On the rise in city: Ticks, STIs, animal bites

Report going to officials on Monday presents a revealing overview of Hamilton’s health

Tick testing, sexually transmitted diseases and animal bites are on the rise in Hamilton, the public health department reveals.

The infectious disease and environmental health report for Jan. 1 to June 30 found a higher number of flu outbreaks in long-term care.

It also warns a change in water testing that will likely result in more samples with excessive lead concentrations.

The following is an overview of the report going to the board of health Monday. Ticks The number of ticks submitted to public health to be tested has roughly quadrupled.

The report suggests the spike may be due to increased public awareness about the risk of Lyme disease.

It could also mean an increase in ticks overall. The vast majority of samples submitted to public health were American dog ticks, which can’t transmit Lyme disease. Only four per cent of ticks submitted were other types. Ticks submitted: 2017 until June 30: 667 2016: 297 2015: 352 2014: 144 Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections

Sexually transmitted infections are on a steady rise in Hamilton. It is a trend seen across the country since the late 1990s.

The most commonly diagnosed STIs in the first half of the year were chlamydia, gonorrhea and hepatitis C. Confirmed cases: 2017 until June 30: 1,147 2016: 2,234 2015: 2,036 2014: 1,901 Animal bites The number of reported animal bites were up in 2016 and the first half of this year. It’s likely because of increased awareness due to an outbreak of raccoon rabies in Ontario, including Hamilton, starting in December 2015. Animal bites reported: 2017 until June 30: 714 2016: 1,508 2015: 1,423 2014: 1,433 Flu outbreaks in long-term care Flu season was particularly hard on seniors in 2017. Influenza A H3 was the dominant strain circulating, which typically results in an increase of cases in those aged 65 and older.

Long-term-care and retirement homes already had more outbreaks in the first half of 2017 than in all of last year. Number of institutional outbreaks: 2017 until June 30: 86 2016: 80 2015: 129 2014: 107 Lead in drinking water An increase in drinking water tests with excessive lead concentrations is expected as new rules about how the samples are collected are put in force. The changes apply to 419 schools and child-care centres in Hamilton. It’s significant because lead is a toxic metal that particularly affects fetuses and young children. Even low levels of exposure can result in intellectual development issues. Water inspection and enforcement: 2017 until June 30: 394 2016: 884 2015: 853 2014: 885 Vaccination A pilot project testing a provincial web application that allows the public to report immunization data and securely look up their records was successful.

As a result, the Ministry of Health’s Immunization Connect Ontario app (ICON) will continue to be available to Hamiltonians.