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Provincial officials and poultry producers are hopeful the worst of a deadly wave of avian flu that swept through the province has now passed.
Provincial officials and poultry producers are hopeful the worst of a deadly wave of avian flu that swept through the province has now passed.
Dr. Margo Pybus, wildlife disease specialist with Alberta Fish and Wildlife, said it appears the virus has made its way through Alberta after bird mortality peaked in May. She said the majority of the virus came to the province through migratory birds, who appear to have continued farther north.
“Toward the end of May we were getting fewer reports of dead birds. Dead birds that are being found tend to be older carcasses, so they died more in the middle of May,” said Pybus. “We really don’t suspect that we have much in the way of the influenza virus still in Alberta at this point.”
The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus spread throughout Alberta in April and into the early days of May, ravaging household and commercial poultry farms. The disease is believed to have come into the province through wild birds and then spread throughout both wild and domestic animal populations. Earlier this month, reports found that nearly a million farm birds had to be destroyed because of it.
“The form of the virus that came in with the wild birds this spring that came north is actually killing some wild birds, and we’ve never seen that before,” said Pybus. “The primary mortality was in geese, snow geese in particular. But then we’ve seen a secondary spillover of the virus into things that ate those also came down with the virus and died, and that includes large numbers of hawks and owls.”
Pybus said she does not believe the virus will continue to spread throughout the summer.
Maria Leslie, spokeswoman for Alberta Chicken Producers, said they are optimistic the spread of the virus has passed but are continuing to urge caution among producers.
“I want to encourage people to continue to follow very high standards of biosecurity with any birds that they might have on their farms,” said Leslie. “As we get closer to mid-summer and also when the weather warms up — because influenza is conducive to living in a cooler, damp environment — we’re hopeful that we’ll continue to see fewer cases.”
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website shows the last confirmed case of avian influenza was detected June 2 in small-flock, non-poultry birds, meaning the animal is in a home and is not intended to be consumed. The latest case within a commercial poultry farm was detected May 11, according to the website.
Twenty active zones of infection remain in the province, including 18 commercial facilities, CFIA’s database shows.
Leslie confirmed Friday that there have not been any new confirmed cases in the past week and that a facility in Mountain View County has gone through the full process of eradicating the disease.
“Heightened biosecurity protocols continue to be followed and . . . we encourage small flock owners to continue to follow heightened biosecurity as well,” said Leslie.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has confirmed a case of measles in Edmonton, and is advising the public that the individual was out in public while infectious.
Measles is an extremely contagious disease that is spread easily through the air, and can only be prevented through immunization.
AHS says individuals who were in the following locations during the specified dates and times, may have been exposed to measles.
AHS says anyone who attended those locations during those times is at risk of developing measles if they’ve not had two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine.
Those who have not had two doses, who are pregnant, under one year of age, or have a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of getting measles and should contact Health Link at 1-877-720-0707.
Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3° C or higher, cough, runny nose, and/or red eyes, a red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down the body and then to the arms and legs.
If you have any of these symptoms stay home and call Health Link.
In Alberta, measles vaccine is offered, free of charge, through Alberta’s publicly funded immunization program. Children in Alberta typically receive their first dose of measles vaccine at 12 months of age, and their second dose at 18 months of age.
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Infected cows were already prohibited from being transported out of state, but that was based on the physical characteristics of the milk, which looks curdled when a cow is infected, or a cow has decreased lactation or low appetite, both symptoms of infection.
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NEWS RELEASE
SOUTHLAKE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE
**************************
This Cancer Awareness Month, Southlake is adding advanced technologies to detect and treat breast cancer and other women’s cancers thanks to generous community donor support, most recently through the HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign. New cancer care technology, including new mammography machines, the MyoSure System and the MOLLI 2® System will make a measurable impact in diagnosing and treating women’s cancers in the communities Southlake serves.
Southlake is installing three new mammography machines to expand its breast cancer screening program to 1,500 more women each year. Two of these machines have new biopsy capabilities that will reduce the number of cancelled exams due to equipment failure, ensuring timely care for women. Women ages 40 to 49 years old will be able to self-refer for publicly funded mammograms through the Ontario Breast Screening Program starting this fall.
“Early detection is critical when treating breast cancer and other women’s cancers,” said Lorrie Reynolds, Director, Regional Cancer Program at Southlake. “We treat more than 1,700 breast cancer patients at Southlake every year. By adding advanced technology, like the new mammography machines, we’re ensuring women have the best experience at Southlake.”
Southlake is also introducing the MyoSure System, an innovative technology that can help detect female reproductive cancers. Damaged tissue in a woman’s uterus such as fibroids and polyps can now be removed in a precise, minimally invasive procedure that leaves the rest of the uterus intact. This will improve the overall patient experience by supporting faster recovery, reducing the risk of infection and giving more women the option to have children. An estimated 200 women per year will benefit from the MyoSure System.
The new mammography machines and the MyoSure System build on Southlake’s recent investment in the MOLLI 2® System, a made-in-Canada wire-free breast localization technology. This technology is considerably less invasive and more accurate when compared to wire-guided localization, resulting in a better patient experience and improved cosmetic outcomes. More than 200 women each year will benefit from this innovative medical device as they are treated for breast cancer at Southlake.
“As a clinician caring for women with cancer in our community, I’m incredibly proud of the work Southlake is doing to advance women’s health and improve patient experiences,” said Sara Temple, MD, Surgical Oncologist and Chief of Surgery at Southlake. “Women who visit Southlake can be confident that they are receiving leading edge care, close to home when they need it most.”
The World Health Organization anticipates a 77 per cent increase in cancer diagnoses by 2050. Southlake serves some of the fastest growing communities in Canada and anticipates that the number of patients requiring cancer care will grow. By investing in new technology, Southlake is ensuring that women in the communities it serves have access to leading edge cancer care. All of these investments were funded with support from community donors who generously gave to Southlake to support investments into women’s health at the hospital.
“The generosity of our donor community and the impact they have made for women receiving cancer diagnosis and treatment at Southlake is something we can all take great pride in,” said Jennifer Ritter, President and CEO of Southlake Foundation. “From our Women’s Health Initiative donors supporting new mammography machines, to the Ladies in Philanthropy for Southlake funding the MOLLI 2 System, to our long-standing partners The Edge Benefits and Pheasant Run Golf Club enabling the introduction of MyoSure System through their joint annual charity golf tournament, we are incredibly lucky to share a vision of access to exceptional care for everyone who depends on Southlake when they need us most. Thank you, to every donor who contributed to these important upgrades to care for women.”
Southlake Foundation’s HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign supports the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake. For more information or to make a donation, visit: southlake.ca/HERE.
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