Niagara facing dramatic jump in sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted diseases have increased significantly in Niagara in the past few years, as have several other health concerns that are identified in a new community health status assessment for the region.
Public health surveillance and evaluation manager Amanda Kirkwood said cases of syphilis increased in the region by more than 400 per cent from about 2018 to 2021, with an average of about 159 cases reported each year, or 13 a month.
Cases of gonorrhea increased by 85 per cent in that time period for an average of about 398 cases annually, or 33 cases a month, she told members of Niagara Region’s public health and social services committee Tuesday.
Public health planning evaluation manager Rachel Skellet said heart disease, accidental death, respiratory disease and diabetes were listed as the region’s top health conditions in the assessment.
Chronic lower respiratory disease, overdose, and dementia and Alzheimer’s disease also increased since the last health status assessment was conducted in 2019.
Kirkwood said streptococcal disease, a bacterial infection that can lead to dangerous and invasive illness, increased by about 25 per cent, with about 57 cases reported annually.
She said the report also included information about health and quality of life issues identified by residents, such as problems accessing services for a variety of health issues “and generally the need for more practitioners in the area.”
They also identified a need to address negative consequences of addictions and a perceived lack of supportive services.
Kirkwoodsaid poverty-related issues included homelessness, mental health and access to nutritious foods.
Kirkwood said the data will be incorporated into planning for the Region, while a communications strategy is developed to share information with community organizations and the public.
Niagara Falls Coun. Joyce Morocco, chair of the committee, is concerned that some of the report was based on pre-pandemic data.
Kirkwood said the assessment used the best available data, and that many of its population health surveys are pre-CO-VID-19. Medical officer of health Dr. Azim Kasmani said population health assessments of this type are typically only done every three to four years.
“But pockets of data, we’re updated continuously. It might not go into a formal report like this and published with a comprehensive view … but we are able to do smaller assessments more frequently,” he said.
Kasmani provided examples of data updated more frequently, such as on homelessness and opioid use.
“These large comprehensive reports take quite a bit of time and effort,” he said.