August News Briefs
Canada responds to mpox outbreak after World Health Organization declares public health emergency
On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern” after a recent upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Although mpox has been reported in the DRC for over a decade, the number of cases each year has increased steadily.
Previously known as monkeypox, mpox is a viral infection similar to smallpox. Its symptoms include fever, headache, swelling in the lymph nodes and muscle aches, usually followed by a rash that appears on the face, hands and feet. Mpox appears in two distinct types, called clades. Clade II is less severe and has a fatality rate of up to one per cent while clade I has a fatality rate of up to 10 per cent, meaning one in 10 cases can be fatal.
In the last month, the virus spread to Rwanda and Burundi, two countries that share borders with the DRC. The virus also reached neighbouring East African countries, including Kenya and Uganda, which have not reported mpox before.
WHO Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina said concerning the outbreak, “The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa but for the entire globe. Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
Canada is currently working with domestic and international partners to provide support while monitoring the mpox outbreak in the DRC and other neighbouring countries. According to the Government of Canada website, the country has since received a “sufficient supply” of mpox vaccines to provide support to provincial and territorial programs working to prevent the virus. The Canadian government has affirmed it will continue to monitor the outbreak and provide updates as the situation develops.
University of Toronto Scarborough experiences bomb scare after suspicious package found on campus
On August 6 at 3:46 p.m., Toronto police received a report of a suspicious package found by University of Toronto Scarborough campus safety staff during a regular patrol at the campus’s Environmental Sciences and Chemistry building. Both buildings were evacuated after the device was found and later reported. According to the university, the Instructional Centre was also ordered to evacuate “out of an abundance of caution.”
Inspector Dan Pravica said the package resembled an explosive device, but after close inspection, it was deemed a hoax device and determined that it could not create an explosion nor had explosive components. Pravica also said a robot was dispatched and captured photos and X-rays of the package.
After locating the device, police declared there was no further risk to public safety and confirmed no injuries were reported. No further updates have been released but police and investigators are currently requesting that anyone with information come forward.
Senior meteorologist warns residents to be prepared as Hurricane Ernesto makes its way across Canada
On August 16, senior meteorologist Bob Robichaud with the Canadian Hurrican Centre warned residents to pay close attention as Hurricane Ernesto evolves. Residents of Nova Scotia and eastern Newfoundland were advised to keep a close watch on the hurricane as it progresses throughout the country. On August 18, Ernesto passed southeast of Newfoundland and on August 19, morphed into a post-topical cyclone.
Prior to that, on August 14, Tropical Storm Ernesto evolved into a Category one hurricane after it churned away from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, resulting in the loss of power for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. Twenty-three hospitals in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands were operating on generators while many schools and roads were closed. At the peak of Ernesto, 750,000 residents were left with no power after rivers across Puerto Rico rose nearly 10 inches in rain.
On August 16 and 17, three people died along the beaches in South Carolina and southern North Carolina from the storm’s currents.
