Advanced Analytics
The interdisciplinary team at Public Health Analytics provides advanced statistical analysis, geographic mapping, data linkage, and information privacy strategies to support disease surveillance, public health practice and research activities at the BCCDC. Our goal is to analyze data to generate knowledge and inform decision making, within a privacy protection framework.
This program works in a variety of ways to understand and address the problem of antibiotic resistance.
- Do Bugs Need Drugs? is a community education program to address the problem of antibiotic resistance. In British Columbia, Do Bugs Need Drugs? is funded by the Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Services Division. The program teaches the wise use of antibiotics to the public and to healthcare professionals by focusing on three key messages:
|
1) Wash your hands! Handwashing is the best way to stop the spread of infections.
2) Not all bugs are created equal. Antibiotics work against bacteria, but not against viruses.
3) Use antibiotics wisely! Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics. |
- We monitor and publish BC trends in antibiotic consumption and resistance in humans.
BC & Yukon Panorama Operational Support Team
This group provides second level support to users of the integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) and Panorama application – public health clinical and surveillance information systems used by health professionals in BC, the Yukon, and First Nations. Specifically, iPHIS and Panorama are used to investigate communicable disease cases, manage disease outbreaks, track the warehousing and movement of vaccines, document the administration of immunizations, and record public health services and care provided to infants, children, youth, and family. The BC & Yukon Panorama Operational Support Team combines both technical and clinical expertise to provide leadership in data standards, public health reporting, functional support, and education and training. As well, the team oversees the BC and Yukon specific configuration of the Panorama application and works to coordinate changes to the application with all provincial, territorial, and First Nations solution partners.
Genomics
The Genome Research Lab uses cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology to understand the origins and spread of infectious disease outbreaks and to monitor the ongoing evolution of pathogens of interest. The lab works closely with the Public Health Microbiology and Reference Laboratory, as well as with academic collaborators worldwide, on a variety of applied epidemiology projects.
Enteric and Zoonotic Diseases
Enteric and zoonotic diseases such as Salmonella , E. coli , Listeria and rabies can be transmitted through food, water and animal contact. We are involved in surveillance, outbreak investigation and research to better understand these causes of disease in order to develop the most effective ways to prevent and control them. Collaborative work to understand these pathogens is done with our public health colleagues in BC and across the country, federal agencies, animal health colleagues and international experts.
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)
This program works closely with the BC Provincial Infection Control Network ( PICNet ) to develop surveillance programs, policies for infection prevention and control of HAIs, educational initiatives and conduct outbreak investigations. The focus is on Clostridium difficile, MRSA and other HAIs as well as prevention programs including hand hygiene programs.
Harm Reduction and Bloodborne Pathogens
The Harm Reduction Program is a collaboration with various partners including: the Ministry of Health, health authorities, service providers and people who use drugs, to help keep people who use illegal drugs safe from disease and injury. Our program provides equipment for safer drug use, such as needles and syringes, to help reduce the number of people infected with HIV and hepatitis C. We also develop policies, training materials, and conduct research to reduce the harms associated with drug use.
Hepatitis surveillance identifies trends and outbreaks of hepatitis A, B and C. Ongoing hepatitis surveillance also identifies the target groups for, and responses to, immunization policies (hepatitis A and B) and harm reduction interventions (hepatitis C).
The Influenza and Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Team provides surveillance, evaluation and research support to the influenza prevention and control program in British Columbia. The team monitors and tracks influenza and other respiratory viruses and reports summary trends in periodic bulletins distributed across the province, available also at our website . The team advises local public health and the province on various prevention and control measures to reduce the impact of influenza illness and informs program and policy adjustments through research, evaluation and evidence review.
Mathematical Modeling is an effective means for predicting the behavior of large, complex systems such as infectious disease spread. Models are analytical and computational tools that allow us to simulate the spread of diseases through a variety of settings and test different intervention strategies. Mathematical Modeling Services (MMS) is multi-disciplinary and has an extensive collaborative network among leading researchers and healthcare professionals worldwide. MMS provides modeling expertise and plays a leading role in developing infectious disease transmission models to support public health policy design. These models can also be used to examine holistic health systems approaches to target interventions, both locally and globally.
Vectorborne Diseases
The Vectorborne diseases team is responsible for West Nile , Lyme disease and other diseases transmitted primarily by ticks and mosquitoes. This team facilitates provincial surveillance, and is involved in prevention and control measures as well as research. We work closely with our colleagues in health authorities, public health laboratories, animal health, and academia to understand this complex and dynamic area. Accordingly we utilize the integrating technologies of geographic information systems (GIS) mapping and online data collection to support decision making and public health communications.