVID-19 subvariant has emerged. Here is why experts in Ontario say there is no reason to panic
A new subvariant of COVID-19 that has been circulating in some parts of the world for months has now made its way to the United States but experts say that there is no cause for concern just yet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NB.1.8.1 derives from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1 and is one of six current 'variants under monitoring' due to its mutations and global spread. Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto and internal medicine physician at St. Michael's Hospital, tells CTV News Toronto that a variant under monitoring—or a VUM—is different from variant of concerns, which often resulted in an exponential rise in transmission when they emerged and quickly became dominant during the pandemic. The key difference between both variant types, Razak says, is that VUMs will likely not swamp the health-care system or cause more severe illness like variants of concern will. 'Over the last couple of years, despite seeing many mutations, we have not had a new variant of concern emerge and this current variant, NB.1.8.1 is being called a variant (under) monitoring, meaning that it is clearly spreading, but it is not showing any of those concerning features that make us more worried,' Razak said. Here's what we know about the new subvariant so far: What is NB.1.8.1? The WHO says NB.1.8.1 has been detected in 22 countries as of May 18. This represented 10.7 per cent of COVID cases seen worldwide in the last full week of April, which the WHO says is a notable rise from the 2.5 per cent noted in the first week of April. Compared to other co-circulating variants, the number of cases related to NB.1.8.1 is growing faster—however, the WHO notes its expansion has only recently started to rise and that some regions have not yet detected it. Has it made its way to Ontario? Based on the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which breaks down the percentage of COVID-19 cases by variant grouping on a weekly basis, there are no cases of NB.1.8.1. recorded in the country. Both Bogoch and Razak say it is likely the new variant will make its way here eventually but Razak notes Canada does not provide a 'reliable estimate across the country anymore.' 'We used to do regular testing for sequence across the country. They would be coordinated by public health labs in each province and then collated federally,' Razak said. 'That was done during the peak of the pandemic and (had) a lot of value in helping us understand the degree of spread, especially when we had these variants of concern.' If there was a new variant that showed more severe disease, a high degree of spread or evading the vaccine, Razak thinks many parts of the world would be vulnerable since the level of monitoring is not what it used to be. 'We don't have the level of uptake of vaccines that we had two or three years ago, and so those factors would mean you could have something spread and you would have lower levels of protection, and so you could have a lot of people sick,' Razak said. But, Razak says, that there hasn't been a major variant of concern in years. Public Health Ontario tells CTV News Toronto that, to date, this variant has not been included in its reporting but note its next report will be published next week. Toronto Public Health, meanwhile, does not break down what variants of COVID-19 are seen in in the city. It does provide general data for how prevalent the virus is at this time. The latest epidemiological data from TPH shows a 1.8 per cent positivity rate from May 11 to May 17, showing the activity levels of the virus are currently 'low.' Are the symptoms any different? Bogoch says the symptoms from NB.1.8.1. are similar to what one would get if they contracted any Omicron sub-lineage in the last three years, which could cause fever, fatigue, cough, and shortness of breath. 'There's a well-trodden path of who's at greater risk for more severe manifestations of the virus, namely, people on the older end of the spectrum and people with underlying medical comorbidities,' Bogoch said. 'So, it doesn't sound like, apart from a subtle genetic change, it doesn't sound like there's anything new about this (variant) in terms of clinical presentation, risk factors for severity of illness (and) transmission.' The guidance on how to protect yourself also remains unchanged, Razak says. 'When you have periods like this, like, let's say we have started to see a high degree of spread in Canada, the advice that we've given the last few years would hold just as strongly. If your vaccine hasn't been updated, update your vaccine,' Razak said. Masking in crowded places, frequently washing hands and enhancing air circulation when indoors are also other methods to prevent the virus from spreading between person to person. What if you haven't had a recent vaccine? Bogoch says that, for some time now, the COVID-19 vaccines 'doesn't protect against infection nearly to the same extent as it once did.' 'The vaccines can provide a little bit of protection against infection for a short period of time—they can—but the real role of the vaccine is to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness that is primarily in those with risk factors for severe illness,' Bogoch said. 'Long are the days where the vaccine was a formidable force in preventing infection and subsequent onward transmission. We haven't been that era in years.' The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection but after about six months, its protection starts to wane, Razak says. 'Our National Advisory Committee on Immunization, they have continued to say that high-risk individuals—for example, older individuals, people who are immunosuppressed, people who are being treated for rheumatologic illness or cancer where their immune systems are notworking—they would benefit from getting their updates every six months,' Razak said.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
A new COVID subvariant has emerged. Here is why experts in Ontario say there is no reason to panic.
A new subvariant of COVID-19 that has been circulating in some parts of the world for months has now made its way to the United States but experts say that there is no cause for concern just yet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NB.1.8.1 derives from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1 and is one of six current 'variants under monitoring' due to its mutations and global spread. Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto and internal medicine physician at St. Michael's Hospital, tells CTV News Toronto that a variant under monitoring—or a VUM—is different from variant of concerns, which often resulted in an exponential rise in transmission when they emerged and quickly became dominant during the pandemic. The key difference between both variant types, Razak says, is that VUMs will likely not swamp the health-care system or cause more severe illness like variants of concern will. 'Over the last couple of years, despite seeing many mutations, we have not had a new variant of concern emerge and this current variant, NB.1.8.1 is being called a variant (under) monitoring, meaning that it is clearly spreading, but it is not showing any of those concerning features that make us more worried,' Razak said. Here's what we know about the new subvariant so far: What is NB.1.8.1? The WHO says NB.1.8.1 has been detected in 22 countries as of May 18. This represented 10.7 per cent of COVID cases seen worldwide in the last full week of April, which the WHO says is a notable rise from the 2.5 per cent noted in the first week of April. Compared to other co-circulating variants, the number of cases related to NB.1.8.1 is growing faster—however, the WHO notes its expansion has only recently started to rise and that some regions have not yet detected it. Has it made its way to Ontario? Based on the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which breaks down the percentage of COVID-19 cases by variant grouping on a weekly basis, there are no cases of NB.1.8.1. recorded in the country. Both Bogoch and Razak say it is likely the new variant will make its way here eventually but Razak notes Canada does not provide a 'reliable estimate across the country anymore.' 'We used to do regular testing for sequence across the country. They would be coordinated by public health labs in each province and then collated federally,' Razak said. 'That was done during the peak of the pandemic and (had) a lot of value in helping us understand the degree of spread, especially when we had these variants of concern.' If there was a new variant that showed more severe disease, a high degree of spread or evading the vaccine, Razak thinks many parts of the world would be vulnerable since the level of monitoring is not what it used to be. 'We don't have the level of uptake of vaccines that we had two or three years ago, and so those factors would mean you could have something spread and you would have lower levels of protection, and so you could have a lot of people sick,' Razak said. But, Razak says, that there hasn't been a major variant of concern in years. Public Health Ontario tells CTV News Toronto that, to date, this variant has not been included in its reporting but note its next report will be published next week. Toronto Public Health, meanwhile, does not break down what variants of COVID-19 are seen in in the city. It does provide general data for how prevalent the virus is at this time. The latest epidemiological data from TPH shows a 1.8 per cent positivity rate from May 11 to May 17, showing the activity levels of the virus are currently 'low.' Are the symptoms any different? Bogoch says the symptoms from NB.1.8.1. are similar to what one would get if they contracted any Omicron sub-lineage in the last three years, which could cause fever, fatigue, cough, and shortness of breath. 'There's a well-trodden path of who's at greater risk for more severe manifestations of the virus, namely, people on the older end of the spectrum and people with underlying medical comorbidities,' Bogoch said. 'So, it doesn't sound like, apart from a subtle genetic change, it doesn't sound like there's anything new about this (variant) in terms of clinical presentation, risk factors for severity of illness (and) transmission.' The guidance on how to protect yourself also remains unchanged, Razak says. 'When you have periods like this, like, let's say we have started to see a high degree of spread in Canada, the advice that we've given the last few years would hold just as strongly. If your vaccine hasn't been updated, update your vaccine,' Razak said. Masking in crowded places, frequently washing hands and enhancing air circulation when indoors are also other methods to prevent the virus from spreading between person to person. What if you haven't had a recent vaccine? Bogoch says that, for some time now, the COVID-19 vaccines 'doesn't protect against infection nearly to the same extent as it once did.' 'The vaccines can provide a little bit of protection against infection for a short period of time—they can—but the real role of the vaccine is to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness that is primarily in those with risk factors for severe illness,' Bogoch said. 'Long are the days where the vaccine was a formidable force in preventing infection and subsequent onward transmission. We haven't been that era in years.' The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection but after about six months, its protection starts to wane, Razak says. 'Our National Advisory Committee on Immunization, they have continued to say that high-risk individuals—for example, older individuals, people who are immunosuppressed, people who are being treated for rheumatologic illness or cancer where their immune systems are notworking—they would benefit from getting their updates every six months,' Razak said.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Concerning:' New research reveals trend that may be contributing to family doctor shortage
A doctor wears a lab coat and stethoscope in an exam room at a health clinic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh New research has found that many family doctors are choosing to work in emergency departments or other areas of hospitals instead of practicing comprehensive family medicine, potentially exasperating Ontario's family doctor shortage. The study published Tuesday in the Annals of Family Medicine looked at 30 years of data in Ontario, covering a period from 1993-1994 through 2021-2022. It concluded that there was a substantial decrease in the number of comprehensive family doctors in the province on a per capita basis. In fact over the study period, the data showed that while the number of family physicians increased from 104 to 118 per 100,000 people, the number of comprehensive family physicians decreased from 71 to 64 per 100,000 people. The data further showed that of the 6,310 additional family doctors who entered the workforce over the study period, nearly 40 per cent were in focused practice. Researchers have called this trend 'concerning'. The study found that despite training more family doctors, the numbers do not add up to balance the need, the study's senior author Dr. Tara Kiran, a family physician and researcher at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto told CP24 on Wednesday. 'It's not enough to just train more family doctors,' Kiran said. 'We have to support them and ensure our systems and incentives are in place so that they preferentially choose family medicine in the community.' Kiran added that building infrastructure, incentives and support systems within family medicine can help drive more physicians towards full-service family medicine instead of seeking employment in larger hospitals. 'We don't have enough family doctors, but we also have don't have enough doctors working in other parts of the system,' she said. 'And that's partly why family doctors are struggling.' Around 2.5 million Ontarians are without a family doctor, according to data published by Ontario College of Family Physicians. The findings show that the province needs to work harder to encourage family physicians to choose this specialty, the research says. The Ford government recently revealed plans to set up to 80 new or extended team-based primary care facilities in marginalized neighbourhoods across Ontario in an attempt to get around 300,000 people off waitlists as a part of a $1.8 billion undertaking. The government has vowed to combat the crisis by connecting every Ontarian with a family physician by the year 2029. According to Ema Popovic, a spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones, this year's Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) saw 621 students match into family medicine – 113 more than 2022. The spokesperson added that more doctors are choosing to practice family medicine in Ontario as the government's investments 'enhance digital tools to save primary care providers 95,000 hours and add new medical school seats.' 'We continue to break down barriers for family doctors to enter our workforce new programs such as the Learn and Stay Grant and Practice Ready Ontario that will add nearly 1,500 new family doctors with full rosters, practicing in rural and northern communities across the province,' Popovic said. Although the authors of the research note that further study is needed to explain the trend, they say that physicians moving away from family medicine and toward specialized areas could be attributed to higher pay, better working conditions, more freedom and flexibility – during vacations and leaves and reduced responsibilities of running a small business. Another notable concern is that family physicians are constantly occupied with paperwork, that takes hours out of their schedules, Kiran added. The study found that the number of family doctors working in roles like emergency medicine or addiction medicine rose 'substantially' over a 30-year period between 1993 and 2021.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
St Michael's Hospital blaze 'started in solar panels'
A blaze which forced the evacuation of pregnant women and babies from a maternity hospital began in solar panels on the roof, firefighters have confirmed. Emergency services rushed to Bristol's St Michael's Hospital shortly before 16:30 BST on Thursday, with flames and large plumes of smoke visible across the city. Despite the dramatic appearance of the fire, no injuries were reported and the hospital was able to reopen by 19:00. Hospital officials confirmed that while most services at St Michael's were operating on Friday, some appointments had to be rescheduled. An investigation into the cause of the blaze was opened on Thursday, with Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirming on Friday it originated in the solar team established the "cause of the fire to be accidental due to a fault in the solar panels", a spokesperson for the service said. "Firefighters safely extinguished the fire on the roof and no other part of the hospital was affected by the fire," they added. Prof Stuart Walker, the hospital's managing director, said a "very small number of planned appointments" had been rescheduled."Those affected by this have been contacted directly. If you have an appointment, please attend it unless you hear from us."The hospital remains open to those who need access to our services, including the delivery suite," he said."Thank you to our amazing colleagues, emergency services and local partners for their efforts yesterday to help keep our patients and their loved ones safe." Mothers-to-be and babies were moved outside of the building, supported by midwives who brought out milk and fruit. The fire was extinguished within an hour and the hospital reopened by 19:00 Hutchinson, 22, whose waters had broken, told the BBC at the time it was "scary" hearing the fire on the Badaki, who is 32-weeks pregnant, added: "It was very frightening, because everywhere was dark, the smoke was just all over the place. It was quite scary really."
