Thursday, May 28, 2009

Philippine nurses arrive

Posted by Kate

On Monday night, 32 nurses from the Philippines arrived in Manitoba. They will be working in the Assiniboine Regional Health Authority. Look for more details in next week's Neepawa Banner.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Inter-Ridge report

Inter-Ridge Recreation
Laura Spelliscy

While the temperature may feel cool, the weather is still warm enough to be outside getting active! Just 30 minutes of activity will increase your health. Go out for a walk, play a game of tennis or rake your yard. Any activity that increases your heart rate will do.

Use your community’s outdoor recreation facilities. Go play a game of tennis. Even if you have never played before, just have fun. Play a game of basketball on the outdoor courts. Anyone can shoot a game of 21. Maybe you prefer soccer. All you need for that is an open space! If you really would like a net to shoot at, most schools have a soccer field you can use. A great way to pass some time is throwing the football. A quick game of touch football is a great way to get active, and it doesn’t require anything other than a ball. You don’t have to a certain age to play any of these games. In fact, take the whole family out!

For the pre-school age children out there, Mother Goose is still running at the Gladstone Elementary School. This is a literacy program for parents and their pre-school age children. The program is on Tuesday nights in the gym from 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. No registration is required, and the program is FREE!

There will be a golf clinic held at the Gladstone Golf Course on June 13. There will be a clinic for junior golfers and a clinic for adult golfers. This is a great way to either start playing or to improve your current game. For more information, or to register, please contact Laura. Registration is required by June 5.

To contact Laura, phone either the Gladstone office at 385-2071 or the MacGregor office at 685-2202. You may also contact her by email at ridgerec@mts.net.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

East View new life?

East View Lodge on the eastern entrance to Neepawa as you travel the #16 Hyw has received approval from Minister Steve Ashton of Intergovernmental Affairs The approval for rezoning is a first step that may go a long way to alleviate the housing shortage that is being felt in Neepawa and area at this time.


Monday, May 4, 2009

Manitoba has its first H1N1 flu case

Posted by Kate (from a province of MB release)

BULLETIN #9
H1N1 FLU

Public Health
. A confirmed case of H1N1 flu has been reported in a female in the 10- to 19-year old age group, who is a resident of the Brandon health region.
. The individual, who travelled to Mexico, the United States and British Columbia in mid- to late-April, is recovering from mild symptoms of an influenza illness that did not require hospitalization.
. The individual attends Riverheights School in Brandon.
. The regional medical officer of health for the Brandon region has advised there is currently no public health indication that this school, or any other school in the Brandon region, should be closed.
. There have been no reports of severe respiratory illness resulting from H1N1 flu in Manitoba and no other confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in the province.
. Public health staff will attend the Brandon school on Monday to provide additional public health information about H1N1 flu to school staff, students and parents.
. If you have been travelling and a week has gone by since you left Mexico or other H1N1 flu affected areas and you do not have flu-like symptoms, you have no reason to worry about becoming ill from H1N1 flu resulting from your travels.
. If you do develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, aches and tiredness, you may be contagious for up to a week after the beginning of your symptoms. You should:
- Stay home from school or work and limit contact with others to reduce the chance of infecting them.
- Reduce the spread of germs by avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth, covering your cough by coughing into your elbow or sleeve or using a tissue, and by washing your hands frequently.
- Contact your health-care provider or Health Links-Info Santé if you think you may need care.
. All Manitobans are reminded to use routine precautionary measures:
- Cover a cough or sneeze by coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve or using a tissue to cover your nose and mouth.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Maintain your health by making healthy food choices, being physically active and getting enough sleep.
. There have been no reports the H1N1 virus has been transmitted through food. The usual food handling and cooking practices for all pork products still apply.
. For personal advice on self-care or when to seek further care, Manitobans should contact their primary-care physician or other health-care provider or phone Health Links-Info Santé at 788 8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free).
. Provincial officials, regional health authorities and partners continue to work together to monitor the situation and ensure an appropriate response.

Food Safety and Animal Health
. Monitoring swine in Manitoba for a variety of flu viruses remains an ongoing process as part of provincial measures to increase the health and safety preparedness of the pork industry. So far, there is no evidence this new virus is circulating in Manitoba swine herds.
. Manitoba swine producers maintain strict bio-security measures in their barns and on their property, and are being reminded to continue these measures. For the industry to protect itself, it is necessary for producers to restrict access to their barns and swine herds to authorized personnel who adhere to the high sanitary requirements that can prevent the introduction of the flu virus into their facility. People who are ill or have flu symptoms should not go into pig or poultry production facilities.
. Owners of hobby farms with small numbers of swine are encouraged to monitor their livestock for flu symptoms and contact their veterinarian should these symptoms arise.
. As per usual, pigs undergo health inspections both before and after slaughter.
. The Manitoba government has been in contact with the Manitoba Chicken Producers, Manitoba Egg Producers and Manitoba Pork Council to share information with swine and poultry producers and all local veterinarians on the H1N1 virus.
. Manitoba veterinarians and the pork industry are constantly monitoring for new diseases. Swine flu among pigs is not unusual and is not usually fatal in swine. Swine flu has existed in Canada and Manitoba for a number of years.
. Owners of pets like dogs or cats do not need to be concerned about the H1N1 flu. Owners of pet pigs should be aware swine and humans can trade viruses so they should follow the usual precautions, monitor the health of their pet and call a veterinarian if it shows signs of illness.

For links to more information, visit the H1N1 flu website at www.manitoba.ca.