Nwt Health Care Providers Are Learning To Use Rapid Syphilis Tests To Fight The Epidemic

YELLOWKNIFE — Health care providers in the Northwest Territories are learning how to use rapid tests for syphilis in response to a territory-wide outbreak of the sexually transmitted disease. NWT’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Kami Kandola, recently received special access from Health Canada to use the tests, which await formal federal approval. The infectious disease specialist Dr. Ameeta Singh recently oversaw a 19-month clinical trial of rapid dual syphilis and HIV tests in Alberta. This study found that the tests, which provide results in 15 minutes, were more than 90 percent accurate. The local government says syphilis rates in the NWT increased by 253 per cent between January 1, 2019 and April 1, 2022, with a total of 222 cases detected during that period. While the majority of syphilis cases have been in Yellowknife, a few have been reported in every region of the territory. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2022. The Canadian Press

title: “Nwt Health Care Providers Are Learning To Use Rapid Syphilis Tests To Fight The Epidemic " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-09” author: “Dara Martin”

YELLOWKNIFE — Health care providers in the Northwest Territories are learning how to use rapid tests for syphilis in response to a territory-wide outbreak of the sexually transmitted disease. NWT’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Kami Kandola, recently received special access from Health Canada to use the tests, which await formal federal approval. The infectious disease specialist Dr. Ameeta Singh recently oversaw a 19-month clinical trial of rapid dual syphilis and HIV tests in Alberta. This study found that the tests, which provide results in 15 minutes, were more than 90 percent accurate. The local government says syphilis rates in the NWT increased by 253 per cent between January 1, 2019 and April 1, 2022, with a total of 222 cases detected during that period. While the majority of syphilis cases have been in Yellowknife, a few have been reported in every region of the territory. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2022. The Canadian Press