Latest news with #RebeccaComley
Hamilton Spectator
03-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Watch out for measles at summer camp, Grand Erie health unit warns
The top doc in one of Ontario's measles hot spots wants kids to get vaccinated before heading to summer camp. Grand Erie Public Health says the vast majority of Ontario's measles cases are in children who do not have two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. 'This may pose a possibility of measles exposure at summer camps, including day camps and overnight camps,' acting medical officer of health Dr. Rebecca Comley said in a letter sent Wednesday to parents and caregivers in Haldimand-Norfolk and Brantford-Brant. Children who are not vaccinated remain at risk of potentially serious side effects should they catch the highly contagious respiratory disease, the health unit said. Since the current outbreak began last October, 149 Ontarians have been hospitalized with measles, including 107 children, with 11 of those patients requiring intensive care. A baby born with measles and other underlying health conditions died in the Southwestern health unit, which leads the province in measles cases. But a measles exposure at a summer camp or daycare could create problems for children and families even if no kids get sick, Comley said. After assessing the risk level, public health may request campers whose vaccination status is unclear to go into a 21-day quarantine unless families can show a valid proof of immunization. 'If they have proof of immunity, they can continue to attend camp if they do not have any symptoms,' Comley said, adding proof needs to be in the form of a yellow immunization card or a printout from a doctor's office or the health unit. 'Verbal reports will not be accepted,' Comley said. 'Those who are unsure of their vaccination status or require vaccination are asked to contact their health-care provider to get caught up … before the start of camp.' Health officials say measles is spread by respiratory droplets that can hang in the air even after an infected person leaves the room. Southwestern Public Health has advised camp operators to keep kids outdoors as much as possible, including for activities and meals. To reduce the chance of measles spreading, camps should also prioritize improved indoor ventilation and avoid larger gatherings by keeping campers in small cohorts. The warning from public health comes as Ontario's measles outbreak appears to be slowing. The latest report from Public Health Ontario, released June 26, said there were 33 new measles cases reported in the province over the past week, down from 96 the previous week. Most of Grand Erie's 287 cases have been recorded among unvaccinated children and teens in western Norfolk, which borders Southwestern. Children typically get their first MMR dose around their first birthday and a second dose between the ages of four and six. But because of the high rate of measles in Grand Erie, children can get a second dose as soon as four weeks after their first birthday to maximize protection. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Thousands of abandoned oil wells could pose danger to Ontario landowners, including Brant County
A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. CTV's Alexandra Holyk reports. A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. The province and Brant County confirmed there are around 27,000 wells left behind, with a potential for more being undocumented. A majority of these wells are on private land and in homeowners backyards. These wells were abandoned without following modern safety protocols. Rebecca Comley, the acting medical officer of health for Grand Erie Public Health told CTV News this can cause concern for health and safety. 'Legacy wells can be a source of potentially dangerous gases such as hydrogen sulfide,' said Comley. 'Leaking hydrogen sulfide into the atmosphere, into the air, especially in contained spaces can cause a very dangerous health risk.' Comley said these gases can smell like rotten eggs. 'Our noses can detect it at a very low level; less than one part per million,' said Comley. 'It's important to remember though the smell doesn't correlate with the concentration in the air… we can often lose the sense of smell at higher concentrations.' The wells also pose a threat to contaminating groundwater, possibly affecting the health of plants, animals and people. The province said it's spending nearly $20 million to tackle challenges related to these wells. They said so far they have spent around $33 million to plug 440 wells across Ontario. What should landowners look out for? Brant County officials have asked residents to take a deeper look at their properties. 'Ignoring [oil and gas wells] and having something tragic happen is not the way to go. It's putting themselves, their neighbours or their families at risk,' said Kent Pottruff, the community of emergency management coordinator for Brant County. 'So, the [Ministry of Natural Resources] stated they want to work with [landowners], there's resources available to assist them.' At Wednesday's meeting, the ministry said oil and gas wells on private property that meet criteria may be eligible to be partially or fully covered financially. Deputy Chief Brant Cain with the Brant County Fire Department said identifying an oil and gas well is simple. 'If it smells funny, it probably is funny. If it looks funny, it probably is funny,' said Cain. 'If you're seeing liquids or funny smells coming from something you've struck while excavating on your property, that's a good sign to call 911.' Officials said the best way for a landowner to see if their property is impacted by a documented legacy oil and gas well is to use a well map.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘If you're seeing liquids or funny smells… call 911': Thousands of abandoned oil wells pose danger to landowners in Brant County and across Ontario
A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. CTV's Alexandra Holyk reports. A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. CTV's Alexandra Holyk reports. Thousands of abandoned oil wells pose danger to landowners in Brant County and across Ontario A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. The province and Brant County confirmed there are around 27,000 wells left behind, with a potential for more being undocumented. A majority of these wells are on private land and in homeowners backyards. These wells were abandoned without following modern safety protocols. Rebecca Comley, the acting medical officer of health for Grand Erie Public Health told CTV News this can cause concern for health and safety. 'Legacy wells can be a source of potentially dangerous gases such as hydrogen sulfide,' said Comley. 'Leaking hydrogen sulfide into the atmosphere, into the air, especially in contained spaces can cause a very dangerous health risk.' Comley said these gases can smell like rotten eggs. 'Our noses can detect it at a very low level; less than one part per million,' said Comley. 'It's important to remember though the smell doesn't correlate with the concentration in the air… we can often lose the sense of smell at higher concentrations.' The wells also pose a threat to contaminating groundwater, possibly affecting the health of plants, animals and people. The province said it's spending nearly $20 million to tackle challenges related to these wells. They said so far they have spent around $33 million to plug 440 wells across Ontario. What should landowners look out for? Brant County officials have asked residents to take a deeper look at their properties. 'Ignoring [oil and gas wells] and having something tragic happen is not the way to go. It's putting themselves, their neighbours or their families at risk,' said Kent Pottruff, the community of emergency management coordinator for Brant County. 'So, the [Ministry of Natural Resources] stated they want to work with [landowners], there's resources available to assist them.' At Wednesday's meeting, the ministry said oil and gas wells on private property that meet criteria may be eligible to be partially or fully covered financially. Deputy Chief Brant Cain with the Brant County Fire Department said identifying an oil and gas well is simple. 'If it smells funny, it probably is funny. If it looks funny, it probably is funny,' said Cain. 'If you're seeing liquids or funny smells coming from something you've struck while excavating on your property, that's a good sign to call 911.' Officials said the best way for a landowner to see if their property is impacted by a documented legacy oil and gas well is to use a well map.
