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CBC
a day 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
14-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
No new measles cases on P.E.I. since April, says chief public health officer
P.E.I. has not recorded any new cases of measles since April when Health P.E.I. confirmed two infections, the province's first reported instances of the disease since 2013. At the time, the Chief Public Health Office said the two adults who tested positive had travelled together to an area in Canada where measles outbreaks were ongoing. Neither had been vaccinated against the virus. Dr. Heather Morrison, the province's chief public health officer, told CBC News on Wednesday that the individuals recovered at home and are now doing well. Public health nursing has carried out contact tracing and followups, she said, and no public exposures were identified. As part of the contact tracing process, immunizations were offered where needed. "The measles vaccine is such an effective vaccine, and it really is such a great method of protecting against measles, so that all went well," Morrison said. "We have an adequate amount of vaccines." Islanders can contact their local public health nursing office to learn more about getting vaccinated, Morrison said, especially with measles cases rising globally and within Canada. As of early May, she said about 1,847 cases had been reported across the country. "Most of those cases are in Ontario and Alberta, but it's been a reminder that it was an illness that we didn't see for a long time, and we need to pay attention to it." Highly contagious virus Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore eyes and a red rash that begins on the head and spreads down to the trunk and limbs. Serious complications can occur, such as blindness, viral meningitis or pneumonia — or even death, as was the case recently for two unvaccinated children in Texas. The measles virus spreads through the air when a person who is infected breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks. It may also spread through direct contact with droplets from the nose and throat of a person who is infected, according to the CPHO. The measles virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after a person who is infected has left the space. Someone with measles is contagious for four days before the rash is noticeable, and for up to four days after the rash occurs. Morrison said those most at risk of severe illness include unvaccinated individuals, particularly young children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems. Vaccine offered for free on P.E.I. The measles vaccine is part of the province's childhood vaccine program, administered at 12 months and again at 18 months. The CPHO's current recommendations for vaccination: Adults born before 1970 are considered to have acquired natural immunity and do not require the vaccine Anyone travelling outside of Canada should receive one dose of measles vaccine. Adults born in or after 1970 who have neither had measles, nor have received two doses of vaccine, should receive two doses. Regardless of age, students entering post-secondary education, health-care workers and military personnel should receive two doses if they have no evidence of having had measles and no documentation of having received two doses of the vaccine. Newcomers to P.E.I. are also contacted by public health nursing. Morrison said there are clinics that help ensure new children in the province have their immunization records reviewed for all routine vaccines. "By Grade 1 entry, we know that most young people... usually between 90 and 94 per cent, depending on the year, have had both doses of measles-containing vaccine," she said.
