News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2020/02/12

What you need to know now about coronavirus: WHO gives illness a new name as death toll rises. cbc.ca, Feb 11: The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday its group of virologists in charge of naming infectious diseases has dubbed the illness caused by the virus COVID-19. The short form stands for coronavirus disease, and the number 19 refers to the year of its origin — 2019. Read more

Why doctors find fighting the coronavirus so challenging. cbc.ca, Feb 12: Advanced team from UN's global public health organization in Beijing today, aiming to learn more about virus. Read more

China's new virus cases fall again, deaths now exceed 1,100. cbc.ca, Feb 12: China reported another drop in the number of new cases of a viral infection and 97 more deaths, pushing the total dead past 1,100 even as the country remains largely closed down to prevent the spread of the disease. Read more

New coronavirus cases fall, experts disagree over whether peak is near. business.financialpost.com, Feb 12: China on Wednesday reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases since late January, lending credence to a prediction from the country’s senior medical adviser that the outbreak could be over by April. Read more

Ontario Confirms Resolved Case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. news.ontario.ca, Feb 12: Today, Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, confirmed that the province's third case of the 2019 novel coronavirus is now resolved. Read more

Japan confirms 39 new coronavirus cases, 174 total on cruise ship. cbc.ca, Feb 11: The update brings the total found on the Diamond Princess to 174 cases, including at least seven Canadians. Read more

How social media platforms are fighting coronavirus misinformation. cbc.ca, Feb 12: Even getting a handle on the size of the problem is tricky because while social platforms are publicly keen to tackle the problem, they're less forthcoming with numbers that might show how much false information is circulating and how they're working on the problem. Read more

2nd plane carrying Canadian evacuees from Wuhan, China arrives at CFB Trenton. globalnews.ca, Feb 11: … Canada’s chief medical officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said to ensure the health and safety of the repatriated Canadians and the public “returning Canadians and their family members will continue to be assessed for symptoms of 3029-nCoV coronavirus throughout their 14 day stay at CFB Trenton.” Read more

Coronavirus : d'autres Canadiens évacués de Chine arrivent à Trenton. ici.radio-canada.ca, 11 février : Theresa Tam, l'administratrice en chef de la santé publique du Canada, a déclaré lundi qu'aucun des Canadiens rapatriés la semaine dernière ne présente des symptômes du coronavirus. Lire plus

Model built by U of T researchers suggests coronavirus outbreak began in November, has yet to be controlled. utoronto.ca, Feb 7: The coronavirus epidemic started one month earlier than is commonly reported and has yet to be brought under control, a new disease-transmission model created by University of Toronto researchers suggests. Read more

UN meeting ponders fast-track drugs, vaccines for new virus. ctvnews.ca, Feb 11: The World Health Organization convened outside experts Tuesday to fast-track promising tests, drugs and vaccines to help slow the outbreak of a new virus that emerged in China that has killed more than 1,000 people and spread to two dozen other countries. Read more

Coronavirus may be over soon in China, expert says, as WHO warns of global threat. nationalpost.com, Feb 11: Coronavirus infections in China may be over by April, its senior medical adviser said on Tuesday, but the death toll passed 1,000 and the World Health Organization warned of a “very grave” global threat. Read more

Le coronavirus a maintenant tué plus de 1000 personnes en Chine. ici.radio-canada.ca, 10 février : Le nombre de morts en Chine dus au nouveau coronavirus est monté à 1011, après l'annonce de 103 nouveaux décès dans la province du Hubei, ont annoncé les autorités mardi au petit matin. Lire plus

As coronavirus hogs headlines, flu season is in full swing across Canada. ctvnews.ca, Feb 9: The FluWatch report put out by Health Canada on Friday reveals that influenza activity is higher than it was in December, with 51 of the country's 52 health regions reporting at least sporadic cases. Read more

Canadian doctor, WHO team heading to China, where coronavirus death toll tops 900. cbc.ca, Feb 9: An advance team of international experts led by the World Health Organization (WHO) is on its way to Beijing to help investigate the coronavirus epidemic in China, which authorities said has now claimed 908 lives on the mainland. Read more

Princess Cruises confirms new Canadian coronavirus case aboard ship. ctvnews.ca, Feb 10: This latest case raises to eight the number of Canadians aboard the Diamond Princess who have contracted the new virus. Read more

‘Serious and imminent threat’: U.K. announces new measures to combat coronavirus. globalnews.com, Feb 10: Britain has declared the new coronavirus that emerged from China a “serious and imminent threat to public health″ and announced new measures Monday to combat the spread of the disease. Read more

Briton in French Alps may have spread coronavirus to others across Europe. thechronicleherald.ca, Feb 9: A British man who contracted the new coronavirus while attending a conference in Singapore may have led to seven other people catching the disease when he stopped off at a chalet in a French mountain village on his way home. Read more

Coronavirus and health-care workers: What are the risks and how are they mitigated? globalnews.ca, Feb 8: While the coronavirus outbreak has shone a spotlight on the risks health-care workers face, a Canadian expert says there is confidence about the effectiveness of infection control practices here at home. Read more

Virus Outbreak in Wuhan May Soon Peak With More Than 5% Infected. bnnbloomberg.ca, Feb 8: The new coronavirus may have infected at least 1 in 20 people in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the global outbreak, by the time it peaks in coming weeks, according to scientists modeling its spread. Read more

Coronavirus travel restrictions are the wrong approach - here's why. cbc.ca, Feb 7 [OPINION by Dr. Vivek Goel]: Travel bans have limited effectiveness in managing the spread of disease, and some big drawbacks. Read more

Children may be less affected by coronavirus: report. globalnews.ca, Feb 6: A new report published in JAMA Network on Wednesday said that coronavirus cases in children “have been rare” and the median age of patients is between 49 and 56 years of age. Read more

As coronavirus cases mount, Hong Kong prepares for quarantine. cbc.ca, Feb 6: With Hong Kong preparing to quarantine anyone who crosses the border from mainland China, doctors and infectious disease experts are warning the territory's ability to protect itself from the coronavirus is about to be severely tested. Read more

Death of Wuhan doctor sparks rare condemnations of Chinese virus response. theglobeandmail.com, Feb 7: Fury, grief and open demands for democratic freedoms erupted in China Friday following the death of a doctor detained by police after he warned about the appearance of a new virus in Wuhan in December. Read more

First Nations question coronavirus preparedness, but experts say risk remains low in Manitoba. cbc.ca, Feb 5: While experts say the risk of exposure is currently low for Manitobans, some First Nations in the province are questioning the level of preparedness for dealing with the novel coronavirus in their communities. Read more

How Coronaviruses Cause Infection—from Colds to Deadly Pneumonia. scientificamerican.com, Feb 5: The novel coronavirus outbreak raises questions about how such pathogens evolve and what makes infections mild or severe. Read more

US$675 million needed for new coronavirus preparedness and response global plan. who.int, Feb 5: Urgent support needed to protect vulnerable countries from outbreak. Read more

Coronavirus: Gilead’s Remdesivir Begins Trials as Researchers Publish Positive In Vitro Results. genengnews.com, Feb 6: Clinical trials […] have begun in Wuhan, China, the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak, a day after Chinese researchers recommended that the antiviral drug candidate remdesivir be assessed in humans as a potential treatment for 2019-nCoV. Read more

Drugmakers see long road ahead in coronavirus vaccine race. ca.investing.com, Feb 5: Drugmakers racing to find a vaccine or effective treatment for the deadly new coronavirus in China cautioned that they have a long way to go. Read more

A salt-coated mask that kills viruses? Alberta researchers working on it. ctvnews.ca, Feb 5: Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a virus-killing salt coating that’s designed to improve the effectiveness of the common surgical masks often used to prevent the spread of pathogens like influenza or the new coronavirus. Read more

Access to dental services is ‘quite good’ says territorial dental officer. nunavutnews.com, Feb 8: Territorial Dental Officer Ronald Kelly believes access to dental services is “quite good” considering the remoteness of northern communities. Read more

Collaborative Care Clinic at CNC looks to take a bite out of dental fees. myprincegeorgenow.com, Feb 7: A new partnership between Prince George Emergency Dental Outreach Clinic and the College of New Caledonia (CNC) looks to offer dental care to those who may otherwise not have access to it. Read more

One out of five children in St. Catharines live in poverty: report. stcatharinesstandard.ca, Feb 9: According to Campaign 2000, a network of organizations that work on child and family issues, there are 4,280 children living below-the-poverty line in the St. Catharines electoral district. That works out to 22 per cent of children, or a little more than one out of every five. Read more

City of Greater Sudbury may tighten some benefits for those on welfare. thesudburystar.com, Feb 8: Part of the fallout of the 2020 budget council approved in December is a reduction of $175,000 in funding for recipients of social assistance. Read more

Low-income seniors hopeful as free dental care program rolls out in Niagara. thoroldnews.com, Feb 6: The program is now rolling out in the Niagara region with two locations offering treatments under the program; one in St Catharines and one in Welland, with more locations coming in the weeks to come. Read more

Downtown Mission cuts services in wake of unmet financial goal. windsorstar.com, Feb 5: An underwhelming giving season coupled with an ever-increasing demand for services is forcing the mission to cut back on its 24-hour-a-day operation, as well as its dental services and some mental health support. Read more

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health set its 2020. Quintenews.com, Feb 5: The province is providing nearly $847,900 for the New Seniors Dental Program but there are significant increases in program materials, professional and purchased services and travel costs to implement the program. Read more

Ottawa Dental Society celebrates 125 years by giving back. ottawalife.com, Feb 6: This year ODS is celebrating its 125 anniversary serving dentists and the Ottawa community. Since its humble beginnings in the Russell House Hotel, the Society has grown to over 600 members. Read more

Thomas Yu returns home to play 'bucket list' concerto with Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. chathamdailynews.com, Feb 6: Dr. Thomas Yu likes to think of his dual existence as a professional periodontist and an amateur pianist as separate parts of his life, but there are times when they overlap. Read more

From molars to mountaintops: N.L. dentist sets out to conquer 7 summits. cbc.ca, Feb 9: Shannon Barker started climbing 2 years ago and he's already climbed 2 peaks. Read more

ADA joins coalition calling for vaping regulation. ada.org, Feb 6: The American Dental Association, along with 75 organizations, is urging Congress to support legislation to regulate vaping devices and liquids in the same manner the Food and Drug Administration regulates cigarettes and other tobacco products. Read more

Turn that Frown Upside Down: How SmileDirectClub is Winning Wall Street Back. finance.yahoo.com, Feb 7: Orthodontics disruptor SmileDirectClub, Inc. has been on a tear in 2020, with its shares up 75% so far this year along following a pair of big news announcements. First came a deal with Walmart, Inc. to sell a range of consumer products from power toothbrushes to water flossers, creating a brand-new revenue stream. Next, SDC said it will begin selling aligners on a wholesale basis through orthodontists and dentists rather than strictly on a direct basis. Read moreSugar tax earns its stripes, now expand and ring fence proceeds. bda.org, Feb 11: The BDA has welcomed new research confirming the effectiveness of the sugar tax, but warned the real benefits will be lost unless government shows its willingness to expand the levy and ring-fence proceeds to tackle child tooth decay and obesity. Read more

Opinion: SB 1549 would create a two-tier health system for vulnerable Oregonians. oregonlive.com, Feb 11: Senate Bill 1549 proposes that Oregon license a new type of dental provider – a dental therapist – to expand access to critically needed oral health care for rural and low-income Oregonians. Read more

‘Strong Teeth, Strong Kid,’ brightening smiles in Native communities. newsmaven.io, Feb 8: Native American Connections and the Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care have launched an inventive outreach campaign called “Strong Teeth, Strong Kid” that is working to inform Native families about the importance of dental health and will work to reduce disparities in oral health that have hidden Native smiles for generations. Read more

One in five U.S. children suffer from untreated tooth decay. klfy.com, Feb 10: According to the CDC, one in five elementary age children have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Dentists are warning parents children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades. Getting those teeth cleaned is more important than ever as babies, children and teens develop and grow, a local dentist said. Read more

Oral-care brands are marketing themselves as beauty products. glossy.co, Feb 6: Over the last two years, toothpaste, dental floss and toothbrushes have transformed from being a perfunctory health product to one designed for the beauty aisle. Read more

Gutka (betel quid) can turn healthy cells cancerous in a few weeks. samaa.tv, Feb 12: The mixture, that is chewed and kept in the mouth, acts on the inside of the mouth first. It starts killing the cells between the gum and cheeks, said dentist Dr Sahar Javed Chawla. Then it shrinks the blood vessels. Over time the lesion is prone to hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) formation. This increases blood vessels production and allows cancer cells to grow. Read more

Gum disease, inflammation, hardened arteries may be linked to stroke risk. newsroom.heart.org, Feb 12: Gum disease was associated with a higher rate of strokes caused by hardening of large arteries in the brain and also with severe artery blockages that haven’t yet caused symptoms, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference. Read more

Chemical found in drinking water linked to tooth decay in children. sciencedaily.com, Feb 6: Children with higher concentrations of a certain chemical in their blood are more likely to get cavities, according to a new study by West Virginia University School of Dentistry researchers. Read more

High-carb food a cause of tooth decay. enws.aut.ac.nz, Feb 7: … there is considerable evidence that common dietary behavior – high frequency consumption of ultra-processed, high carbohydrate foods – is the principal cause for both dental caries, and presentation of children and young people as overweight or obese. Read more

Woman grows hair out of her gums in rare medical case. health24.com, Feb 10: … in a rare medical case, published in the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, a 19-year old woman from Italy sprouted eyelash-like hairs from the soft gum tissue directly behind her upper front teeth. Read more

Yarn made from human skin could soon be stitching up your wounds. sciencedaily.com, Feb 10: The researchers say their "human textile," which they developed from skin cells, can be used for knitting, sewing and even crochet, and can aid a number of medical procedures. Read more

Halifax researcher studies how cannabis affects brain function in young adults. cbc.ca, Feb 9: One group taking part in the study is affected by some form of psychosis, such as schizophrenia, while the other group is unaffected by an illness. Daily cannabis use, or even in some cases occasional use, has been shown to negatively impact early gains made by people diagnosed with psychosis. Read more

National pharmacare would help Canadians cope with rapidly changing job benefits. edmontonjournal.com, Feb 10 [OPINION by Ed Broadbent & Andrew Jackson]: It seems highly probable that the proportion of workers covered by employer drug plans has been falling, and that the quality of these plans is eroding. Read more

Pharmacare is in our sights, it’s not time to look away. thestar.com, Feb 6 [OPINION]: Members of Parliament have headed back to work in the House of Commons. In anticipation of their return, pharmacare advocates like the Canadian Labour Congress, the Heart & Stroke Foundation and others issued a call urging government to put pharmacare at the top of their agenda. Read more

Oregon bill would import prescription drugs from Canada. ctvnews.ca, Feb 11: There is an effort underway in Oregon to make prescriptions cheaper by importing them from Canada. Read more

Simon Fraser University: Ground-breaking agreement increases Indigenous self-determination for health research. educationnewscanada.com, Feb 11: …while a typical research agreement acknowledges the academic partner's ownership of intellectual property, this agreement acknowledges the First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP)®, and that FNHA holds the right to ownership of intellectual property. Read more

New report: A roadmap to improve virtual care in Canada. cma.ca, Feb 11: The Virtual Care Task Force (VCTF), a collaboration of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), released its recommendations for enabling and expanding the implementation of virtual care in Canada. Read more

Infectious disease control is ‘separate consideration’ from hospital overcrowding: Elliott. ipolitics.ca, Feb 11: The minister responsible for Ontario’s notoriously overcrowded hospitals claimed Tuesday that questions around hallway medicine were a “separate consideration” from the province’s capacity to control infectious diseases. Read more

Six community hospital ERs in N.B. to begin closing overnight, minister says. atlantic.ctvnews.ca, Feb 12: Emergency rooms in six community hospitals in New Brunswick will begin to close overnight starting next month to allow resources to be directed to other services during the day. Read more

Maze Ransomware Hackers Extorting Providers, Posting Stolen Health Data. healthitsecurity.com, Feb 4: Soon after the FBI warned that hackers are targeting private sector organizations to encrypt and steal data, Maze ransomware actors are now publicly extorting providers and posting stolen PHI. Read more

As our opioid crisis rages, one type of treatment is being linked to a drastic reduction in overdoses. thestar.com, Feb 7: As political debate over how to curb the opioid crisis rages in this country, a major new U.S. study has found replacement drugs such as methadone are much more effective at preventing overdoses and medical emergencies than more traditional abstinence-based programs. Read more

PMPRB drug pricing changes could delay product launches: survey. benefitscanada.com, Feb 5: The vast majority of pharmaceutical executives said they expect the incoming amendments to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board to have a negative impact on their business plans in Canada. Read more

Health officials investigating Imperial Tobacco ad campaign on vaping. montrealgazette.com, Feb 6: Health Canada and its provincial counterpart in Quebec are investigating a widely disseminated Imperial Tobacco advertisement on vaping to see whether it violates advertising laws. Read more

Teen vaping rates rise as Alberta set to make legislative changes. cbc.ca, Feb 12: MLA says many teens have misconception that vaping is safer than smoking. Read more

Cigarettes get a new look tomorrow. mylloydminsternow.com, Feb 7: The look of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the area will permanently change starting Friday. February 7th marks the government-mandated packaging change on packs of cigarettes. Read more

Trump administration proposes removing FDA's authority over tobacco regulation. thehill.com, Feb 10: The Trump administration on Monday proposed creating a new federal agency to regulate tobacco products while removing that authority from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA.) Read more

Juul makes crucial hires from FDA with fate hanging in balance. bnnbloomberg.ca, Feb 5: Juul Labs Inc. has hired former Food and Drug Administration employees and is recruiting more researchers as it prepares for a crucial regulatory hurdle that will determine the future of the top U.S. e-cigarette maker. Read more

New Study Suggests Raising Taxes On E-Cigarettes Could Encourage Traditional Smoking. forbes.com, Feb 10: That's precisely what a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health suggests: raising taxes on e-cigarettes in an attempt to curb vaping may cause people to purchase more traditional cigarettes. Read more

Pennsylvania sues Juul, demands ban on maker’s vaping products. inquirer.com, Feb 10: The lawsuit, filed Monday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, alleges that Juul misled consumers about the health risks and addictive power of its nicotine vaping pods and improperly marketed the products to youths. Read more

Vaping execs tell lawmakers that e-cigarettes are not meant for young people. thehill.com, Feb 5: Executives from the five largest e-cigarette companies defended their products on Wednesday as House lawmakers pressed them about rising youth nicotine addiction. Read more

NDP calls on Ford to reverse health cuts. torontosun.com, Feb 5: Citing concern over the ongoing coronavirus threat, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the province to roll back healthcare cuts. Read more

Dalhousie University – Current course offerings

McGill University – Continuing dental education

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry University – Continuing professional development

Université Laval – Formation continue

University of Manitoba – Continuing professional development

Université de Montréal – Formation dentaire continue

University of Alberta – Program and courses

University of British Columbia – Calendar of courses

University of Saskatchewan – Continuing professional dental education

University of Toronto – Continuing dental education

2020

February 20-22: Chicago Dental Society 155th Midwinter Meeting – Kaleidoscope View 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. Read more

March 5-7: Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver, BC. Read more

March 19-20: Academy of Osseointegration 2020 Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. Read more

March 18-21: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session – Washington, D.C. Read more

March 19-21: The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Read more

April 2-4: The 2020 Manitoba Dental Association & Canadian Dental Association Convention –Seeing Dentistry Clearly, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Read more

May 7-9: Ontario Dental Association ASM20 Annual Spring Meeting, in Toronto, Ontario. Read more

May 14-16: California Dental Association (CDA) – Presents the Art & Science of Dentistry, Anaheim, California. Read more

May 21-23: Alberta Dental Association & College, Alberta Wellness Summit, in Edmonton, Alberta. Read more

May 29-June 2: Journées dentaires internationales du Québec, in Montreal, Quebec. Read more

September 1-4: FDI World Dental Congress in Shanghai, China. Read more

September 10-12: California Dental Association (CDA) – Presents the Art & Science of Dentistry, in San Francisco, CA. Save the date

October 1-3: Canadian Academy of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics 28th Annual Scientific Meeting in Toronto, Ontario. Read more

October 4: North West Dental Exposition in Edmonton, Alberta. Read more

October 15-18: American Dental Association ADA FDC 2020 in Orlando, Florida. Read more

Please let us know about upcoming continuing education meetings that could be of interest to Canadian dentists by emailing us at oasisdiscussions@cda-adc.ca