One morning in Sept. 2021, MaryAnn Harris felt strangely tired. She told her husband, Charles de Lint, that she needed to lie down. Then more worrisome symptoms began cropping up, from nausea to double vision.
The Ottawa couple rushed to a local emergency department.
At first, the cause of Harris’s ailment was a mystery. The ER team ran various tests, and after a few hours with no answers, they sent her husband home due to visitor restrictions put in place during the pandemic.
By the time de Lint came back the next day, his beloved partner of four decades was unresponsive and on life support in the intensive care unit.
“You don’t know what to think, what to feel,” de Lint recalled. “It was just utter panic.”
What followed was a three-year ordeal, as medical teams offered a battery of tests and treatments in hopes of bringing Harris back from the brink of death. She eventually regained consciousness, but by that point, inflammation in her brain stem had left her paralyzed. Harris never left the hospital and died in early June at the age of 71.
The cause of her devastating illness? A little-known virus that spreads through tick bites.
For years, medical experts have warned a rising number of Canadians are being exposed to ticks carrying an array of dangerous pathogens. Lyme disease is the most familiar — and by far the most common — but there’s growing concern about lesser-known threats as well, from various bacterial infections, to the rare Powassan virus that claimed Harris’s life earlier this year.
Ottawa couple MaryAnn Harris and Charles de Lint were together for four decades, sharing a love of the arts and collaborating together up until Harris fell ill from Powassan virus in 2021. She passed away three years later at the age of 71. (Supplied by Charles de Lint)
Case counts are rising, yet data remains thin, all while climate change is helping tick populations spread further north, putting even more of the population at risk. The question now, experts say, is whether awareness and surveillance efforts are keeping up with a growing threat.
“There’s probably still more of [these infections] than what’s being diagnosed … because the general public is probably not that aware of it, and healthcare providers aren’t aware of it,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist with the University Health Network in Toronto.
“The more you look, the more you find.”
Patchwork surveillance for tick-borne illnesses
Actually finding evidence of these emerging health threats is a tricky business, given the patchwork approach to tracking various tick-spread diseases in Canada.
Lyme disease, a potentially serious illness spread through black-legged ticks, has been nationally reportable in Canada since 2009.
Since then, human cases have shot up. While there were only a few hundred country-wide infections identified in the first few years after provinces started reporting data, the annual count in recent years regularly hit more than 2,500, likely due to both increased awareness and higher numbers of bacteria-carrying ticks.
That viral infection, along with the bacterial infection anaplasmosis and the parasitic infection babesiosis, was recently deemed nationally notifiable — but hard data from the provinces remains hard to come by.
Canada’s first locally recorded case of anaplasmosis was back in 2009 in Alberta. For more than a decade afterwards, Manitoba was the only province tracking its spread, while some others, including Ontario and Nova Scotia, followed suit last year by broadening out their tracking beyond just Lyme disease.
In 2023, Ontario had 40 confirmed or suspected anaplasmosis cases, the majority occurring from June to August, plus 15 cases of babesiosis. Both infections can cause flu-like symptoms, or more serious illness. (Manitoba’s figures suggest there are just a handful of infections in any given year, including few if any cases of babesiosis.)
But those provincial figures don’t capture the full situation.
Diseases carried by insects that infect humans, like Lyme disease and West Nile virus, are on the rise in Canada. The shorter, less severe winters due to climate change have allowed those insects to expand their range.
“We are seeing a lot more victims, especially in those high-tick areas, specifically if you’re looking at Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia,” said Heather Coatsworth, one of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) top tick experts, in an interview with CBC News.
Coatsworth, the chief research scientist for the National Microbiology Laboratory’s field studies section, said there are now “hundreds and hundreds” of anaplasmosis infections occurring across the country every year, along with “sputtering” reports of babesiosis.
As for Powassan — named after the Ontario town where it was first discovered in a young boy who died of his illness back in 1958 — infections remain rare and localized to certain regions, Coatsworth noted.
What’s concerning, she added, is that the virus transmits through tick bites in as little as 15 minutes, and is a “much harder hitter” when it comes to human symptoms.
New U.S. surveillance data, published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection in June, also shows a four-fold spike in the number of American cases, partially thanks to the broader spread of the black-legged ticks that carry both Powassan and Lyme. From 2004 to 2013, 64 human Powassan cases were reported to U.S. officials, but that tally jumped to nearly 300 cases in the decade after.
A similar spike in Canada isn’t out of the question, given rising annual temperatures that are providing ticks more warm days to circulate far beyond their historic habitats.
“Climate change is the main driver,” Coatsworth said, noting that the increased range of ticks means these various health threats are now appearing in more animal species and urban, downtown areas.
“And once those pathogens get to a higher level, they kind of spill over naturally into the human population.”
Prompt treatment can be crucial
Despite spiking case counts of these lesser-known infections, limited awareness means a growing cohort of patients may face hurdles in getting a diagnosis and treatment.
Many health-care providers aren’t yet aware that these infections even exist, which can mean medical teams don’t always conduct the right diagnostic tests, warned Bogoch, the infectious diseases specialist in Toronto.
Those delays matter given the time-sensitive nature of tick-borne illnesses, which aren’t yet preventable through any approved vaccines.
When it comes to bacterial infections, prompt antibiotic treatments can be crucial to ensure someone’s infection doesn’t progress into dangerous territory. (In some cases, mild illness resolves on its own. There’s also no specific treatment for Powassan virus, but rather supportive care to manage its range of symptoms, including pain control for headaches, or rehydration for vomiting.)
Ottawa resident MaryAnn Harris during her lengthy hospital stay, which lasted from Sept. 2021 to her death from Powassan virus in June 2024. (Supplied by Charles de Lint)
Ottawa-area resident Mary Raths considers herself lucky for getting a prompt anaplasmosis diagnosis and treatment when she fell ill with a headache, nausea, and fever, not long after a camping trip in 2021.
Raths first tested herself for COVID-19, and when that came back negative, she went to a nearby hospital. After being admitted, she soon felt like “one of those mystery patients.”
“They did so many tests…. I don’t even remember a lot of the things they did, because I was that ill, but they did so many different blood tests, they did X-rays, they did a CT scan,” she recalled.
Thankfully, said Raths, her attending physician had previously treated an anaplasmosis patient and knew to consider the tick-borne disease. Within 24 hours she was given heavy-duty antibiotics as a precaution, and after five days in hospital, she ended up making a full recovery.
It wasn’t until later on that blood tests confirmed she had indeed caught the bacterial infection, likely from a tick bite on her recent camping trip.
“They made their best guess, and treated me for that, and confirmed it later,” she explained. “If I hadn’t recovered so quickly, it would’ve been scary.”
‘We’re behind the 8-ball’
Not all patients are that fortunate, and limited awareness remains a challenge, Bogoch stressed. “We’re behind the 8-ball,” he said, “and we definitely have a lot of catching up to do.”
In a statement, PHAC told CBC News a new national tick-borne disease surveillance dashboard is under development and could be up-and-running by this fall. It’s meant to give Canadians a picture of case counts over time, broken down by geographic, demographic, and seasonal factors, with a focus on Lyme disease.
But the first provincial data for that trio of additional infections — anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan — isn’t expected until summer 2025, the agency said.
“As you enjoy the outdoors, it’s probably going to be a new reality,” she warned.
A warming climate means a greater tick population and more tick-borne illnesses in Canada. Ontario already tracks cases of lyme disease, but starting now, it will also track three other tick-borne illnesses, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis and powassan virus disease.
A life cut short
That reality is one de Lint hopes others won’t have to face, given the suffering and high level of paralysis his wife endured following her Powassan infection. The couple doesn’t even know where she got bit, he added, since Harris hadn’t spent time beyond their own Ottawa neighbourhood leading up to her illness.
“I really hope that doctors, especially the ER docs, are more educated and given more data and information so they can recognize this kind of thing when it comes across them,” he said.
The Ottawa resident recounted four decades of memories with Harris, prior to her illness. From the couple’s meet-cute while de Lint was working in a record shop and Harris was searching for a mandolin player, to “years and years” of playing music together, to their longtime creative collaborations through Harris’s work as an artist and de Lint’s career as a writer and novelist — all of it, he said, was cut short.
“It was terrible what happened to MaryAnn, but she had 70 years,” de Lint added. “Imagine this happening to a kid? Their life would be over.”
How to avoid tick bites
Prevent bites
Wear light coloured long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Tuck your shirt into your pants, and your pants into your socks.
Wear closed-toe shoes.
Use bug spray with DEET or icaridin.
Walk on cleared paths or walkways.
You can also wear permethrin-treated clothing, now available in Canada.
Check for ticks
Shower or bathe as soon as possible after being outdoors.
Do a daily full body tick check on yourself, your children, your pets and your gear.
Put your clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes.
Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting
Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.
In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.
“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.
There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.
Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.
Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.
In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.
Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.
New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.
The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.
Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.
Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.
“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”
McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.
But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.
The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.
He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.
“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.
“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.
McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”
McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.
He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.
“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.
