Mosquito study underway in B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region after scattering of severe illness
A small number of virus cases in B.C. last year has triggered a study in the Sea-to-Sky region of mosquito populations and the diseases they may carry.
A small-scale mosquito surveillance project is being launched in B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region to better understand the mosquitos in the area and what diseases they may be carrying.
The project, launched by Vancouver Coastal Health in collaboration with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, Líl̓wat Nation, Squamish Nation and the University of B.C., was prompted after a spate of mosquito-borne illness was reported in the region late last year.
'Late last year in the fall, we were notified of a small cluster of individuals who were diagnosed with an illness known as California Serogroup, and they had all presented with severe neurological symptoms of encephalitis,' said Dr. Moliehi Khaketla, medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health. Encephalitis is an autoimmune response that leads to a swelling of the brain.
According to Khaketla, the majority of people who contact the virus show 'mild to no symptoms' and it is only 'a very small proportion' of individuals that have these severe neurological presentations.
While the specific infection was not new to the province, it was notable that four cases occurred over the course of one summer and that the severity of those cases meant the infected required hospitalization, said Khaketla. Prior to these four cases, there had been only three cases of California Serogroup reported since 2009.
'We decided to investigate to better understand if these individuals had acquired this illness while traveling to another area, or if they had stayed locally in B.C., and we determined that they had all likely acquired this new emerging pathogen locally in the Sea-to-Sky region, which was new,' said Khaketla.
The project, due to last three months, may be extended to allow surveys of other regions in B.C. if new cases arise.
'Because this is an emerging pathogen, this is our first step to being able to better understand this problem,' Khaketla said. 'Depending on how these results go, and if we see new additional cases this summer of this illness, it may prompt other regions across B.C. to conduct something similar.'
As the study gets underway, VCH is highlighting the importance of preventing mosquito bites and the various ways that they can be protected against. Khaketla recommends wearing mosquito repellents, wearing clothing that covers more skin – like full-length pants or long-sleeved shirts – installing screens on windows and avoiding being outdoors during times when mosquitoes are more active, typically around dusk and dawn.
Removing sources of stagnant water, where mosquitos can breed, may also remove the risk, he said.
'That could be simple things like removing the water under saucers or flowerpots, or changing bird baths, or unblocking your rain gutters, things like that,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Manitoba reaches settlement with family of woman who died after halted medical flight
An empty bed is seen at a hospital in Sarnia, Ont., on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government says it has settled a lawsuit with the family of a woman who died during the COVID-19 pandemic while in the process of being transferred out of province due to a shortage of hospital beds. Matt Wiebe, minister of justice and the province's attorney general, confirmed a settlement was recently reached with the family of Krystal Mousseau more than two years after Mousseau's mother first sued the provincial government and health agencies. Elaine Mousseau alleged that cuts to health care and improper medical decisions contributed to her daughter's death in May 2021. Mousseau was in intensive care with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and died after being taken by ambulance to a waiting airplane that was to take her to Ottawa. Details of the settlement were not made available. Wiebe says he is pleased the province has been able to reach an agreement with the Mousseau family. 'While it can't bring back their loved one or repair the harms done to their family, we hope this agreement brings them clarity and a sense of closure,' Wiebe said in a statement on Friday. 'Our government remains committed to rebuilding health care in northern Manitoba and across our province.' Mousseau died on May 25, 2021, after an aborted attempt to fly her from an intensive care unit in Brandon, Man., to a hospital in Ottawa. The province, under the previous Progressive Conservative government, sent dozens of intensive-care patients to other provinces that spring due to a shortage of beds as COVID-19 cases rose and hospitals struggled to deal with an influx of people needing care. Elaine Mousseau alleged that the government and Shared Health, the provincial body that co-ordinates many health services, failed to provide proper care. Shared Health said on Friday that any settlement is confidential in nature and it would not be commenting on the matter. Elaine Mousseau's lawyer was not immediately made available to comment on the settlement. A letter from the regional authority in western Manitoba to the family shortly after Krystal Mousseau's death, which was released publicly, said the transport team did not have a piece of equipment that would let them constantly monitor Mousseau's blood pressure, so a blood-pressure cuff was used instead. Mousseau was also being given at least one medication at the wrong rate, the letter stated. The lawsuit alleged the Tory government ignored warnings in 2019 when it privatized some air ambulance services. The government also created a scenario where hospitals couldn't deal with an influx of patients when it reduced the number of critical care beds in 2019, the lawsuit claimed. The statement of claim also alleged staff at the hospital allowed Mousseau to leave while she was in unstable condition and at severe risk. Mousseau showed high blood pressure and a sudden elevated heart rate shortly before she was put into the ambulance on the way to the airport, the statement of claim alleged. She went into cardiac arrest while in the ambulance, was sent back to hospital, and suffered another cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure before being pronounced dead the next day, the document said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025. Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Wildfire smoke chokes northern Manitoba air, while hot, humid weather plagues the south
Social Sharing As a large swath of Manitoba deals with heavy wildfire smoke polluting the air, others in the province are starting the weekend amidst suffocating heat and humid conditions. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an air quality warning for much of northern Manitoba including Thompson, The Pas and Flin Flon on Saturday morning. With relatively light winds, smoke is expected to concentrate especially over the area near active wildfires, causing poor air quality and reduced visibility throughout the day. Everyone's health is at risk, regardless of age or health status, during heavy smoke conditions, the federal agency said. But pregnant people, children, seniors and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to be impacted. Environment Canada is advising people to reschedule or cancel outdoor sports and activities. People who work outdoors should avoid extraneous activities and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms. Those may include eye eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough, Environment Canada said. According to the province's latest fire bulletin, issued Friday, the Manitoba Wildfire Service was responding to 121 active wildfires across the province, which has seen a total of 337 wildfires to date, well above the average for this time of year of 260. Heat warning Meanwhile, pockets of southern Manitoba, including the cities of Winnipeg, Brandon and Portage la Prairie, are under a heat warning. Humid and hot conditions are expected to remain throughout Saturday with temperatures reaching the low 30's C and humidex values nearing 38, Environment Canada said. Conditions are expected to improve with a cold front moving overnight Saturday, but in the meantime the weather agency is advising people to watch for signs of early heat exhaustion including headache, dizziness and intense fatigue. Extreme heat can affect everyone's health, but the risks are greater for older adults and other vulnerable people, Environment Canada said. To reduce the health effects of heat, stay out of direct sunlight, drink plenty of water and stay in a cool space, closing blinds and open windows if it is cooler outside than inside or turning on air conditioning. The weather agency also advises people to ensure children and pets are never left alone in closed vehicles.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
People assume I can't be a doctor because of my disability
This is a First Person column by Kendra Hebert, who lives in Garnett Settlement, N.B. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ. It was the first day of a new rotation. I entered the ward wearing scrubs, my stethoscope draped around my neck and my hospital ID clipped to my shirt. Indistinguishable, I thought, from any other medical student. As I approached the nursing station in my wheelchair, a nurse I hadn't met before looked up and asked, "Are you here for an appointment?" I paused, momentarily caught off guard. "No," I replied. "I'm the new medical student starting today." Her face changed instantly; an apology, an explanation. She said she hadn't meant anything by it, she had just seen my wheelchair first and assumed I was a patient. It was a brief exchange, but one I've experienced in various forms more times than I can count. Still, it stayed with me. It's a quiet, persistent reminder of how easily people make assumptions when you don't fit the expected image of a doctor. My name is Kendra Hebert, and I'm a third-year medical student at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. I have a physical disability and use a manual wheelchair, crutches and leg braces. That puts me in a unique position, and it's not a role I ever imagined for myself. Becoming a doctor has been my lifelong dream, but I questioned whether there was a place for me in medicine. I was able-bodied for most of my life. At 21, my mobility declined rapidly without an explanation. Within three months, walking was a challenge. I was an active and athletic person and the sudden loss of mobility was devastating. Without a diagnosis, the uncertainty was unbearable. I didn't apply to medical school. Instead, I began my master's in experimental psychology. I love research and am still actively involved in it today, but I felt disconnected from the people I wanted to help. Eventually, I received a diagnosis. My genetic disorder is incurable, but it's not progressive. With the right care team and adaptive devices, I regained much of my independence. That's when I decided to apply to medical school, terrifying as it was. I had never seen a physician with a disability like mine. There were doubts and there was pushback from people who questioned if I would be capable. But there was also incredible support from my family and friends, and especially from my twin sister, Courtney. Courtney and I shared the same condition, but it affected her internal organs. At the same time that I was adjusting to my changing mobility, she got sick. In just 18 months, she had more than 30 hospital admissions, multiple procedures and surgeries. We shared the same dream and applied to medical school together. The application process takes a year; you apply in July to start the following August. Courtney passed away that November due to complications from treatment for her illness, just a few months before I received my acceptance letter. Her memory is why I continue. Her loss reminds me every day why I do this. I try to focus on the positive, but it's not always easy. Hospitals are often inaccessible. My wheelchair doesn't fit everywhere. While most public areas are accessible, staff spaces rarely are. Tasks as basic as opening a door can become major obstacles when spaces aren't designed with accessibility in mind. I've had to grow more comfortable relying on others and asking for help, not because I am incapable, but because these spaces disable me. As a disabled student, I'm often mistaken for a patient. I'm talked down to, babied or told I'm "inspiring" just for existing. People often ask, "What's wrong with you?" before they ask my name. I try to plan ahead. I can't just show up somewhere like my classmates. Even with an accommodations plan and many supportive people behind the scenes, things get missed because this is uncharted territory. At times, I've had to advocate for the same learning opportunities my peers receive without question. I try to choose rotations where I know that I will be treated as a learner and not a burden. I can adapt to inaccessible spaces, but I can't change inaccessible attitudes. I'm still trying to accept that. Yet for every negative encounter, there are many uplifting ones. Strangers tell me they're proud of me and they're glad to see someone like me in medicine. They know I understand what it's like to be on the other side. One such moment happened during my internal medicine rotation. I was asked to do a consult for a patient who had been admitted for several weeks. Despite countless tests and input from multiple physicians, her condition continued to decline. No one had found a clear answer. When I entered her room, she was sitting up in bed, visibly unwell and exhausted. It was written all over her face. I introduced myself and invited her to tell her story. As a medical student, I had one luxury many others on the team didn't: time. So I listened. I asked questions. I listened some more. I heard about her fears, frustrations and the long days of feeling unseen. I couldn't solve her mystery. But at the end of our conversation, she reached out, took my hand and thanked me. She said it was the first time she felt someone had truly listened, from start to finish. For the first time, she felt understood. Being the first can feel isolating and overwhelming. But it can also feel extraordinary. I know how much it would have meant to see someone like me in medicine when I was starting out. I hope to be the mentor and role model that I needed — a reminder that we belong here.
