Public Health in Focus
Public Health in Focus is a newsletter by Public Health Sudbury & Districts to inform our community on the public health issues of the day and is issued following our regular Board of Health meetings.
Words for Thought
January 2025
Respiratory illness on the rise: Stay safe this winter!
As we step into January, surveillance data—both locally and provincially—shows that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is likely peaking now. Flu cases are also rapidly increasing, heading towards their peak in the coming weeks. This pattern is not unexpected; influenza typically peaks in January. One likely contributor to this surge in respiratory illnesses is the holiday season in December, with its many social events that create opportunities for the virus to circulate and supercharge its spread heading into January.
COVID-19 cases, on the other hand, remains at their high baseline level between surges. It is likely that the same gatherings during the December holidays will begin to drive the next surge in the coming weeks.
Lessons for illness prevention
These seasonal patterns offer valuable lessons that can inform our actions as individuals and as a society:
Increase vigilance during high-risk periods
January is a higher-risk period for respiratory viral infections. To protect ourselves and others, this is the perfect ideal time to increase our vigilance:
- Monitor your health: Stay home if feeling sick.
- Masking: Wearing a mask, especially in crowded or indoor settings, can help reduce the spread of viruses during the winter season.
- Get vaccinated: If you haven’t already, ensure you’re up-to-date on vaccinations for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV (if eligible).
Mitigate December’s impact on January’s surge
The holiday season is a time for gatherings and celebrations, but it also fuels virus transmission. Into the future, we could consider
- Encouraging flexibility: Prolonged working from home or extending vacation periods into January could help limit the spread of respiratory viruses.
- Balancing social interactions: While reducing December gatherings isn’t desirable, being mindful to limit social interaction in the days after them can limit the spread of infection to others, especially vulnerable family and friends.
Invest in air quality improvements
Respiratory viruses spread through the air, and so they thrive in poorly ventilated spaces where virus-laden air can build-up. It is crucial to address air quality in public and private spaces. Over 100 years ago, water-borne diarrheal infections were the third leading cause of death in Canada. By cleaning the water we use through water treatment and sewage treatment, we now rarely hear of anyone getting sick of diarrheal infections, let alone dying. We need to make similar investments to the air we breathe by
- Enhancing ventilation and filtration: Ensuring buildings are equipped to remove harmful viruses from the air.
- Implementing ultraviolet disinfection: This technology can neutralize airborne viruses effectively.
By prioritizing clean air, we can dramatically reduce the impact of respiratory infections, currently the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. As a bonus, improved air quality would also provide protection against future pandemics caused by novel respiratory viruses, such as new coronaviruses or avian influenzas.
The patterns we see today in RSV, flu, and COVID-19 serve as a reminder that viruses don’t take breaks. With proactive measures, we can mitigate their impact.
M. Mustafa Hirji MD, MPH, FRCPC
Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to our new Associate Medical Officer of Health
On January 6, we warmly welcomed Dr. Emily Groot to Public Health Sudbury & Districts as our new Associate Medical Officer of Health on a part-time basis. Dr. Groot grew up in Northern Ontario and so brings extensive expertise and a deep understanding of the region, and she has also had diverse experiences across the public health system.
Dr. Groot’s role is to assist the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in supporting the Board of Health and the organization to achieve the public health mandate by providing leadership and surge capacity. Specifically, Emily Groot will provide leadership to our health protection work around infectious disease prevention, as well as supporting physician engagement.
While some of our partners may be familiar with Dr. Groot and her work locally, we look forward to introducing her and working closely with you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Her leadership and expertise will enhance our capacity to address public health priorities and respond to emerging challenges.
Need to do
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Need to know
We strive for health equity by championing equal opportunities for health.
The role of income in fighting food insecurity
Food insecurity—struggling to afford enough nutritious food—is closely tied to low income, housing challenges, and systemic inequities. It disproportionately affects marginalized populations. Public Health staff collaborated with the Sudbury Food (In)Security group to host a public screening of It’s Basic at the Sudbury Indie Cinema. The film explored how income-based solutions, like a basic income guarantee, can address food insecurity and build a fairer society.
The film highlighted how stable income can improve access to healthy food, can reduce chronic diseases, and foster better overall well-being. One key message was clear: addressing root causes like income inequality is essential for tackling food insecurity. The screening sparked important conversations about the link between income, health, and access to food. Events like this are a vital step in encouraging collective action to create meaningful change and ensure that everyone has the resources they need to thrive.
Visit our website to learn more about food affordability in Sudbury and districts.
Initiatives such as this one showcases our commitment to our strategic priority of equal opportunities for health by supporting awareness, education, advocacy, and policy development to address the root causes of health inequities.
We strive for ongoing excellence in local public health practice, including demonstrating accountability and monitoring the effectiveness, impact, and quality of our programs and services.
Smoke-Free Ontario Act enforcement highlights and reminders
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) regulates sale, use, and display of smoking and vaping of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and cannabis to protect the health of the public, prevent people from starting to smoke or vape, and support quit attempts. The Act places restrictions on smoking, vaping, and cannabis use in certain areas, like schools or workplaces, sets age restrictions on the sale of products, and sets requirements for retailers to ensure compliance.
In November and December, SFOA inspectors charged 3 individuals for smoking or vaping on school property, and 1 employer for failure to meet their obligations under the Act.
Compliance with SFOA is not only a legal obligation but also a commitment to fostering healthier communities. Public Health encourages everyone to stay informed and take proactive steps to ensure compliance.
Learn more about Smoke-Free Ontario Act enforcement
Rising RSV-related hospitalizations earlier in the season
This season, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations began rising earlier than expected, with cases increasing in October compared to December in 2023. Surveillance also let us know that RSV-related hospitalizations between November 3 and December 14, were significantly higher than during the same period last year. These trends prompted the Agency to notify health system partners and reinforce the importance of key clinical practices such as symptom assessment, treatment, and immunization.
Through vigilance and collaboration, public health and health care providers play a vital role in mitigating the impacts of seasonal respiratory illnesses.
Through a variety of Public Health services, we see our strategic priority of excellence in public health practice in action for clients, communities, and stakeholders.
We establish relationships that lead to impactful partnerships, collaborations, and engagement.
Health Equity Team engages Black community
In a meaningful effort to address health inequities and support racial equity within the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts, the Health Equity Team hosted a series of engagement sessions with the Black community in December. These sessions aimed to gather input and feedback and validate findings of previous consultations held in November 2022 and June 2023. In addition, it provided an opportunity to share information on race and health, hear additional feedback, and discuss ideas for multi-sectoral collaboration.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the community members who took the time to share their perspectives and experiences.
Looking ahead
These community consultations are a vital part of our ongoing commitment to advance racial equity. The feedback gathered will directly influence the development of strategies, programs, and policies designed to reduce health inequities and promote better health outcomes for racialized communities.
Learn more about our Racial Equity Action Framework
Incorporating the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework
Fifty-five (55) Public Health staff recently participated in professional development facilitated by the health promoter on the Indigenous Engagement Team to learn about the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework (Thunderbird Partnership Foundation). Staff learned how to incorporate the nationally-endorsed mental wellness tool into public health work. The session provided an opportunity for individualized problem solving to overcome potential barriers to teams implementing the Indigenous Engagement Strategy.
This work is grounded by our strategic priority of impactful relationships. Through this work, we are collaborating in a way that is meaningful to identify, plan, implement, and evaluate initiatives and services to work toward improving the health of the population.
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This item was last modified on January 23, 2025