Dr. Lisa Barrett on bird flu, COVID-19 boosters and strep A
The United States called for nationwide plans this week to quickly test and treat humans during a bird flu outbreak, and infectious disease specialist Dr. Lisa Barrett says Canada also has similar measures available to monitor and detect the virus.
Barrett told CTV Atlantic's Todd Battis during an interview Wednesday that Canada is increasing measures to make sure the country is aware of emerging viruses and bacteria in both animal populations and humans.
“There is a surveillance system, but always it’s one of those things that can be seen as not as important sometimes, in peace times if you will,” she says. “We do have a system, we do need to be very vigilant and it also helps if the public is aware that we need to have participation in these surveillance programs, both for animals with farmers as well as for people.”
The H5N1 bird flu is spreading among dairy cattle throughout the United States, including Idaho and Michigan, two U.S. states on the border with Canada.
Barrett says H5N1 is “quite contagious” and can spread from animals to humans very quickly.
“That’s a shift from what we’re usually immune to and that means that with little immunity and a big dose of infectiousness we can be at risk for, again, a pandemic-potential virus and that’s not what we want," she says. "This is not a panic, but we are saying please be aware that if people come to you with advice around vaccination, and helping us keep a surveillance system in place as scientists and as doctors, please, please help us out there.”
Barrett joined CTV Atlantic virtually from Vancouver where she was presenting at a conference.
Some of her presented work at the conference included how patients in Nova Scotia are being treated if they have a long COVID-19 infection.
“Not long COVID, but actual infection in people who have compromised immune systems," she says. "We’ve taken a very active and organized approach in Nova Scotia to that and that’s some of the findings that we’re sharing here.”
Barrett says the scientific community in Canada who are experts on infectious diseases and medical microbiology are very collegial.
They planned on sharing their ideas during the conference to figure out how they can help each other to make care better.
“We might think that COVID is done with, but unfortunately we need to develop some better therapies and awareness, and that’s exactly what we’re going to try and help to do.”
The New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island governments launched their spring COVID-19 vaccine campaigns last month, encouraging people with a high-risk of illness due to COVID-19 to get a booster shot.
While some people may be hesitant to get another dose of the vaccine, Barrett encourages it.
“If you are somebody with a bad immune system, or you have lots of medical problems and you’re older, we do recommend that you get that spring dose of vaccine,” she says. “Just because it’s there don’t take it for granted. It is still something that is keeping people out of hospital. We know our vaccines continue to improve immune responses to COVID.”
Aside from COVID-19, Barrett says RSV and influenza has also been prevalent in Nova Scotia this spring.
“But also there was a bacterial infection, group A strep, skin infections that could lead to very serious overall whole body infections that get serious quickly that Dr. Strang had talked about a few weeks ago,” she says. “(We) haven’t seen that get more frequent, but certainly we are still seeing those in the communities.”
Barrett says if people have skin problems that look like infections they should seek medical attention early, and fast.
“Really and truly, it is a matter of taking some control of you own health and being mindful of when you’re not well. Trying to stay away from others if you’ve got a respiratory virus, I keep saying that but it’s true! Don’t head to the big group outing with your family if you’re not feeling well,” she says.
Barrett adds that many of her colleagues both at the conference and in the field are tired four years into the pandemic, and because the health system is stretched thin.
“We’re going to need some help sorting that out, not just from an infection perspective, but from a health perspective, so (there’s) optimism, resilience I think I’m seeing a lot of today, but also a real need for us to be very active in voicing that some solutions have to come up with the health system in general, or we’re going to see some very tired people starting to leave the field, I think, but lots of hope too.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Todd Battis and CTVNews.ca
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.
Paris dazzles with a rainy Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.