Situation Since late 2024, the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) catchment area has recorded three cases of HIV in infants. In at least one of the cases, no prenatal care had been accessed, although there were known interactions with health care providers during the pregnancy for other health issues. The main Read more…
Call 911 if you think someone is overdosing! What is it? Increases in overdoses that respond to Naloxone How is it sold? Unknown but the substance is light green in colour What are the risks? Overdose symptoms similar to opioids. Naloxone does work and should still be used because other Read more…
Call 911 if you think someone is overdosing! What is it? Fentanyl How is it sold? Crystal meth What are the risks? Opioid overdose Side effects Unexpected effects due to the presence of a drug the person did not intend to use. What does an overdose look like? Ways to Read more…
Call 911 if you think someone is overdosing! What is it? An opioid anti-diarrhea drug is used along with other treatments such as fluid and electrolyte replacement for the treatment of diarrhea. How is it sold? Brown Down What are the risks? Overdose and/or death Side effects What does an Read more…
Call 911 if you think someone is overdosing! What is it? Associated with an overdose on January 15 in Winnipeg. Health Canada Drug Analysis Services Results: Fentanyl (5.25%) Bromazolam (3.57%) Etizolam (<1%) Flualprazolam (<1%) Caffeine (9.5%) dimethylsufone (<2%) fluorofentanyl desalkylgidazepam How is it sold? Purple Rock being sold as Down Read more…
Call 911 if you think someone is overdosing! What is it? Unknown How is it sold? Unknown What are the risks? Death What does an overdose look like? Ways to stay safe Additional information Kenora underhoused population; having naloxone available and someone to administer naloxone when using drugs is very Read more…
Situation For the past few months, the rate of gonorrhea infections in the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) catchment area has seen a statistically significant increase. For May through July 2024, the rate was 24.2 per 100,000 population per month, compared with 15.3 per 100,000 population per month during the same Read more…
Situation Prior to 2021 the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) incidence rate for the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) catchment area had generally been lower than that of the province of Ontario; 4.1 per 100,000 in NWHU (2013-2021) compared to 5-6 per 100,000 in Ontario (2012-2022). NWHU incidence rates for 2022 and Read more…
Situation Syphilis has surged throughout the world including North America and Canada over the past several years, and the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) area is included in that trend. Increased testing and prompt access to treatment are crucial to reducing morbidity and mortality related to syphilis. Of particular concern is the increase Read more…
Situation Northwestern Health Unit has received notice that Fentanyl has been detected in the unregulated drug supply in Manitoba region in an unexpected format: tablets, sold as counterfeit Hydromorphone. A person may be exposed to Fentanyl when using other substances. The high prevalence of Fentanyl in unregulated drugs is illustrated Read more…