A newly-released Halton Public Health report on infectious diseases reveals that COVID-19 was still a significant presence in 2023, while Lyme disease and syphilis saw an uptick compared to pre-pandemic years.
According to the annual report, there were 7,136 cases of diseases of public health significance last year, with COVID accounting for 4,303 of them.
Burlington regional councillor Rory Nissan shared at last week’s council meeting that — based on data from public health — there were 76 deaths among Halton residents where COVID contributed to or was the underlying cause of death.
Other frequently reported diseases included chlamydia with 1,121 cases, influenza with 516 cases and gonorrhea with 258 cases. There were also 135 cases of campylobacter enteritis (intestinal infection), 122 cases of salmonellosis, and 80 cases of hepatitis C.
Last year marked a record high for Lyme disease in Halton, with residents reporting 47 cases — the highest single-year total to date. The report notes that 29 per cent of all Lyme disease cases among residents from 2014 to 2023 occurred within the past year.
Sixty percent of the reported cases in 2023 contracted Lyme disease within Halton.
Both infectious and non-infectious syphilis cases have also been increasing in Halton. There were 78 cases of infectious syphilis in 2023, compared to an average of 63 cases per year over the past five years.
According to the report, sexually transmitted infections disproportionately affect young adults, while influenza predominantly impacts young children and older adults.
In 2023, there were 191 respiratory outbreaks — of which 125 were COVID-19, with 103 occurring in long-term care homes. There were also 62 enteric outbreaks, predominantly affecting day cares.
The report indicates that rates of diseases of public health significance were higher among those living in lower-income neighbourhoods compared to those in middle- and higher-income neighbourhoods.
Compared to Ontario, Halton generally had comparable or lower rates for most diseases of public health significance, with notably lower instances of chlamydia, gonorrhea and COVID-19.
