-

Media Advisory: As Syphilis and Measles Spread, Public Health Workers Hold Urgent Briefing on State of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Water Safety, and Community Health

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unionized public health workers from across Ontario will hold an urgent media briefing at Queen’s Park and virtually over Zoom to sound the alarm on the deteriorating state of the province’s public health system.

Frontline workers will discuss the re-emergence and rapid spread of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, escalating risks of E. coli and salmonella in Ontario’s drinking water, and the spread of measles as the public health system continues to buckle while it’s funding has been cut below pre-pandemic levels.

WHAT:

Media briefing on the state of public health in Ontario

WHO:

Merima Kosteki, Public Health Inspector, Southeast Public Health

 

Chris Eaton, Public Health Inspector, Lakelands Public Health

 

Betty Wu-Lawrence, Sexual Health Nurse, Toronto Public Health

WHEN:

November 26, 9:30 am – 10:30 am

WHERE:

Queen’s Park, room 351

 

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82387062054?pwd=RaFbwMYBU9y55X1VoIWKiOzRhUzSDV.1

Background Information:

  • Public health agencies have seen funding fall below pre-pandemic levels both on a per capita basis and in terms of overall funding
    • Public health agencies received $62.19 per capita in 2024 – more than $5 less than the rates in 2016
  • Sexually transmitted infections are spreading rapidly across Ontario with chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis on the rise
    • 1,685% increase in syphilis rates in Sault and Algoma District from 2019 to 2023
    • Tripling of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases in Simcoe Muskoka from 2017-2022
    • 15 per cent increase in chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in Windsor Essex from 2022-2024
  • Measles was nearly eradicated in Canada but through a combination of vaccine hesitancy, the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and misinformation, Public Health Ontario reported ~2,375 measles cases across 26 public health units
  • 34% of Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks regulated non-municipal water systems have not been inspected in over 5 years

:am/COPE491

Contacts

Jesse Mintz | Communications Representative, CUPE
416 704 9642 | jmintz@cupe.ca

Industry:

CUPE

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Jesse Mintz | Communications Representative, CUPE
416 704 9642 | jmintz@cupe.ca

More News From CUPE

CUPE condemns MUN closures, Wakeham government for “abandoning” the province

ST. JOHN’S, NL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is deeply concerned about the decision by Memorial University Newfoundland (MUN) to address the university’s budget issues by closing campuses and facilities and cutting jobs, and the lack of transparency around the impacts of that decision. While the announcement from MUN says there will be no immediate layoffs associated with this decision, CUPE has been told that positions will be eliminated . "The university need...

Baddeck Long Term Care Workers Vote to Strike

BADDECK, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alderwood Rest Home workers, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1635, voted 99% in favour of a strike mandate late last week, joining over 30 CUPE long term care locals in calling for improved wages and retention. “I think the fact that thousands of long term care workers have voted to go on strike, something that is hard physically, emotionally, and financially, tells you what the state of long term care is,” said CUPE 1635 President Elsa Rob...

New report warns of longer wait-times, rushed care, and overcrowded Ontario hospitals as government cuts expected to cause over 10,000 job losses and shortfall of 4,080 beds

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As hospitals cut hundreds of jobs and eliminate vacant positions amidst budgetary constraints imposed by the Conservative government, the largest health care union in Ontario is warning about longer wait-times, rushed care, preventable mistakes, and overcrowded hallways. On Tuesday, CUPE released a new research report, “Driven to the brink: projected cuts to intensify Ontario’s hospital crisis,” which contrasts the additional resources required to simply maintain exist...
Back to Newsroom