According to an annual infectious disease report, Chatham-Kent is still showing higher rates of hepatitis C compared to the rest of the province.
In total, there were 567 confirmed cases of infectious diseases among CK residents reported to the public health unit in 2018. A large amount of the cases, 64 per cent, were attributed to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections.
The most frequently reported diseases were chlamydia, influenza, hepatitis C, campylobacter enteritis and gonorrhea. According to the report, Chatham-Kent had a significantly higher rate of hepatitis C in comparison to the rest of Ontario.
Hepatitis C rates were highest, and very high in comparison to the province, among 25 to 44 year olds, with males experiencing higher rates than females of the same age group.
According to Dr. David Colby, medical officer of health for Chatham-Kent, higher rates of Hepatitis C are attributed to drug use. However, Colby said medical advances have been making great strides in curing the disease. Although there are some challenges, Colby said he's hopeful that hepatitis C will be eventually off the list of top infectious diseases in Chatham-Kent.
"We still have trouble reaching all individuals in society," he said. "Even if you offer something, not everybody makes themselves available to get treated. Compared to a few years ago, just a few short years ago, there was no treatment for this disease, there was no opportunity to get people out of the transmission pool. Now, a three-month treatment can cure this virus in almost all cases."
Health professionals in the region are also making strides towards helping those diagnosed with hepatitis C, including a team-based out of Windsor that Colby said covers those living in the Chatham-Kent area.
"Patients who have hepatitis C can be referred to that team for definitive treatment and follow up," he explained.
Although Chatham-Kent had higher rates of hepatitis C compared to the provincial average, according to the report, it had a significantly lower rate of chlamydia, influenza and gonorrhea than the rest of Ontario in 2018. Colby said the health unit is constantly making efforts to help prevent transmissible diseases.
"Public health was founded on the core principle of controlling transmissible diseases," he said. "It's certainly something that we hold dear. Although we do much more than that, that's certainly one of our absolute core mandates and we will continue to do our best in this regard."
