JANUARY HAD HIGHEST NUMBER OF OPIOID DEATHS

PUBLIC HEALTH PUSHING FOR NEW APPROACH: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When Peterborough Public Health met for its regular board of health meeting earlier this month, the area's opioid crisis was front and centre. Here are three take-aways from that meeting.

PETERBOROUGH AREA AVERAGING SIX OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS PER MONTH

Carolyn Doris, manager of family and community health for PPH, said January had the highest number of deaths since tracking began in 2011. Another five suspected deaths occurred in February.

Doris noted that the cause of death is confirmed by the coroner's office through the completion of an investigation. As these investigations are typically delayed by several months, final mortality numbers are subject to change and may rise as investigations are closed.

Doris shared that over the last 12 months, there have been, on average, six deaths every month. This demonstrates the continued need for co-ordinated efforts via the Peterborough Drug Strategy and other community partners to ensure a united response to the drug poisoning crisis.

Despite a rise in deaths in the first two months of 2023, Doris said that emergency department visits have remained at similar levels to January 2023, and paramedic calls for service increased slightly com

pared to the previous month.

COVID-19 AND RESPIRATORY VIRUSES UPDATE

Donna Churipuy, director of health protection, reviewed current data from the COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Index. Current data shows that the region remains at a moderate risk level, despite increasing case rates and hospitalizations.

An increase in positive rapid antigen tests has been observed, along with a declining wastewater signal. Conversely, respiratory virus signals have increased. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has released a statement advising an additional booster dose in spring 2023 for key populations. Peterborough Public Health is waiting on provincial guidance to determine implementation needs for a spring campaign.

HEALTH PROTECTION DIVISION CATCHING UP AFTER COVID-19

Churipuy delivered the first of three presentations to the board outlining the

mandatory programs and services that local public health units are required to deliver under the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS).

Peterborough Public Health is managing a significant workload with limited staffing resources compared to other public health units. For example, in 2018, the infectious disease team responded to 418 diseases of public health significance with a team of nine full-time staff. Similarly, 13 staff on the clinical services team responded to 789 reports of sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBIs) in 2018 and provided immunization services at 31 schools.

In 2019, the clinical services team also administered 2,574 doses of vaccine and completed 2,314 public health nurse and physician assessments through the Sexual Health Clinic. Churipuy said that work within the health protection division has fallen behind due to the pandemic, but planning is underway to catch up on critical work despite long-standing capacity issues.