Amebiasis is a disease caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Many people with amebiasis do not have any symptoms. However, the most common symptoms are abdominal cramps and loose stools. More severe cases may experience fever, chills and/or diarrhea with blood or mucous. Amebiasis is spread by consuming contaminated food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces. It can also spread sexually through oral-anal contact. For more information, see the health unit's fact sheet on amebiasis.
Simcoe Muskoka
Ontario
Technical Notes
Simcoe Muskoka
The following graph shows the number of amebiasis cases in Simcoe Muskoka between 2000 and 2021. The number of cases of amebiasis in Simcoe Muskoka have been between two and 15 cases since 2000. In 2021, four cases of amebiasis were reported in Simcoe Muskoka.
The following graph shows the incidence rate of amebiasis in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario between 2000 and 2021. The incidence rate in Simcoe Muskoka is lower than the Ontario rate. Between 2011 and 2016, the incidence of amebiasis in Simcoe Muskoka appeared to be increasing* while Ontario’s rate remained relatively stable. Since 2016, the rate in Ontario has dropped significantly and is now similar to the rate of Ambebiasis in Simcoe Muskoka. In 2021, the Simcoe Muskoka incidence rate was 0.6 cases per 100,000 population, while Ontario’s incidence rate was 1.6 cases per 100,000 population.
More detailed data for Ontario and each health unit can be found on Public Health Ontario’s interactive Reportable Disease Trends in Ontario tool.
There are many factors that influence how many cases are reported to the health unit, as explained on the Infectious Diseases page. It is unclear to what extent the global COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the reporting and spread of other infectious diseases - counts and rates of disease since 2020 should be interpreted with caution.
Provincial definitions classify cases as confirmed or probable based on clinical and/or laboratory diagnostic criteria. The provincial case definition for amebiasis changed in April 2009 to include a definition for probable cases. Previously, there was no probable case classification. The definitions of confirmed and probable cases for 2009 to present are comparable to confirmed cases before 2009.
*Due to small case counts, increases and decreases at the health unit level should be interpreted with caution.
Page last updated August 19, 2022