While Ontario’s rates of HIV and Hepatitis C infection have been in decline over the last 10 years, in the Middlesex-London area there has been an alarming increase in these infection rates during that same time period. On Thursday evening, the Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) will ask its Board to consider re-allocating Health Unit resources to address this issue to address what is being called a local public health emergency.
Provincially, HIV rates went from 7.4 cases to 5.5 cases per 100,000 in the last 10 years while local rates have gone from 5.9 cases per 100,000 in 2005 to 9.0 per 100,000 last year. For Hepatitis C, the local rates have climbed from 32.2 cases per 100,000 in 2005 to 53.7 cases per 100,000 in 2015. The figures for Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease and infective endocarditis are also cause for concern.
The figures have come to light as a result of a Health Unit investigation into an increase in newly diagnosed HIV cases among people who use injection drugs. The MLHU began compiling data in February and consulted several provincial and national experts as part of its investigation. The consultations considered what strategies could be used to address emerging public health issues related to injection drug use, and to discuss potential next steps including the potential for the Health Unit to serve as a site for point-of-care (rapid) HIV testing services.
“Distributing clean needles is an important part of preventing the spread of HIV, but needle distribution alone won’t solve this problem. We need to consider the underlying social determinants of health that are leading people to use these drugs and become infected with these viruses,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health and CEO with the Middlesex London Health Unit. “There is an urgent need to do more outreach to both understand and manage this complex problem. What we’re seeing is an indication that we need a supervised injection site in London.”
The increase in infection rates, and corresponding increases in injection drug use are being driven by several factors including mental health, addictions issues, and the sharing of needles. The Health Unit is already working with local partners on a community drug strategy built on the four pillars of prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement. In addition to this work, the MLHU has also requested that the Public Health Agency of Canada assign a field epidemiologist to Middlesex-London assist with this work.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)
Spokesperson:
Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit