Latest news with #RoyalUniversityHospital
CBC
23-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Measles cases extend beyond Alberta, Ontario, hotspot map shows
The spread of measles both within provinces and between one another is keeping doctors and health officials across much of Canada on their toes. The pace of the outbreak is accelerating in Alberta and more than 3,400 people have been confirmed with measles there and in Ontario so far this year. Measles hangs in the air and is one of the most contagious known viruses, infectious diseases specialists say. Joseph Blondeau, head of clinical microbiology at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, says the more widespread the measles virus is in the province, the more opportunities there are for an individual who may not yet know they're infected to interact with others at social events and transmit it to others. Measles can cause fever, cough and redness of the eyes, followed by white spots next to the molars and a rash that usually starts around the hairline and moves down the body. "It's not just one geographically restricted cluster in the province," said Blondeau, who is also the provincial lead for clinical microbiology at the Saskatchewan Health Authority. While the outbreaks are concentrated in Alberta and Ontario, maps of hotspots across Canada reflect how precarious the situation is in several other provinces, meaning some doctors are recommending vaccines for travel within the country. "What worries me all the time is that we need to be careful about new individuals that are at a higher risk for more severe infection because those are the ones that could end up with complications, whether it's pneumonia or infection of the brain." Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine offer 97 per cent protection, said Dr. Ayisha Kurji, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Saskatchewan. Measles is considered eliminated in Canada, but that status could be lost given the extent of spread, largely among those who are unvaccinated. "It's a vaccine that we know a lot about." Immunization clinics improve access Manitoba started experiencing a significant increase in measles in the spring and there doesn't seem to be a decline, said Dr. Davinder Singh, medical officer of health for the province's Southern Health-Santé Sud health region. Notably, Singh said, the southwest area is most impacted, which corresponds with it having the lowest immunization uptake for measles-containing vaccines, he said. There are also pockets of low immunization across Manitoba. Medical experts are conducting home visits for those who can't travel, offering pop-up clinics when a group of families needs immunization and extending hours into the evening, depending on local needs, Singh said. Vaccination, immunity and records: Your questions on measles, answered At-risk Albertans mindful of summer plans as measles cases climb Infants aged six months to under 12 months in some provinces where measles is circulating are eligible for what's called a dose zero to protect them sooner than when children routinely receive two doses. Manitoba residents who are being evacuated due to wildfires are also offered vaccines, Singh said. Cases likely underreported Southwestern Ontario has faced hundreds of measles cases since April. Now there's been a consistent downward trend over the past few weeks, said Dr. Rod Lim, director of pediatric emergency medicine at the Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre. "We remain alert and able to provide care to those that need it," Lim said in an email. For every person who has measles, Singh said, there are likely several others who had it and haven't been tested. "Unconfirmed cases kind of hang out there," said Dr. Gerald Evans, a medicine professor at Queen's University and an infectious diseases specialist who practises at Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Evans said he thinks the issue of underreporting is a bigger problem with the American data, where the ratio of deaths and hospitalizations to cases appears out of sync with the reported number of cases. The total stands at 1,309 as of July 15, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. There have been three confirmed deaths from measles in the U.S. in 2025. In June, Ontario reported the death of an infant who was born prematurely and infected with the highly contagious virus while in the womb. The child also had other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus, the province's chief medical officer of health said. In Atlantic Canada, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador have no active measles cases, with one in Nova Scotia and 15 in New Brunswick so far this year. On the Pacific Coast, B.C. has more than 120 cases, while Yukon has not seen any measles in 2025. The Northwest Territories had a single measles case in the spring. There have been no cases in Nunavut, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
CBC
29-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Saskatoon City Hospital increases hours for emergency department
The Saskatoon City Hospital is increasing the hours of operation for its emergency department from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The new schedule begins June 29. It follows several months of reduced hours at the emergency department, which was only operational from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The hospital says the hours have expanded because the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has made progress in stabilizing physician staffing, and is now taking a "phased approach" to resuming full-time hours. The introduction of 109 new acute care beds at the hospital is also still underway. The initiative, funded by an SHA infusion of $15 million, began in March 2025 and is expected to take 12 to 16 months. Understaffing has been a persistent issue at Saskatoon hospitals. On New Year's Eve 2024, the emergency department temporarily reduced its hours to just 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., saying some of its doctors were sick. In May 2025, emergency room patients at the Royal University Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital were forced to be treated in hallways and waiting rooms due to lack of available space. Alongside the increased hours at the Saskatoon City Hospital, the emergency departments at the Royal University Hospital and St Paul's Hospital remain open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Saskatoon City Hospital increases hours for emergency department
The Saskatoon City Hospital is increasing the hours of operation for its emergency department from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The new schedule begins June 29. It follows several months of reduced hours at the emergency department, which was only operational from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The hospital says the hours have expanded because the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has made progress in stabilizing physician staffing, and is now taking a "phased approach" to resuming full-time hours. The introduction of 109 new acute care beds at the hospital is also still underway. The initiative, funded by an SHA infusion of $15 million, began in March 2025 and is expected to take 12 to 16 months. Understaffing has been a persistent issue at Saskatoon hospitals. On New Year's Eve 2024, the emergency department temporarily reduced its hours to just 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., saying some of its doctors were sick. In May 2025, emergency room patients at the Royal University Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital were forced to be treated in hallways and waiting rooms due to lack of available space. Alongside the increased hours at the Saskatoon City Hospital, the emergency departments at the Royal University Hospital and St Paul's Hospital remain open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- CTV News
‘Trying to kill him': Inquest to determine how Saskatoon man died at hospital
An inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Ashwin Poggenpoel, a 32-year-old Saskatoon man who died at Royal University Hospital in 2022. On June 18, 2022, just before 1 a.m., Saskatoon police responded to reports of a disturbance on the 500 block of 5th Avenue North. Witnesses described Poggenpoel as carrying a large butcher knife and a bottle of alcohol and screaming that 'someone was trying to kill him.' Police say when officers arrived, Poggenpoel fled on foot and was later found on Queen Street with his face covered in blood. According to police, he became aggressive and confrontational while being taken into custody, spitting blood at officers. After being treated by Medavie paramedics for his injuries, Poggenpoel was pronounced dead shortly after. Poggenpoel's obituary describes him as a family man who loved creating music. His family had moved to Canada from Cape Town, South Africa, when he was 18. The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is tasked with investigating all sudden, unexpected deaths. A coroner's inquest is called anytime someone dies while in custody, unless the coroner is satisfied the death was entirely due to natural causes. Coroner William Davern will preside over the inquest, scheduled for June 9-13 at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre. The jury will hear evidence and provide recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.
