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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-05-27, Page 7Arranging Agnes Ten Pas of Just for You in Brussels gives some flower arranging tips to members of the Belgrave Girl Guides during a recent visit. (Vicky Bremner photo) DOUG GOUGH, R.I.B. (ONT.) CAIB, Manager :1r es IVES INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. - BLYTH OFFICE 184 Dinsley St. W. Box 428 Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 Tel: (519) 523-9655 Fax: (519) 523-9793 All Classes of Insurance Talk to us instead. Ap Owl SmotirNio% aorr oic..1 :41... 61Gr:1 1, vj 'TALK ;rte -To \Ys EL F 41;smokers HELPLINE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY TOL.L-FREE 1-877-513-5333 WWW.IVESINSURANCE.COM CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL MATERNALICHILD PROGRAM ci , `), j.,, . - , A './.i , - MATERNAL/CHILD PROGRAM "A new way of providing service at Clinton Public Hospital" "BABY AND .1" PROGRAM DAYS - WEDNESDAYS 10-11:30 a.m. WHERE - CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL CONFERENCE ROOM (Second Floor) WHEN ATTENDING FOR THE FIRST TIME PLEASE REGISTER IN ADMITTING NO FEE PROGRAM TOPICS: Wednesday, June 2 - "Kindermusik" with Annie Sparling Wednesday, June 9 - Living With Baby Video - "Diapers & Delirium" Wednesday, June 16 - "Babies Visit to Emergency or X-Ray" Speakers - Jennifer Carter (Medical Radiation Technologist) - Valerie Bolton (Registered Nurse, Emergency) Wednesday, June 23 - "Share Your Birth Experience" Wednesday, June 30 - Feeding Your Baby For more info call Veronica Farquhar - 482-3440 Ext. 304 THE CITIZEN. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2004. PAGE 7. Letter Writer encourages voters to learn issues THE EDITOR, The federal election approaches so we must get beyond the -message. Mr. Martin goes to Toronto and with his Toronto-area liberal members announces great things for the waterfront. Mr. Martin's government will give $125 million to "kick-start Toronto's stalled waterfront rejuvenation." Unless Toronto voters think carefully. they will be enthused about this generous recognition of their waterfront needs. In 1972, during the federal election, Mitchell Sharpe, a cabinet minister in the Trudeau government, stood where a number of condos now block the view to Lake Ontario and announced the federal government would fund a waterfront park for the people: It never happened. It was never meant to happen. Pork barrelling is the lowest form of campaigning; that it is effective is a sad commentary on voters and not far removed from the days when politicians literally bought individual voters with cash, liquor, and jobs on the highways. When we buy the message, we deserve the results. Gas prices are on the rise. All parties express outrage and promise they will act on behalf of the people. Parties are trying to make mileage of a phenomenon over which they have little control. Canadians believe they have an inalienable right to cheap access to a non-renewable resource. Continued from page 1 all the mosquitoes around. That's not the intent at all," said Forrest. Pam Scharfe, public health manager with the health unit, said although mosquitoes are a nuisance, they are important to ecology. "Birds and other creatures thrive on mosquitoes. We have to keep things in perspective, we'll can't get rid of them and we never will be able to," said Scharfe. She said only female mosquitoes bite and usually a person who does get bitten by an infected mosquito doesn't know they have WNv. "Most people won't know they have it. For most people, WNv causes mild flu-like symptoms that depress the immune systems and could cause neurological problems," said Scharfe. She said there are two different varieties of WNv symptoms. The first is no symptoms and infected people do not get sick or they may suffer from mild flu-like symptoms including a headache that doesn't go away. She said the second is encephalitis - inflamation of the brain. "These are just a few symptoms. Others may include fever, muscle weakness, headache, sudden sensitivity to light and abnormal swelling (around the bitten area,)" she said. The Health Canada website said some individuals have weaker immune systems, and they are at greater risk of developing symptoms and health effects that are more serious, inetuding meningitis, and acute flaccid paralysis. Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord and acute flaccid paralysis is a polio-like syndrome that can result in the loss of function of one or more limbs. These conditions can be fatal. For those who have a more severe Rather than pander to voters, politicians should tell us higher prices ate the reality and we need to develop strategies to better protect this non-renewable resource, oil, illness, symptoms could include stiff neck, difficulty swallowing, the sudden onset of severe headaches, vomiting, confusion, lack of co- ordination and paralysis. The website said some other symptoms that have been identified include movement disorders, Parkinsonism, poliomyelitis-like syndrome and muscle degeneration. Anyone who .has a sudden onset of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Scharfe said physicians treat the symptoms of WNv, but there "is no treatment or vaccine for infected humans with the WNv." There is a vaccine for the majority of horses. "We are keeping in close contact with local hospitals and doctors to make sure no cases have popped up," she said. Scharfe said, aside from protecting one's self during the dusk and dawn hours, when mosquitoes are usually out looking for a feast, there are "day-time biters," that are in wooded areas. "We need to be mindful of our neighbours by cleaning out areas that hold water so mosquitoes can't harm you or your neighbour," she said. Forrest said every two years the catch basins around Brussels are cleaned out. "We do half the town one year the other half the next. So far this year we have cleaned out a lot of them and we do suggest that people don't leave a lot of water laying out because it is just what mosquitoes love," said Forrest. Scharfe said when using bug repellent, pay attention to the instructions on the back, especially when using its on children between ages six months to two years. She said bug repellent shouldn't be put on children's face or hands, it shouldn't be applied more than once that is the cornerstone of our industrial society. Voters serve themselves better if they discount anything said during the election about controlling gas prices. Gas a day and it shouldn't contain any more than 10 per cent in terms of Deet. She also said a sunscreen and bug repellent mixture is available, but "not recommended" because parents may think of continually applying it for sunscreen usage, but the amount of Deet could be harmful to children. "After application, wash your hands and at the end of the day, wash it off your children too," said Scharfe. She said on May 3 testing had started for WNv in crows, ravens and blue jays. In 2002, five birds tested positive-for WNv and in 2003 two birds tested positive. She said dead birds have to be tested between 12 to 24 hours after death to determine if WNv is present. On June I the university students will begin mosquito trapping and mosquito larva dipping and after the students catch the mosquitoes, they are sent to Brock University for testing. "There are over 50 types of mosquitoes in Ontario and only a small portion can carry the virus," said Scharfe. If the mosquito population were to get out of hand, it is possible to put insecticide into area catchbasins, but Scharfe said the health unit would have to "see a number of positive birds and human cases" before putting any thing into the catchbasins. "We don't know how this (WNv) is going to evolve because it's new to Canada and we are doing our best to keep the WNv under conttol," said Scharfe. If you spot a dead raven, blue jay or crow do not touch it and call the Huron County Health Unit right away at 519-482-3416 or if you have any symptoms of WNv. see your physician as soon as possMe. price chatter is a mug's game. It is important for voters to ask what kind of Canada we want. Without that we are vulnerable to the political salesman at our door or on our TV. Fdr instance, there is nothing dastardly with wanting to have a closer military and economic relationship with the United States. There have been Canadians wanting this since Confederation. It is not new. Today, those people have a party to represent them. Mr. Harper will take them there. Because, however, of what is now occurring in the United States and their activities in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Canadian war party, for that is what they are according to their spoken word, wishes to downplay their belligerence for this election. That is unfortunate. Though I disagree ‘k ith the conservative's desire for a closer and more dependent relationship with the United States (a mouse cannot have an interdependent relationship with an elephant) I could at least respect them if they categorically set out their policy in this regard rather than fudge it. Otherwise some voters may become confused, not realizing that Mr. Harper and the conservative party want us to march in close step with the United States. Openness would be welcome in an election but without it voters need to look beyond the announcements, the ballyhoo, and the deliberate misinformation. Get out and vote but make it an informed vote. There is a better chance not to end disappointed. Fred Kirby Mosquitoes a nuisance to us, but a boon to the environment