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

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