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--Boundary_(ID_XSyD90Ifo99miRHNKO0j+w)
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At the just-ended several-day annual Nature Canada 2007 conference held in
Wolfville at Acadia University, Jeff Ogden told us that Nova Scotia has not
had any avian or bird cases of West Nile virus disease since 2004. Dead
corvids (crows, ravens, jays) are still being collected and checked for the
disease (contact Dept. of Nat. Resources local offices), but mosquitoes are
not currently being examined.
Jeff's presentation to us was very entertaining and informative on ticks
("TICK TALK"), mainly about the black-legged or deer tick and Lyme disease.
He mentioned that there is no real "tick season" (just the spring and summer
months), and that the only two areas where humans have much probability of
picking up an infected tick and the disease are near Lunenburg and Bedford.
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
--------------------
Subject: Elderly man dies of West Nile; Manitoba orders more spraying --
Globe and Mail, August 7, 2007
Globe and Mail, August 7, 2007
HEALTH
Elderly man dies of West Nile; Manitoba orders more spraying
DAWN WALTON
August 7, 2007
CALGARY -- After an elderly Manitoba man became the first Canadian to die
from the West Nile virus this year, the province beefed up measures over the
holiday weekend to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes and ordered chemical
spraying for additional communities.
The man in his 80s, who lived in the Assiniboine Health Region in the
southwest corner of the province, contracted West Nile virus neurological
syndrome, the most severe type of the virus.
Spraying, a controversial issue in Manitoba, especially in Winnipeg where
$1.4-million is spent each year on chemical control of the bug, has now been
ordered for the regions of Carberry and Sioux Valley First Nation. Similar
orders were previously issued for the communities of Boissevain, Brandon,
Carman, Deloraine, West St. Paul, Winkler and Winnipeg.
Manitoba has become the country's hotbed for infection this summer.
Forty-two people have tested positive for the virus. In previous years, the
number of cases has ranged from one to 35 a summer. The spike this year has
been linked to hot, wet weather on the prairies that has created ideal
breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
In Saskatchewan, 17 people are either under investigation or have tested
positive for the virus and the province is only now entering its highest
risk period for the disease to spread. One of those patients, who lives in
the Saskatoon Health Region, has the severe neurological form of the
disease.
"We have had a very warm summer, which provides optimal conditions for the
Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, the species that carries the West Nile virus,"
Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Ross Findlater, said in a
statement.
Alberta reported its first human case of the virus last month. British
Columbia has also counted one case, but that patient likely contracted it
while travelling outside the province, according to the Public Health Agency
of Canada.
One in five people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will develop mild
symptoms that can include headaches and a fever or a rash, according to
experts. But the virus can make some people seriously ill, causing
encephalitis, paralysis, coma or death. The virus is particularly dangerous
for the young, elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
West Nile virus first appeared in North America in 1999 in New York and
moved into Canada in 2001. The virus, usually transmitted to people from
mosquitoes that feed on infected birds, was first detected in Southern
Ontario in dead birds and mosquito pools. According to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, as of July 31, there have been 185 human
cases of the virus in 22 states and five people have died.
Since spread of the virus is contingent on climate, mosquito populations and
different susceptibility levels of people, scientists have trouble
predicting when or where the virus will show up.
In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency
last week in three counties and earmarked up to $1.35-million (U.S.) to curb
spread of the disease through programs such as spraying.
--Boundary_(ID_XSyD90Ifo99miRHNKO0j+w)
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<TITLE>Elderly man dies of West Nile; Manitoba orders more spraying -- Globe and Mail, August 7, 2007</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
At the just-ended several-day annual Nature Canada 2007 conference held in Wolfville at Acadia University, Jeff Ogden told us that Nova Scotia has not had any avian or bird cases of West Nile virus disease since 2004. Dead corvids (crows, ravens, jays) are still being collected and checked for the disease (contact Dept. of Nat. Resources local offices), but mosquitoes are not currently being examined.<BR>
<BR>
Jeff's presentation to us was very entertaining and informative on ticks ("TICK TALK"), mainly about the black-legged or deer tick and Lyme disease. He mentioned that there is no real "tick season" (just the spring and summer months), and that the only two areas where humans have much probability of picking up an infected tick and the disease are near Lunenburg and Bedford. <BR>
<BR>
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville<BR>
--------------------<BR>
<BR>
<B>Subject: </B>Elderly man dies of West Nile; Manitoba orders more spraying -- Globe and Mail, August 7, 2007<BR>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Arial">Globe and Mail, August 7, 2007<BR>
</FONT></FONT> <BR>
HEALTH <BR>
<H2>Elderly man dies of West Nile; Manitoba orders more spraying<BR>
</H2>DAWN WALTON <BR>
<BR>
August 7, 2007<BR>
CALGARY -- After an elderly Manitoba man became the first Canadian to die from the West Nile virus this year, the province beefed up measures over the holiday weekend to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes and ordered chemical spraying for additional communities. <BR>
<BR>
The man in his 80s, who lived in the Assiniboine Health Region in the southwest corner of the province, contracted West Nile virus neurological syndrome, the most severe type of the virus. <BR>
<BR>
Spraying, a controversial issue in Manitoba, especially in Winnipeg where $1.4-million is spent each year on chemical control of the bug, has now been ordered for the regions of Carberry and Sioux Valley First Nation. Similar orders were previously issued for the communities of Boissevain, Brandon, Carman, Deloraine, West St. Paul, Winkler and Winnipeg. <BR>
<BR>
Manitoba has become the country's hotbed for infection this summer. <BR>
Forty-two people have tested positive for the virus. In previous years, the number of cases has ranged from one to 35 a summer. The spike this year has been linked to hot, wet weather on the prairies that has created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.<BR>
In Saskatchewan, 17 people are either under investigation or have tested positive for the virus and the province is only now entering its highest risk period for the disease to spread. One of those patients, who lives in the Saskatoon Health Region, has the severe neurological form of the disease. <BR>
<BR>
"We have had a very warm summer, which provides optimal conditions for the <I>Culex tarsalis</I> mosquitoes, the species that carries the West Nile virus," Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Ross Findlater, said in a statement. <BR>
<BR>
Alberta reported its first human case of the virus last month. British Columbia has also counted one case, but that patient likely contracted it while travelling outside the province, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. <BR>
<BR>
One in five people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will develop mild symptoms that can include headaches and a fever or a rash, according to experts. But the virus can make some people seriously ill, causing encephalitis, paralysis, coma or death. The virus is particularly dangerous for the young, elderly and those with weakened immune systems. <BR>
<BR>
West Nile virus first appeared in North America in 1999 in New York and moved into Canada in 2001. The virus, usually transmitted to people from mosquitoes that feed on infected birds, was first detected in Southern Ontario in dead birds and mosquito pools. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of July 31, there have been 185 human cases of the virus in 22 states and five people have died. <BR>
<BR>
Since spread of the virus is contingent on climate, mosquito populations and different susceptibility levels of people, scientists have trouble predicting when or where the virus will show up. <BR>
<BR>
In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency last week in three counties and earmarked up to $1.35-million (U.S.) to curb spread of the disease through programs such as spraying.<BR>
<BR>
</BODY>
</HTML>
--Boundary_(ID_XSyD90Ifo99miRHNKO0j+w)--
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