Saskatchewan’s track record in dealing with infectious diseases has been questioned on the international stage.
The 24th International AIDS Conference was held in Montreal last week. The increasing number of monkeypox outbreaks in the world has become a topic of discussion given the spread of cases in recent months.
One researcher expressed concern that some regions are not taking such outbreaks seriously enough, singling out Saskatchewan in the process.
“We know there are many challenges in Saskatchewan, both with HIV and sexually transmitted infections, particularly among vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities,” said Marina Klein, research director and professor of medicine in the department of infectious diseases diseases and chronic viral diseases at the McGill University in Montreal service.
While Saskatchewan has only reported two cases of monkeypox, both in July, there have been more than 19,000 cases reported in 78 countries in the past few months.
Comparisons have been made to HIV because the disease is most easily transmitted through prolonged face-to-face or sexual contact. The majority of reported cases are among men who have sex with other men.
Saskatchewan has seen elevated rates of HIV transmission for years, often having the highest rates in Canada.
There were a record 237 diagnoses in 2021, an increase of nearly 30 percent from the previous year and more than double the national average.
The province is also battling other sexually transmitted infections.
For example, Saskatchewan’s syphilis case rate rose 891 percent from 2016 to 2020, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, also two to three times the national rate. Much of these increases have occurred in vulnerable communities, including among First Nations.
Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon has begun providing information to clients about monkeypox risks and warnings.
Kayla DeMong, executive director, says groups like hers have reason to worry because any easily spread disease or illness is a concern for agencies that work with Saskatchewan’s vulnerable.
“It’s hard to put a lot of faith in our province when we’ve consistently seen some huge gaps when it comes to sufficient planning for health pandemics and endemics in vulnerable populations,” she said.
Kayla DeMong, executive director of Prairie Harm Reduction, says groups like hers have reason to worry because they work with the vulnerable. (Submitted by Kayla DeMong)
She attributes this to a lack of attention from those leading the fight to curb these diseases.
“Often when plans are made, they are not made [with] vulnerable populations,” she said. “They’re designed for the general population.”
She noted that multiple Saskatoon-based organizations that work with vulnerable people meet regularly to discuss challenges facing their clients, including monkeypox.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health will only say that the risk of contracting the disease is low in Saskatchewan and that the province is closely monitoring cases.
“The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to investigate all reports of potential monkeypox cases in Saskatchewan. Public health authorities and clinicians are advised to be vigilant and consider monkeypox in their differential diagnosis of patients with an unusual rash, plus other clinical signs consistent with monkeypox,” the ministry said in a written statement.
The statement also states that the information is being disseminated.
“Public awareness and education is provided through the Government of Saskatchewan website, social media and various outreach efforts. The Saskatchewan Health Authority is currently in the midst of working with identified high-risk groups. The Department of Health is also working with various community organizations and businesses (food banks, gyms, clubs, etc.) to better inform the public about the potential risks.”
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