A recent report to Peel Region Council from the region’s health authority showed the rates of several sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2023 compared to previous years.
A presentation to council from acting medical officer of health Dr. Katherine Bingham said the health unit continues to face human resources challenges in managing increases in communicable diseases. She added disruptions from the pandemic and the provincial government’s now-canceled plans to dissolve the Region of Peel are other factors Peel Public Health is working to overcome.
“We continue to enhance system capacity to manage Peel’s increasing rates of communicable diseases. However, resourcing challenges persist as we experience unprecedented growth for some of our communicable diseases,” said Bingham.
Peel Region saw a 154 per cent increase in the rate of HIV, a 40 per cent hike in infectious syphilis and 17 per cent rise in gonorrhea compared to the four years between 2018 and 2022.
The health unit said that 111 new cases of HIV were reported last year with an incidence rate of 6.7 per 100,000 residents compared to an average incidence rate of 2.6 cases per 100,000 between 2018 and 2022. There were 35 new HIV cases identified in 2018.