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CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
With heat waves more frequent, P.E.I. public health officials are preparing an alert system
With Prince Edward Island slowly but surely getting hotter, the province's Chief Public Health Office is developing a plan to keep people safe during the heat waves that have become increasingly more common. P.E.I. saw three heat waves in 2024, with the first warning issued on the last day of spring. Environment Canada issues heat warnings when the temperature is forecast to exceed 28 C for two or more days with overnight temperatures not dropping below 18 C. Despite the increased frequency of these events, this province is one of the last in the country to develop what's known as a heat alert and response system, or HARS. That's about to change. The Chief Public Health Office recently secured funding from Health Canada to hire a co-ordinator to develop such a program in P.E.I. "When we look at extreme heat events, particularly in other provinces, then we know that there's an increase in daily mortality rates when temperatures rise above certain levels," said Dr. Heather Morrison, the province's chief public health officer. "We want to prevent these kinds of tragedies from happening here." Hundreds have died in Canada In 2021, a heat dome killed at least 619 people in British Columbia over a five-day span. High temperatures in Quebec in 2010 claimed the lives of 280. A heat dome occurs when a high-pressure system traps heat near the earth's surface, and it gets held in place by a blocked jet stream. Heat waves are projected to become more intense, frequent and longer in duration across the country, and they're becoming a bigger public health concern for P.E.I. officials too. "I remember saying to other people in other parts of the country, 'Oh, we don't need air conditioning,'" Morrison said. "That has changed, and we really do want to make sure that we look after Islanders as we recognize the impacts of these extreme heat events that are occurring and will continue to occur with more frequency." How HARS could work Heat alert and response systems have been implemented at community and provincial levels across the country. They typically outline when to activate and deactivate HARS according to Environment Canada's heat warning criteria, and outline a communication plan for the public on what they can do to prevent heat-related illnesses. That's followed by an evaluation of the program, which will look at how many people experienced heat illnesses, in order to focus on prevention during future events. Peter Berry, a senior policy analyst who advises Health Canada's director on climate issues, said the systems could involve helping people identify their nearest cooling centre and mandating extended hours for things like pools and splash pads. "These interventions really work in terms of cooling yourself down and protecting yourself and the people that you love that perhaps need more assistance than you do," Berry said. "You really need to be broad in terms of engaging partners when you develop the HARS to understand… some of the barriers that people with disabilities might face in terms of getting to cooling centres, and you need to hear from people with diverse voices and lived experiences that can also provide that type of information." Tips for summer campers, pet owners and construction crews trying to beat the heat on P.E.I. 11 months ago Duration 3:21 Amid P.E.I.'s most recent heat wave, everyone is doing their best to stay cool. Two summer camps for kids both have measures in place to keep participants from overheating. CBC P.E.I. also spoke with the Department of Transportation about how crews are doing while working outside, and with a dog trainer about how animals cope with the hot weather. The funding for P.E.I.'s co-ordinator will extend over two years, and the CPHO will aim to have a heat alert and response system up and running within that time, Morrison said. The ultimate goal is to spread awareness about extreme heat events, educate Islanders about how to stay cool, and keep them out of emergency departments and hospitals. "If we can put some of these mitigation measures in place when P.E.I.'s HARS system is activated, that will hopefully reduce the number of people who get really sick or end up in hospital or have severe outcomes," Morrison said.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Health P.E.I. says visitors and staff no longer have to wear masks at its facilities
Now that respiratory illness season is dying down, Health P.E.I. has lifted a mandatory masking policy that was in effect at all of its facilities. " Monitoring data from Prince Edward Island's Chief Public Health Office show the positivity rate for influenza testing is well below five per cent, the national benchmark for declaring respiratory season over," the health authority said in a news release Friday afternoon. For the last several months, masks could be removed only in designated areas of P.E.I. hospitals, health centres and publicly operated long-term care homes. Those included cafeterias and canteens, as well as private patient rooms as long as no health-care worker was present. "Staff will continue to follow routine personal protective practices, including using proper hand hygiene and the cleaning of patient care equipment and the environment," the news release said.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Avian influenza present on P.E.I., but not a risk to general public, experts say
Prince Edward Islanders are being reminded to keep their distance from sick, dying or dead wildlife as avian influenza — commonly known as bird flu or H5N1 — continues to circulate on the Island. The virus has been present on the Island for years, and was recently confirmed to have infected a large number of dying and dead Canada geese in Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. "It serves as a reminder that the virus is out there and it is circling," said Dr. Jill Wood, P.E.I.'s chief veterinary officer. The highly contagious virus can be transmitted to birds and mammals, including humans. But the risk to the general public is low, Wood said. "That being said, we're certainly cautioning people not to approach sick wildlife or handle ill wildlife," she said. If someone needed to interact with sick or dead wildlife — like to remove a dead crow from their lawn, for example — Wood offered some advice: "Wear a mask, wear gloves, double bag it." She also added that it's best to use a shovel and not your hands. How the virus is spread The H5N1 virus is spread by contact with bodily fluids, including feces, said Marguerite Cameron, communicable disease epidemiologist at the Chief Public Health Office. While human infection is rare, it can occur through close contact with infected birds or heavily infected environments such as poultry farms, Cameron said. Using personal protective equipment — or PPE — is very important to reduce exposure, she said. Cameron said her advice to Islanders is to always keep distance from wild birds and wild animals. "Don't handle them, don't pick them up, don't feed them," she said. 'The virus is out there. It's something to be aware of but it's not something that should consume your life or make you anxious,' says Wade Sweet. (Taylor O'Brien/CBC) Islanders should also keep pets away from any animals that might be sick, dying or dead, as mammals can become infected by scavenging on dead birds, Cameron said. "That's why it's important for pet owners especially to make sure that their pets are not accessing any sick or dead animals," she said. If there is a dead bird or animal that Islanders feel concerned about, they can call the Forests, Fish and Wildlife division of the province's Department of Environment, Water and Climate Change. Staying safe and healthy In February, the Public Health Agency of Canada said it purchased 500,000 doses of a human vaccine to protect those most at risk of exposure to the virus. P.E.I. will have access to this stockpile, Cameron said, adding that there is an allocation framework and a risk assessment to determine eligibility. Currently, the national advisory committee on immunization does not have recommendations as to how the vaccine will be deployed more broadly, she said. What Islanders can do is ensure they are up to date with their seasonal flu vaccine, Cameron said. "While [seasonal flu] vaccine won't protect them against avian influenza, it will protect them from potentially getting a co-infection with avian influenza and seasonal flu," she said, adding that a co-infection could result in more critical illness. The two flu viruses could also exchange genetic material, which could potentially result in a new influenza strain, she said. "That is what we're really trying to avoid," she said. Cameron says her advice to Islanders is to always keep distance from wild birds and wild animals. (Taylor O'Brien/CBC) For Dr. Wade Sweet, a veterinarian at West Prince Veterinary Hospital, an avian influenza vaccine is something he said he would be interested in getting if it was offered. Until then, he relies on basic biosecurity measures such as wearing clean coveralls, boots and gloves when handling birds. For Islanders wondering about food safety, Sweet said cooked poultry, eggs and pasteurized dairy products are still safe to consume. "Anything you see that's in the grocery store, it's been pasteurized... it's not going to infect you," he said. It's important for pet owners especially to make sure that their pets are not accessing any sick or dead animals - Marguerite Cameron Sweet said the risk to the general public is low, and Islanders shouldn't be overly concerned. "The virus is out there. It's something to be aware of but it's not something that should consume your life or make you anxious," he said. "If the incidence of the virus increases, if we have more flocks that suddenly die, it'll be something to be more aware of. But for right now, it's something to know that it's there, but not be scared of."
CBC
14-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. vape and tobacco shops can now be fined up to $25,000 for breaking rules
Social Sharing Shops on Prince Edward Island that sell tobacco and electronic smoking devices, including vaporizers, can now be fined up to $25,000 for violating the province's rules. In an effort to crack down on youth vaping, P.E.I. raised the minimum age to purchase nicotine vaping products to 21 back in 2020, and banned the sale of flavoured products entirely in 2021. Changes to the P.E.I. Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Device Sales and Access Act came into effect on Feb. 1 after amendments passed during the fall sitting of the legislature. Among the changes is a major increase to the maximum fine for corporations that repeatedly violate the act — up to $25,000 for repeat offenders. Provincial court judges can also now also issue orders to stop businesses from being able to sell those for up to 90 days as punishment. "Despite high compliance with most retailers, the fines were increased as a deterrent to retailers who are in continuous non-compliance," officials from the Chief Public Health Office said in an email to CBC News. Under the wire On Thursday, Matthew Middleton appeared in provincial court on behalf of the Charlottetown-based shop Vape Head. The business was charged with two counts of selling flavoured tobacco products and one count of selling to an underage person. But as Vape Head was told in court, it was lucky. The fines were increased as a deterrent to retailers who are in continuous non-compliance. — P.E.I. Chief Public Health Office The business had been caught selling flavoured products for a fourth time on Jan. 18 — two weeks before the new penalties came into force. Because they had been caught three times or more, the penalty could have been $25,000 had the charge been laid after Feb. 1. The business pleaded guilty to the underage sale charge and one of the flavoured sale charges and was fined $1,000 for each. The Crown stayed the second charge related to the sale of flavoured tobacco. Vape Head also pleaded guilty to a flavoured sale charge in November and was fined $1,000 then. On Thursday, Judge Lantz warned Middleton that the penalty could be $25,000 next time. Middleton told the court Vape Head would not find itself in this position again. The business has until April 30 to pay a total of $2,100.
