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u RCMP report P. 3 u Dog gone story P. 12
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, March 26, 2014
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
VOL. 37 NO. 04 $1.30 inc. GST
Shadow cabinet shuffle
Pirates ahoy
MP Nathan Cullen will take on a new role in the shadow cabinet of the Official Opposition
Shaun Thomas Black Press
Left to right: Jom Holtz as Captain Cleverly, Will Bennison as Nate and Allison Eytcheson as Dick in the Music Makers production of Jolly Roger on Mar. 15. It was the final show of Music Makers’ Three One Act Comedies. Caledonia Courier
Whooping cough in Fort Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier The public is being urged to check their vaccinations are up to date for whooping cough after a confirmed case in Fort St. James last week. The bacterial respiratory infection known as whooping cough or pertussis is highly contagious and Northern Health is reminding the public of the importance of immunization, as the disease can lead to a severe condition in infants and can be deadly. The disease can also cause serious disease or complications to the fetus for pregnant women in the last three months of their pregnancies. Mothers of newborns can pass the illness on to the unprotected infants. Children less than three months old are especially vulnerable. The illness begins with symptoms like those of a common cold and progresses to a cough. The cough can become severe, with or without the whooping sound and may be accompanied by gasping, gagging, shortness of breathing and vomiting as well as pneumonia. There may also be a mild, associated fever. The illness is spread easily when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or has close contact with
others. Sharing food or drinks, kissing and sharing cigarettes can all spread the pertussis bacteria. Dr. William Osei with Northern Health said it is especially important for people to be diligent about hand washing and cough etiquette by covering their coughs and washing hands immediately after if hands were used. “We don’t have an outbreak yet,” said Osei. The focus is on prevention and updating vaccinations for young children and pregnant women in their third trimester in order to prevent an outbreak, which Osei said would be difficult to control. “This is a very infectious cough,” he said. Someone with the pertussis bacteria who does not receive treatment can spread the illness for up to three weeks after the cough starts. “The treatment is very effective and shortens the cough,” said Osei. “Otherwise the sickness can go on for weeks.” Four laboratory-confirmed cases have been found in the northwest, one in Fort St. James and the others in Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii. The illness is preventable by immunization, part of normal child immunizations given at two months, four months, six months, and 18 months
old and again between the ages of four and six, before the child enters Kindergarten. In B.C., teens between 14 and 16 are also given the vaccine. While the immunization decreases over time in adults, adults are not at risk for the more severe effects or death due to the pertussis, but should receive treatment if they become ill. Northern Health is encouraging residents of northern B.C. to contact their local health units or health care providers to discuss the vaccine and ensure their vaccinations are up to date. There is enough vaccine in the region and Osei said the problem can be dealt with. “We are not in panic mode,” he said. Less than 10 per cent of the population doesn’t vaccinate their children, so most children will not be at the higher risk of the more severe symptoms. If you know you have been in contact with someone with whooping cough, call the Fort St. James Health Unit at 250-996-7178 or call HealthLink B.C. at 8-1-1. For information on whooping cough go to: http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/ hfile15c.stm
When the House of Commons resumes sitting next week, Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen will be focusing his attention on the nation’s finances. NDP leader Thomas Mulclair announced a shadow cabinet shuffle on March 20 that will see Cullen move from the position of House Leader to the opposition finance critic, a role Cullen said he is excited to take on. “I’m thrilled that someone from a northern and rural riding is going to be a big part of the financial conversation at the national level ... I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think this discussion is going to be a huge part of the NDP forming government in a year-and-a-half,” he said, noting the new position is a lot more high profile than his current one. “The House Leader is much more in the background with strategy. This position is much more of a public face.” Cullen takes over the position from Toronto MP Peggy Nash and will be criticizing the work of newly-appointed Finance Minister Joe Oliver, who took over the role after Jim Flaherty resigned following eight years in the position. Cullen said he is looking forward to holding Oliver to account and will be bringing his own background into the debate. “He comes from Bay Street as a former executive at Merrill Lynch ... I get my roots from Main Street and the small business sector, which I think is really the backbone of the economy,” he said, adding he will continue to work for the people of the riding. “[Finance] is a big conversation ... at the end of the day, one of my top priorities is making sure the Northwest gets noticed. My goal is to make sure the voice of this region is heard.”
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