COVID-19 outcome trends by vaccination status in Canada, December 2020-January 2022.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Canada has evolved rapidly. Since late 2020, COVID-19 vaccines have been relied on to protect against severe outcomes in the presence of circulating variants of concern (VOC).

Objective: This surveillance report provides a retrospective descriptive analysis of national trends in COVID-19 cases and severe outcomes by vaccination status, contextualizing trends against case demographics and circulating VOCs, from December 2020 to January 2022.

Social Contacts and Transmission of COVID-19 in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Close-contact rates are thought to be a driving force behind the transmission of many infectious respiratory diseases. Yet, contact rates and their relation to transmission and the impact of control measures, are seldom quantified. We quantify the response of contact rates, reported cases and transmission of COVID-19, to public health contact-restriction orders, and examine the associations among these three variables in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

Invasive group A streptococcal disease in pregnant women and young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The incidence of invasive disease caused by group A streptococcus (GAS) has increased in multiple countries in the past 15 years. However, despite these reports, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic reviews and combined estimates of the incidence of invasive GAS have been done in key high-risk groups. To address this, we estimated the incidence of invasive GAS disease, including death and disability outcomes, among two high-risk groups-namely, pregnant women and children younger than 5 years.

Mental Health and Substance Use Associated with Hospitalization among People with COVID-19: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

This study identified factors associated with hospital admission among people with laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases in British Columbia. The study used data from the BC COVID-19 Cohort, which integrates data on all COVID-19 cases with data on hospitalizations, medical visits, emergency room visits, prescription drugs, chronic conditions and deaths. The analysis included all laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases in British Columbia to 15 January 2021.

Evaluation of the Do Bugs Need Drugs? program in British Columbia: Can we curb antibiotic prescribing?

Objective: Antibiotic resistance is accelerated by the overuse of antibiotics. Do Bugs Need Drugs? is an educational program adapted in British Columbia to target both the public and health care professionals, with the aim of reducing unnecessary prescribing. The current article presents a descriptive evaluation of the impact of the program over the first four years.

Usefulness of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in tracking two outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease serogroup C in British Columbia.

Two major outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease serogroup C (IMD-C) were identified in British Columbia between 2000 and 2004. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and porA gene sequencing of all retained IMD-C isolates were used to assess correlations between genotypes and epidemiological patterns. PFGE patterns of IMD-C genotypes correlated with epidemiological patterns between 2000 and 2004 in British Columbia, and demonstrated that PFGE can identify outbreak-related cases.

An Outbreak of Human Coronavirus OC43 Infection and Serological Cross-reactivity with SARS Coronavirus.

Background: In summer 2003, a respiratory outbreak was investigated in British Columbia, during which nucleic acid tests and serology unexpectedly indicated reactivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Methods: Cases at a care facility were epidemiologically characterized and sequentially investigated for conventional agents of respiratory infection, SARS-CoV and other human CoVs. Serological cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV and human CoV-OC43 (HCoV-OC43) was investigated by peptide spot assay.

An outbreak of norovirus caused by consumption of oysters from geographically dispersed harvest sites, British Columbia, Canada, 2004.

Objectives: In January 2004, an increase in gastrointestinal illness following oyster consumption was reported in British Columbia. An investigation was initiated to explore the association between norovirus infection and consumption of British Columbia oysters and to identify the source of oyster contamination.

Methods: The outbreak investigation included active surveillance for human cases, two cohort studies, trace-back of oysters, and laboratory testing of oysters and human stools.

A bird's eye view: using geographic analysis to evaluate the representativeness of corvid indicators for West Nile virus surveillance.

Background: The objective of this evaluation was to determine whether reports of dead corvid sightings and submissions of dead corvids for West Nile virus testing were representative of true corvid mortality in British Columbia in 2004, a year with no West Nile virus activity, in order to ensure the system was accurately describing corvid mortality rather than reflecting regional differences in surveillance methods.

Results: Local Health Areas reported 0-159 (median = 3) dead corvid sightings and 0-209 (median = 5) submissions for West Nile virus testing. The expected numbers of dead corvid sightings and submissions for testing from each Local Health Area were 0-232 (median = 3) and 0-258 (median = 4), respectively.

Enhanced surveillance for adverse events following immunization: Two years of dTap catch-up among high school students in Yukon, Canada (2004, 2005).

Background: To address the increasing age of pertussis cases, Yukon replaced the Grade 9 tetanus/diphtheria/inactivated polio booster with diphtheria/tetanus/acellular pertussis (dTap) and implemented a dTap catch-up program for Grade 12 students. The program began in June 2004, making Yukon one of the first Canadian jurisdictions to introduce dTap within five years of a tetanus booster. We implemented enhanced surveillance to monitor adverse events following immunization (AEFI) to determine whether students receiving dTap > or =3 to <5 years after their last tetanus booster were at increased risk of severe AEFI.

Protective measures and human antibody response during an avian influenza H7N3 outbreak in poultry in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: In 2004 an outbreak of avian influenza of the H7N3 subtype occurred among poultry in British Columbia, Canada. We report compliance with recommended protective measures and associated human infections during this outbreak.

Methods: We sought voluntary participation by anyone (cullers, farmers and their families) involved in efforts to control the poultry outbreak.

Human illness from avian influenza H7N3, British Columbia.

Avian influenza that infects poultry in close proximity to humans is a concern because of its pandemic potential. In 2004, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N3 occurred in poultry in British Columbia, Canada. Surveillance identified two persons with confirmed avian influenza infection.