Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / U.S. Obesity Trends, Universal Pharmacare in Canada, and Breast Cancer Vaccine Progress

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U.S. Obesity Trends, Universal Pharmacare in Canada, and Breast Cancer Vaccine Progress · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I’m your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, here to bring you the latest updates from the world of medicine and health.
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  Today, we’re diving into a topic that's increasingly capturing the attention of health
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  professionals and policymakers alike—obesity in the United States.
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  A recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet predicts a staggering rise in
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  obesity rates over the coming decades.
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  By 2050, nearly 260 million people in the United States are expected to be either
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  overweight or obese.
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  This study is one of the first to project the nation’s obesity epidemic as far out as 2050,
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  indicating that 43.1 million children and adolescents and 213 million adults will have
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  overweight or obesity.
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  These numbers are a significant leap from 2021, where 36.5 million children and adolescents and
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  172 million adults were reported to have overweight and obesity.
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  The implications are vast and concerning, particularly because obesity is linked to
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  numerous health complications such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, respiratory issues, and
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  mental health challenges.
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  The health care costs associated with obesity are also substantial.
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  Back in 2016, obesity-related health care costs were estimated to be between $261 billion and
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  $481 billion.
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  Obesity and overweight, defined as a body mass index over 30 or between 25 and 29.9
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  respectively, are among the fastest-growing risk factors for early death or disability in
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  the United States.
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  The study was conducted by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at
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  the University of Washington.
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  They used a model based on data from 134 unique sources to predict future trends.
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  The study highlights that obesity has been a growing concern for many years, with obesity
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  rates for adults and older adolescents doubling over the past thirty years.
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  An interesting point the study makes is about the regional disparities across the United
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  States, with Southern states showing higher prevalence rates.
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  States like Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Kentucky
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  are currently leading in obesity rates and are expected to maintain these high numbers.
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  Meanwhile, Colorado and New Mexico are predicted to see the largest increases.
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  Dr.
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  Marie Ng, a co-author of the study, emphasizes that "obesity is at a crisis point throughout
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  the United States," particularly concerning the large number of young people affected.
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  It's crucial to note that young individuals with obesity are significantly more likely to
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  face weight issues later in life.
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  However, the researchers acknowledge some limitations in their study, such as trends
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  could change, and the lack of state-level projections for children's obesity rates due to
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  insufficient data.
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  The study also addresses the limitations of using body mass index as a sole measure, as it
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  does not accurately account for differences in body structures across ethnic and racial
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  groups.
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  For instance, among Asian populations, severe weight-related health issues can occur at a
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  lower body mass index compared to those identifying as White.
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  The researchers call for more comprehensive measures at a population level to tackle this
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  growing epidemic.
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  Co-author Emmanuela Gakidou notes the "decades-long failure" to address this issue
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  adequately.
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  Dr.
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  Ng points out that while there will be an increased demand for medications to treat
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  obesity, these are not a "silver bullet." Access and cost remain significant barriers,
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  making prevention a key strategy.
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  The study suggests starting prevention efforts from pregnancy and focusing on healthier school
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  meals, more regulations on junk food, and making fruits and vegetables more accessible.
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  Additionally, creating safer, more walkable neighborhoods can encourage physical activity.
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  Population-level solutions have shown promise in other regions.
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  Dr.
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  Barry Popkin from the University of North Carolina highlights the effectiveness of
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  imposing taxes on sweetened beverages, which have led to reduced calorie consumption in
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  places like Mexico and some U.S.
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  cities.
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  However, he stresses the need for leadership willing to prioritize solutions for the obesity
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  epidemic, which has not been a focus in recent U.S.
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  administrations.
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  This study serves as a crucial reminder of the challenges we face and the importance of
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  comprehensive strategies to combat obesity.
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  We'll continue to monitor this situation and bring you updates as they develop.
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  Stay with us as we pivot to our next segment on a groundbreaking breast cancer vaccine update
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  from the Cleveland Clinic.
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  You're listening to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Shifting our attention now to Canada, the federal government has recently announced the
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  formation of an expert panel to guide the development of a universal pharmacare program.
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  This initiative marks a significant step towards providing comprehensive health care
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  access across the country.
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  Dr.
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  Nav Persaud, who holds the Canada Research Chair in health justice, will lead this panel.
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  The committee will consist of various health care professionals dedicated to advising the
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  government on implementing the next phases of this national program.
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  The roots of this initiative can be traced back to a legislative agreement between the Liberal
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  and New Democratic parties.
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  They worked together on the substance of a pharmacare bill, which became law in October
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  2024.
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  This law enables the federal government to engage with provinces and territories to begin
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  offering free access to certain medications, including contraceptives and diabetes
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  treatments.
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  The expert panel, therefore, has a crucial role in devising recommendations for establishing a
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  universal, single-payer pharmacare system.
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  Their report is expected to be submitted to the health minister by October 2025, after which it
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  will be presented to Parliament for further action.
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  The panel includes notable figures like Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of
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  Nurses Unions, and Dr.
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  Steve Morgan, a pharmacare systems expert at the University of British Columbia, among
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  others.
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  This committee will engage with various stakeholders, including provinces, territories,
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  Indigenous groups, and health experts, to shape a comprehensive pharmacare strategy.
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  The New Democratic Party has expressed its support for the committee's formation, while
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  the federal Conservative Party has voiced opposition to a single-payer drug plan, should
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  they come into power.
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  Conservative-led provinces like Alberta and Ontario also remain skeptical about joining the
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  initial agreements.
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  Health Minister Mark Holland has stated his intentions to have agreements with all
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  provinces and territories by next spring to initiate coverage for birth control and
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  diabetes medications.
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  British Columbia has already taken a proactive step by signing a memorandum of understanding,
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  and Manitoba has started covering prescription birth control as of October 2024.
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  This initial program is designed to be a universal, first-dollar, single-payer model,
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  ensuring that patients do not bear the cost of these medications.
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  Although the structure of the national pharmacare program is still under
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  consideration, with discussions around whether it will be a mixed-payer or single-payer
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  system, the expert panel is tasked with determining the most effective model.
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  This development is a significant milestone in Canadian health care, promising a future where
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  medication access is more equitable and financially accessible for all Canadians.
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  The Cleveland Clinic has recently announced promising updates in the development of a
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  breast cancer vaccine, heralding what some experts are calling a "new era" in cancer
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  prevention.
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  This innovative vaccine is designed to target triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly
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  aggressive form of the disease that is notoriously difficult to treat.
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  This type of cancer grows and spreads faster than other forms and lacks the three receptors
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  commonly targeted in breast cancer treatments, making it a formidable adversary.
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  At the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer meeting in Texas earlier this month,
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  researchers from Cleveland Clinic shared their latest findings on this groundbreaking vaccine.
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  The lead researcher, Dr.
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  G.
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  Thomas Budd, explained that the vaccine targets a specific protein known as α-lactalbumin,
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  which is involved in lactation.
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  This protein is generally no longer present in significant amounts in women who are past
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  childbearing age but is found at high levels in over seventy percent of triple-negative breast
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  cancers.
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  The vaccine's approach is considered a paradigm shift in cancer care, focusing on prevention
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  rather than treatment.
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  By targeting the α-lactalbumin protein, the vaccine aims to prevent the onset of
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  triple-negative breast cancer, rather than addressing it after it has developed.
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  This strategy could potentially reduce the incidence of this aggressive cancer, saving
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  lives and alleviating the burdens associated with cancer treatments.
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  The Phase 1 trial of the vaccine, conducted at Cleveland Clinic in partnership with Anixa
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  Biosciences and funded by the United States Department of Defense, involved 26 patients.
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  The results were encouraging, showing that the vaccine was generally well-tolerated and
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  capable of inducing an immune response in most participants.
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  Researchers were able to determine the highest tolerated dose and assess the immunologic
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  effects of the vaccine.
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  This pioneering work builds on nearly two decades of research initiated by the late Dr.
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  Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.
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  The success of the Phase 1 trial has paved the way for a Phase 2 study, which Anixa plans to
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  launch next year.
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  This next phase will aim to further evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing
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  triple-negative breast cancer recurrence.
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  Experts in the field, including Fox News medical contributor Dr.
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  Nicole Saphier, have expressed excitement over these developments.
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  Dr.
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  Saphier emphasized the potential of such vaccines to significantly reduce the incidence
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  of breast cancer, which could usher in a new era of cancer prevention strategies.
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  She highlighted the broader public health benefits, particularly for high-risk
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  individuals, and underscored the potential to alleviate the societal and economic impacts of
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  cancer.
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  Our final segment today revolves around an event that has the city of Toronto
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  buzzing—Taylor Swift's highly-anticipated concert series at the Rogers Centre.
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  While fans, affectionately known as "Swifties," are eagerly lining up for the first of six
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  sold-out shows, there's an important health advisory to consider.
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  With the arrival of fall, we're also seeing a surge in respiratory viruses such as the common
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  cold, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19, and even walking pneumonia.
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  Concerts, especially those drawing crowds of 50,000 to 60,000 people, like Taylor Swift's,
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  can become hotbeds for the transmission of these illnesses.
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  Dr.
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  Barry Pakes, a public health physician and associate professor at the University of
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  Toronto, emphasized the heightened risk of disease transmission at such massive
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  gatherings.
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  He noted that while the excitement of the concert is palpable, it's important to be
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  cautious as crowded venues and public transportation can facilitate the spread of
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  germs.
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  Toronto Public Health has been proactive, encouraging concertgoers to get vaccinated
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  against the flu and COVID-19.
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  They remind us that if you’re feeling unwell, it's best to stay home to avoid spreading
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  illness to fellow fans.
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  Simple measures such as wearing a mask, covering coughs and sneezes, and frequent hand
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  washing can significantly mitigate the risk of infection.
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  Health Canada reports that enterovirus, rhinovirus, and COVID-19 are currently the most
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  prevalent viruses circulating in the country.
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  Although COVID-19 cases are reportedly decreasing, vigilance is still encouraged,
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  especially in large gatherings like concerts.
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  David Fisman, a Toronto-based physician epidemiologist, suggests that wearing a
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  well-fitting respirator is one of the most effective ways to prevent inhaling infectious
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  aerosols.
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  This advice is particularly relevant for those who are immunocompromised or older adults,
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  although they may not be the primary demographic attending these concerts.
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  Dr.
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  Pakes also highlighted the potential risk to those who may not be attending the concert but
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  could come into contact with attendees afterward.
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  Even if concertgoers feel fine, they could still be carriers of viruses, potentially
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  spreading them to more vulnerable individuals.
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  As a precaution, he recommends sanitizing hands and being mindful of any symptoms if you're
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  headed to the concert or using public transit.
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  By taking these steps, you can enjoy the concert while also keeping yourself and others
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  safe.
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  That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Thank you for joining us as we explored these pressing health topics.
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  Remember to stay informed and take care of your health.
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  Until next time, this is Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow wishing you a healthy day ahead.