logo
Mosquito study underway in B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region after scattering of severe illness

Mosquito study underway in B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region after scattering of severe illness

CTV News5 days ago
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 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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

CFL national combine heading to Edmonton in 2026
CFL national combine heading to Edmonton in 2026

National Post

time10 minutes ago

  • National Post

CFL national combine heading to Edmonton in 2026

TORONTO — The CFL will hold its 2026 national combine in Edmonton. Article content The event, where general managers, coaches and scouts evaluate incoming talent, will be held March 27-29, the CFL announced Wednesday. The combine will begin with individual testing in such drills as the 40-yard dash, 225-pound bench press, three-cone shuttle, short shuttle, broad and vertical jumps. Article content Article content Participants will then don pads the final two days for individual and team-based practices and drills. Article content The league will also hold its annual medical meetings Jan. 23-24 in Edmonton. Athletic therapists and physicians from all nine clubs, as well as league representatives, will gather to review policies. Article content Athletic therapists will also undergo specialized training to ensure they're equipped to support players and staff for the 2026 season. Article content

ICE goes public with a new report on Canadian man who died in custody
ICE goes public with a new report on Canadian man who died in custody

National Post

time40 minutes ago

  • National Post

ICE goes public with a new report on Canadian man who died in custody

Article content A Canadian who died in ICE custody is documented to have had health concerns, according to a report made public by the U.S. government agency today. While in custody, the 49-year-old was prescribed medication for seizures and hypertension, and recommended to undergo mental health evaluation after he was reported to be feeling 'sad and depressed, and refused to go to the medical clinic for an evaluation.' Article content Article content Why was the Canadian man arrested by ICE? Article content Johnny Noviello entered the U.S. on a legal visa in 1988 and became a permanent resident in 1991. In 2023, he was convicted on the charges of drug trafficking, racketeering and the unlawful use of two-way communication device used to facilitate commission of crime. He was sentenced to prison for 12 months. Article content His arrest by ICE came in 2025, wherein he was issued a notice to appear in court and faced a removability charge. Article content What does the ICE report say about the health of the Canadian who died in custody? Article content The 49-year-old was pronounced dead late in June after being found unresponsive in a detention centre in Miami. Respecting the family's privacy, Global Affairs minister Anita Anand had said late in June that 'further details will not be provided at this time.' Article content Today, the Government of Canada was notified of the death of a Canadian citizen while in custody in the United States. Canadian consular officials are urgently seeking more information from US officials. I offer my sincere condolences to the family. In order to respect the… — Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) June 26, 2025 Article content Article content The report released today highlighted health concerns that the officials flagged before he died. Here's what we know about the timeline since his arrest: Article content Article content May 15: Noviello was arrested and detained. Article content May 16: The 49-year-old underwent a routine health inspection. A registered nurse completed the medical intake screening and noted the diagnosis of 'hypertension and seizure disorder, slightly elevated blood pressure, high body mass index, and his reported medication list and sent a provider referral' for him. He was prescribed medication. Article content May 30: As per the documentation, the Canadian man is said to have refused a health history and a physical exam. Article content June 8: He was reported to be feeling sad and depressed and is said to have refused a health evaluation at a medical clinic. Article content June 9: Noviello reportedly maintained poor personal hygiene and stated he had not eaten in 'a while.' Documentation revealed his vitals to be normal, and that there was discussion with him around the importance of self-hygiene and proper diet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store