British Columbia's COVID-19 surveys on population experiences, action, and knowledge (SPEAK): methods and key findings from two large cross-sectional online surveys.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the methodology and key findings of British Columbia's (BC) COVID-19 SPEAK surveys, developed to understand the experiences, knowledge, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on British Columbians. METHODS: Two province-wide, cross-sectional, web-based population health surveys were conducted one year apart (May 2020 and April/May 2021). Questions were drawn from validated sources grounded within the social determinants of health to assess COVID-19 testing and prevention; mental and physical health; risk and protective factors; and healthcare, social, and economic impacts during the pandemic. Quota-based non-probability sampling by geography was applied to recruit a representative sample aged 18 years and older. Recruitment included strategic outreach and longitudinal follow-up of a subgroup of respondents from round one to round two. Post-collection weighting using Census data by age, sex, education, ethnicity, and geography was conducted. RESULTS: Participants included 394,382 and 188,561 British Columbians for the first and second surveys, respectively, including a longitudinal subgroup of 141,728. Key findings showed that societal impacts, both early in the pandemic and one year later, were inequitably distributed. Families with children, young adults, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have been most impacted. Significant negative impacts on mental health and stress and a deterioration in protective resiliency factors were found. CONCLUSION: These population health surveys consisting of two large cross-sectional samples provided valuable insight into the impacts and experiences of British Columbians early in the pandemic and one year later. Timely, actionable data informed several high-priority public health areas during BC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Décrire la méthode et les principaux constats des enquêtes SPEAK de la Colombie-Britannique sur la COVID-19, élaborées pour comprendre l'expérience des Britanno-Colombiens durant la pandémie, ainsi que leurs connaissances de la pandémie et les effets qu'elle a eus sur eux. MéTHODE: Deux enquêtes en ligne transversales sur la santé de la population ont été menées dans toute la province à un an d'intervalle (en mai 2020 et en avril-mai 2021). Les questions, qui provenaient de sources validées ancrées dans les déterminants sociaux de la santé, ont servi à évaluer le dépistage et la prévention de la COVID-19; la santé mentale et physique; les facteurs de risque et de protection; et les effets sociaux, économiques et sur les soins de santé ressentis durant la pandémie. Un échantillonnage contingentaire non probabiliste par lieu géographique a été appliqué pour recruter un échantillon représentatif de personnes de 18 ans et plus. Le recrutement a inclus une prise de contact stratégique et un suivi longitudinal auprès d'un sous-groupe de répondants entre les cycles un et deux. Après la collecte, les données ont été pondérées selon l'âge, le sexe, le niveau d'instruction, l'ethnicité et le lieu géographique à l'aide des données du Recensement. RéSULTATS: Les participants étaient 394 382 Britanno-Colombiens au cours du premier cycle de l'enquête et 188 561 au deuxième cycle, dont un sous-groupe longitudinal de 141 728 personnes. Selon les principaux constats, la répartition des effets sociétaux, tant au début de la pandémie qu'un an plus tard, a été inéquitable. Les familles avec enfants, les jeunes adultes et les personnes de statut socioéconomique plus faible ont été les plus touchés. D'importants effets nuisibles sur la santé mentale et le stress ont été constatés, ainsi qu'une détérioration des facteurs de résilience protecteurs. CONCLUSION: Ces enquêtes sur la santé de la population comprenant deux grands échantillons transversaux ont jeté un éclairage précieux sur les effets subis et les expériences vécues par les Britanno-Colombiens au début de la pandémie et un an plus tard. Ces données opportunes et exploitables ont éclairé plusieurs domaines hautement prioritaires de la santé publique durant la riposte de la Colombie-Britannique à la pandémie de COVID-19.

Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) surveillance in Island Health, British Columbia, 2022.

Background: Invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes group A bacteria. In 2022, multiple disease alerts for iGAS in the Island Health region, in the context of increased infections in the paediatric population in Europe and the United States, prompted further investigation into local trends. This surveillance study summarizes epidemiological trends of iGAS in the region covered by Island Health, a regional health authority in British Columbia, in 2022. Methods: In British Columbia, iGAS is a reportable disease; all confirmed cases are reported to the regional authority and the provincial health authority (BC Centre for Disease Control). Island Health's iGAS surveillance system is passive and collects information on cases that are identified through laboratory testing. Surveillance data were summarized for 2022 and compared with historical data from 2017-2021. Results: In 2022, the incidence rate was 11.4 cases per 100,000 population (n=101), the highest observed rate in the last six years. The median age of cases was 53 years, with a range of 0-96 years, and 64% of cases were male. The highest risk of infection was reported in men 40-59 years of age, with an incidence rate of 21.3 cases per 100,000 population. The most common emm types were emm92 (n=14), emm49 (n=13), and emm83 (n=12). Overall, 85% (n=86) of cases were hospitalized, 21% (n=21) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 6% (n=6) died. Conclusion: This study highlights that the incidence of iGAS in the Island Health region continued to increase throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reaching its highest annual rate in 2022. In contrast to reports from Europe and the United States, there was no notable increase in infections in the paediatric population. Given the sustained increase in iGAS activity, continued monitoring and description of the epidemiology of these cases on a regular basis is imperative.

Investigation of the concurrent emergence of Salmonella enteritidis in humans and poultry in British Columbia, Canada, 2008-2010.

An increase in the rate of human infections with Salmonella enteritidis (SE) occurred between 2007 and 2010 in British Columbia (BC). During the same time period, an increase in SE from poultry-sourced isolates and increased clinical severity in poultry were also observed in BC. This article describes a multi-sectoral collaboration during a 3-year investigation, and the actions taken by public health and animal health professionals. Human cases were interviewed, clusters were investigated, and a case-control study was conducted. Environmental investigations were conducted in food service establishments (FSE). Suspect foods were tested. Laboratory data from poultry-sourced isolates were analysed. Five hundred and eighty-four human cases of SE with the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern were identified between May 2008 and August 2010. Seventy-three percentage of cases reported consumption of eggs. The odds of egg consumption were 2.4 times higher for cases than controls. Implicated FSE were found to use ungraded eggs, which had been distributed illegally. Investigation suggested that there were multiple suppliers of these eggs. Collaboration between public health and animal health professionals led to data sharing, improved understanding of SE, engagement with the poultry industry and public communication. Multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral and multi-pronged investigations are recommended to identify the likely source of illness in large, protracted foodborne outbreaks caused by commonly consumed foods.