May 28, 2015
Public Health Spring/Summer Reminder
Manitobans will soon be taking advantage of the warmer weather to enjoy more outdoor activities, and Manitoba Health is reminding everyone to take precautions to avoid illness and injury.
Taking these precautions will help to reduce exposure to the following risks:
-
Heat illnesses
- Prepare for the heat this summer. Check the weather forecast, drink plenty of liquids before feeling thirsty, and prevent sunburn by wearing loose clothing, hats/visors and SPF sunscreen. Never leave people or pets alone in closed vehicles or direct sunlight, and check on older adults and people with chronic conditions when it gets hot.
- For more information about heat and sun safety, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/environmentalhealth/heat.html.
-
West Nile virus
- Reduce standing water around homes and take steps to reduce exposure to mosquito bites during the summer months. For more information about West Nile virus, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv.
-
Hantavirus
- Reduce exposure to dust from mouse droppings and use a damp mop in areas with rodent droppings using bleach disinfectant. For more information about hantavirus, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/hantavirus.html.
-
E. coli
- Use proper food-handling precautions, cook ground beef until it is well done and follow guidelines for cooking other meat. For more information about E. coli, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/escherichia_coli.html.
-
Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases
- Avoid contact with blacklegged (deer) ticks. People should check themselves and family members frequently for ticks and remove them as soon as possible. These precautions will also help protect against anaplasmosis and babesiosis, two newly emerging tick-borne diseases. For more information about Lyme disease, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/lyme/. For more information on anaplasmosis, visit www.cdc.gov/anaplasmosis. For more information on babesiosis, visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis.
-
Drinking water safety
- If a private well supplies water to a home, test it for bacteria at least once a year. Test in the spring after the snowmelt and spring run-off and/or after a particularly heavy rainfall or flooding. Campers and cottagers are reminded not to drink surface water that has not been boiled or otherwise treated, and to avoid drinking water with algae blooms. For more information on drinking water safety, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/environmentalhealth/water.html.
-
Rabies
- Vaccinate pets and avoid handling wildlife to reduce the risk of rabies. For more information about rabies, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/rabies.html.
-
Blastomycosis
- When digging or disturbing soil in risk areas, be aware of the risk for exposure to blastomycosis, which can be contracted by breathing in the fungus that causes it or by getting it on a scrape or cut. For more information about blastomycosis, go to www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/factsheets/blastomycosis.pdf.
-
Injury prevention
- Be safe when biking, swimming and boating. Anyone under the age 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened protective helmet while cycling. For more information on injury prevention, go to www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/hlp/injury/index.html.
Health information is available from local public health offices and from Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free).
- 30 -