Public Health Agency of Canada

Reported policy impacts through intersectoral action as a public health practice for health equity: a rapid scoping review

Advancing health equity is a priority for public health. As much of what influences health equity lies outside health systems, working intersectorally to intervene on the structural and social determinants of health is a foundational public health practice to advance this aim. Th...

Genomic prediction of antimicrobial resistance in priority healthcare pathogens using Staramr

ABSTRACT Treatment of healthcare-associated infections is becoming increasingly challenging due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As clinical microbiology and public health continue to transition toward whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for outbreak detection, diagnostics, an...

Relevance and challenges associated with antimicrobial use (AMU) monitoring at the field level in aquaculture

The aquaculture sector is essential for global food security, and while it is rapidly expanding, the intensification of production can increase risk of diseases and use of antimicrobials. In many regions, limitations in veterinary services and regulatory oversight contribute to i...

Developing a vision for public health surveillance in Canada: An engagement and expert consensus process

Abstract Objective Public health surveillance (PHS) supports the detection of health threats, monitoring of population health, and coordinated public health action. While its core functions remain unchanged, Canada’s last national vision for PHS was articulated in 2016, and the p...

Genomic characterization of Lao Mobatvirus strains reveals host-associated clustering in Southeast Asian bats

While members of the genus Orthohantavirus are well-established human pathogens, the zoonotic potential of bat-associated hantavirids, particularly those within the genus Mobatvirus , remains largely unresolved. To investigate the genetic diversity of these lineages in Southeast...

Ebola Virus RNA Persists in Reproductive Tissues and Sperm of Male Ifnar1−/− Mice After Resolution of Viremia

Ebola virus (EBOV) has been shown to persist in the reproductive tracts of male Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors ranging from months to years following recovery, with shedding of EBOV in semen leading to chains of disease transmission. In the current study, we used a mouse mod...

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Cannabis Use and Mental Health in Canada’s Young Adults: Canadian Cannabis Survey

Cannabis use is common among emerging adults and has been linked to poorer mental health outcomes. This study analyzed data from the 2024 Canadian Cannabis Survey ( n = 1240) among young adults aged 20–24 years old. Overall, 48% reported past 12-month non-medical cannabis use, 79...

AI-designed prion-capping proteins provide evidence that prion fibril ends are replication-competent surfaces that contribute to prion seeding activity and infectivity

ABSTRACT End-elongation of amyloid fibrils is a prevailing theory to explain prion replication, but direct experimental evidence for this phenomenon is limited by the lack of research tools. To serve as molecular probes for prion fibril termini, here, we designed protein binders...

A decision-tree for trend analyses following major survey redesigns: an analysis using the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)

Abstract Background Monitoring health inequality trends is essential for assessing progress, stagnation, or regression on the reduction of health inequalities; assessing the impact of certain policies on health inequalities; and identifying emerging areas of concern. Because ineq...

Rapid, low-cost, and portable molecular detection of HIV-1 subtype B and HCV 1a directly from blood

Accessible molecular diagnostics for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remain constrained by the cost and infrastructure requirements of existing molecular point-of-care platforms. In this study, we describe a portable, proof-of-concept molecular...