Page 28 - September 23, 2019
P. 28
PAGE 28 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23,2019 THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
Discussions underway for County to declare a State of Agricultural Disaster
by Dana McArthur have caused a great deal of concern with local Councillor David Russell, who also sits on the
farmers who are unable to or fearing they will Agricultural Services Board, said, "This is
At Yellowhead County's Governance and not be able to get their crops off the field. definitely a serious problem."
Priorities meeting on September 17, council was Councillor Anthony Giezen, who sits on the Plans on whether to declare a State of
informed that discussions are underway to Agricultural Services Board, stated that the item Agricultural Disaster will be announced at
declare a State of Agricultural Disaster in is on the agenda of the Service Board's next County Council's next meeting on September 24.
Yellowhead County. meeting. "Initial data supports this discussion,"
The near daily rainfall this year and wet fields he said.
Lyme disease risk very low in Alberta
by Cassie Kushniruk
Ticks are notoriously known for carrying Lyme
disease- an infectious disease which, if left
untreated, can cause serious long-term
complications and disability. However, the risk
of contracting this disease in Alberta is very low
for a variety of reasons, which AHS Public
Health Inspector Katrina Halkett explained to the
Yellowhead Synergy group at their September 12
meeting.
In Edson, Lyme disease carrying ticks are very
uncommon. "My colleague has worked in Edson
for 11 years and she's never had a tick presented
from Edson," said Halkett. "People who have
ticks here actually acquired them somewhere
else."
Between 1991 and 2018, only 115 cases of
Lyme disease were reported to Alberta Health, all
of which were reported as being contracted
outside of the province.
Although Alberta is home to a variety of tick
species, most species do not carry Borrelia
burgdorferi, the bacteria that can cause Lyme The American Dog Tick can transmit things like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
disease.
The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, which can be DEBT, with lower concentrations for children.
found in this area, cannot transmit Lyme disease, "With regards to clothing, we want to try to
but can transmit other diseases such as Rocky cover our skin in grass grown areas," said
Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, Colorado Halkett. "We recommend wearing light colored
Tick Fever, and tick paralysis. clothing so that they're easier to see." Clothing
The Western Black-Legged Tick, however, can believed to have ticks can be put in the dryer on
transmit Lyme disease, but is found mainly on high heat for one hour to try to get rid of them.
the Pacific coast. When coming inside from a grassy area,
Although it is unsure whether the Lone Star Halkett suggests scanning your body for ticks,
Tick can transmit Lyme disease, it can transmit especially in hard to see areas. "Ticks don't fall
other infections such as Ehrlichia and Tularemia. from trees typically but they will attach to your
These ticks are mainly found in the U.S., but it is ankle and try to migrate up your body, so there's
believed that they are making their way to a misconception that if you find one behind the
Canada through bird migration and travel, said ear or in your hair that it fell on you," Halkett
Halkett. "One of the symptoms is it can cause mentioned.
people to become allergic to red meat," Halkett "With regards to removal, wear gloves and use
added. tweezers to grasp as close to the head with the
The American Dog Tick, as its name suggests, mouth parts as possible," said Halkett. "Try not
will typically attach to a dog, but will bite to squeeze it because that might push fluid into
humans if given the opportunity. "They can the body. There's an old wives tale about trying
transmit things like Rocky Mountain Spotted to bum it out, but the best method is now
Fever," said Halkett. believed to take tweezers and pull as close to the
"It's now believed that you need 36 hours of base as you can and pull straight up."
attachment to transmit Lyme disease," said Halkett stated that many doctors in Hinton and
Halkett. "However, if you do receive a tick bite, Jasper will advise against trying to get testing as
you should go see a doctor if you have any there are a lot of labs in the United States that
symptoms." use methods that are not recognized by centers
Every year, AHS is receiving more such as CDC. "Detection can be done by either
submissions to the submit-a-tick program, which biopsy or observation of the bullseye rash," she
helps assess the risk of Lyme disease to said. "Because the organism can't be cultured
Albertans and their pets. "People are becoming from a blood sample, most other tests rely on
more aware and that allows surveillance," detection of an antibody."
Halkett said. "Ticks found on your body on your clothing or
To protect oneself from getting bit by ticks, haven bitten you can be brought to your local
Halkett suggests using a big repellent with public health office," Halkett closed.
Discussions underway for County to declare a State of Agricultural Disaster
by Dana McArthur have caused a great deal of concern with local Councillor David Russell, who also sits on the
farmers who are unable to or fearing they will Agricultural Services Board, said, "This is
At Yellowhead County's Governance and not be able to get their crops off the field. definitely a serious problem."
Priorities meeting on September 17, council was Councillor Anthony Giezen, who sits on the Plans on whether to declare a State of
informed that discussions are underway to Agricultural Services Board, stated that the item Agricultural Disaster will be announced at
declare a State of Agricultural Disaster in is on the agenda of the Service Board's next County Council's next meeting on September 24.
Yellowhead County. meeting. "Initial data supports this discussion,"
The near daily rainfall this year and wet fields he said.
Lyme disease risk very low in Alberta
by Cassie Kushniruk
Ticks are notoriously known for carrying Lyme
disease- an infectious disease which, if left
untreated, can cause serious long-term
complications and disability. However, the risk
of contracting this disease in Alberta is very low
for a variety of reasons, which AHS Public
Health Inspector Katrina Halkett explained to the
Yellowhead Synergy group at their September 12
meeting.
In Edson, Lyme disease carrying ticks are very
uncommon. "My colleague has worked in Edson
for 11 years and she's never had a tick presented
from Edson," said Halkett. "People who have
ticks here actually acquired them somewhere
else."
Between 1991 and 2018, only 115 cases of
Lyme disease were reported to Alberta Health, all
of which were reported as being contracted
outside of the province.
Although Alberta is home to a variety of tick
species, most species do not carry Borrelia
burgdorferi, the bacteria that can cause Lyme The American Dog Tick can transmit things like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
disease.
The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, which can be DEBT, with lower concentrations for children.
found in this area, cannot transmit Lyme disease, "With regards to clothing, we want to try to
but can transmit other diseases such as Rocky cover our skin in grass grown areas," said
Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, Colorado Halkett. "We recommend wearing light colored
Tick Fever, and tick paralysis. clothing so that they're easier to see." Clothing
The Western Black-Legged Tick, however, can believed to have ticks can be put in the dryer on
transmit Lyme disease, but is found mainly on high heat for one hour to try to get rid of them.
the Pacific coast. When coming inside from a grassy area,
Although it is unsure whether the Lone Star Halkett suggests scanning your body for ticks,
Tick can transmit Lyme disease, it can transmit especially in hard to see areas. "Ticks don't fall
other infections such as Ehrlichia and Tularemia. from trees typically but they will attach to your
These ticks are mainly found in the U.S., but it is ankle and try to migrate up your body, so there's
believed that they are making their way to a misconception that if you find one behind the
Canada through bird migration and travel, said ear or in your hair that it fell on you," Halkett
Halkett. "One of the symptoms is it can cause mentioned.
people to become allergic to red meat," Halkett "With regards to removal, wear gloves and use
added. tweezers to grasp as close to the head with the
The American Dog Tick, as its name suggests, mouth parts as possible," said Halkett. "Try not
will typically attach to a dog, but will bite to squeeze it because that might push fluid into
humans if given the opportunity. "They can the body. There's an old wives tale about trying
transmit things like Rocky Mountain Spotted to bum it out, but the best method is now
Fever," said Halkett. believed to take tweezers and pull as close to the
"It's now believed that you need 36 hours of base as you can and pull straight up."
attachment to transmit Lyme disease," said Halkett stated that many doctors in Hinton and
Halkett. "However, if you do receive a tick bite, Jasper will advise against trying to get testing as
you should go see a doctor if you have any there are a lot of labs in the United States that
symptoms." use methods that are not recognized by centers
Every year, AHS is receiving more such as CDC. "Detection can be done by either
submissions to the submit-a-tick program, which biopsy or observation of the bullseye rash," she
helps assess the risk of Lyme disease to said. "Because the organism can't be cultured
Albertans and their pets. "People are becoming from a blood sample, most other tests rely on
more aware and that allows surveillance," detection of an antibody."
Halkett said. "Ticks found on your body on your clothing or
To protect oneself from getting bit by ticks, haven bitten you can be brought to your local
Halkett suggests using a big repellent with public health office," Halkett closed.
