The Oakville Beaver. Wednesday A ugust 13, 2003 - A 3 Region still waiting for West Nile blood study results By Jason Misner SPEC IAL TO THE BEAVER Results of a rare West Nile blood study conducted in south Oakville are nearly two weeks overdue. A major part of the delay in getting the results ready for pub lic consumption has been the concern of false positive test results. A high number of samples - it's not clear how many - were sent for retesting at Health Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory of the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health (CSCHAH) in Winnipeg last month, after researchers found the possibility that other diseases were show ing West Nile-like symptoms, skewing the results. In an interview CSCHAH spokesperson Kelly Keith said the retesting is "almost complete." She said the results could be ready "within the next week or two, so I would say mid-August." However, she noted other important testing could take priori ty over the blood study, called seroprevelance, which could push back completion of the retests. Researchers from Hamilton's McMaster University drew vial-sized blood samples of 1.505 residents from two postal code areas in Oakville in April and May to determine if they contract K aren Liu-Crosbv and Phil Crosby with th eir tandem bicycle on Hwy. 3 in the Rocky M ountains in British Colum bia. ed the mosquito-bome West Nile virus. The data is to be extrap olated to the general population. Diseases like Dengue fever or St. Louis encephalitis were seen as potentially altering the study's final results, which is called cross-reaction. Travel among the tested group of residents degree in environmental science and Karen By W ilm a Blokhuis wasn't uncommon. has one in environmental biology. O A K V IL L E B E A V E R S T A F F Oakville was North America's West Nile hotspot last year The Crosbys are hoping to raise money for with the highest rate of infection. the Canadian Diabetes Foundation from their A tandem bicycle is taking Karen LiuOntario's Ministry of Health is funding the $250,000 blood ride. study and had expected the results to be ready by the end of last Crosby and Phil Crosby home. Phil's mom has diabetes and Karen's The couple, English teachers in Taiwan, month. Keith said the study is a joint project so the retests at cousin in Japan died o f the illness a year ago are cycling from Vancouver to Oakville while CSCHAH won't cost more money. this month. Halton's Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal had expect on sabbatical. They're expected to arrive here "This disease hits both o f our families pret in about two months. ed the results in his hands weeks ago. ty close," said Phil. "M y mom was diagnosed After four "hard days on the road" the Mary Anne Carson, manager of communicable diseases for 20 years ago." the Region, said on Friday the health department looks forward cyclists decided to rest for a day in Princeton. Donations can be sent to the Canadian BC. to the blood results whenever they come forward. Diabetes Association. P.O. Box 70021. 2441 "W e're taking Hwy. 3 which is a shorter Studies in the United States show that for every reported case Lakeshore Rd. W,, Oakville. ON. L6L 6M9 of West Nile, another 150 people were infected, but never devel but steeper through the mountains, and less please write Phil and Karen Crosby on the bu^v than the Trans Canada Highway." said oped symptoms. memo line. Earlier this spring, the blood study faced a month-long delay Phil, 30, last Friday. More than two million Canadians have dia "Hwy. 3 through the Manning Park was due to constraints posed by SARS which restricted access to t betes. It is the leading cause o f death by dis pretty tough, a real eye opener for what was in Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. ease. Diabetes results when the pancreas can Samples were being dropped off there for preservation before store for us. We climbed up hills that seemed not produce enough insulin (Type 2). as is the to be never ending. being forwarded to the Ontario public health lab, which was busy case for about 90 per cent o f all cases, or no "And now that we've come down the other testing for the respiratory illness. insulin at all (Type 1) requiring daily insulin side, we decided to take a day's rest," he said. injections. The illness, if not managed proper The couple, who moved to Taiwan shortly ly, results in high blood sugar levels that can after their Oakville marriage, are pulling a cause heart disease, adult blindness, kidney trailer filled with their belongings behind their disease, and limb amputation. tandem bike. They are Kindergarten English The risks for contracting diabetes is being teachers for the Hess Educational 45 or older, overweight, high cholesterol, Organization. Taiwan's largest private school. (Continued from page A1) infect a bird and possibly higher than normal blood glucose levels, high "All together w e're about four metres long muscle aches, fatigue, and pass the virus on to humans. blood pressure or heart disease, and being of a difficulty walking, the kinds A Stoney Creek-based including our one-metre-long trailer." laughed K aren Liu-Crosby and Phil Crosby high risk group - aboriginal. Hispanic. Asian o f sym ptom s sometimes contractor for the region Iar- Phil, adding the bike ride "may be the last some fresh air. In Taiwan, everything is clos or African descent, or if you have a parent or crazy thing we do before we grow up and associated with contracting vicided 37,000 catch basins er together, which is convenient," said Karen. sibling with diabetes. become adults, settle down and have children. West Nile. in June. July and on Monday The couple, who met at the University of Symptoms o f diabetes include unusual Karen agreed, "The ride is a little bit hard, So far no human cases started its final roUnd. It has Guelph, will stay in Oakville with Karen's thirst, frequent urination, unusual weight loss, have been reported in Halton also larvicided 38 standing but I'm enjoying it." They bought the bike in Taiwan to enjoy parents until their planned return to Taiwan in extreme fatigue or lack o f energy, blurred this year. Last year, 20 peo pools of water in Halton so vision, frequent or recurring infections, cuts some recreational cycling, and decided on a early 2004. ple in Canada died from con far this year. The pair met while Phil, a graduate of the and bruises that are slow to heal and tingling tracting West Nile. W illmott said a strong tandem because "if one o f us is tired, the other What seems to be helping indicator that the larviciding can peddle harder so we can keep going," said University of Plymouth in his native England, or numbness in the hands or feet. spent a year at Guelph as an exchange student. It is believed Type 2 diabetes, which may to keep infected mosquito program seems to be work Phil. Karen. 26. was bom in Taiwan and immi "We were in the same residence," laughed be controlled by diet, insulin pills or injec populations at bay and keep ing is that testing of some of Phil, "and. here we are, a married couple, tions, can be prevented or delayed with a ing down the num ber of the sites afterwards have grated to Canada with her family in 1986. seven years later." healthy diet, controlling one's weight, exer "It's very hot and polluted in Taiwan. It's crows dying from West Nile shown no further develop They followed similar courses. Phil holds a cise and stress reduction. good to be back in Canada where we can get is the region's larviciding ment of mosquitoes. program, said Peter He also noted the cool, W illmott, the director o f wet weather this spring and Halton's public health part o f the early summer department. likely led to slower mosquito "M a so n ry & F ir e p la c e "We're optimistic that the breeding. application to catch basins D e sig n S p e c ia lis ts " It appears to be the first and standing water is reduc time a health department in Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Spruce Lane Farm, Parkrig Lot F A ll ty p e s o f m a s o n r y ing the (m osquito) larval Ontario has linked larvicidw o r k & r e s to r a tio n : population." he said. "That ing to the limited impact, so · chim neys · sta irs was the objective o f the lar far. of West N ile^irus. · w a lkw a ys · patios viciding program." "Talk to most health · pla n te rs · tu c k p o in tin g Al hand crafted items. Brought to you Watch as honey is Earlier this spring, the departments and they would Choose from Candles, by the friends of extracted from the QUALITY BRAND NAMES GAS A ELECTRIC FIREPLACES AVAILABLE region, as part of its compre say the objective is to reduce Jewelery, Wrought Bronte Creek honey comb and Now fe a tu rin g M AJESTIC _______ Fudge, bottled just for you! hensive West Nile battle the developm ent of adult Vermont j eiectraftame Wooden Toys There w i be fresh plan, instituted a larviciding mosquitoes." said Willmott. preserves too! program. D esign & in sta lla tio n The region stressed it still Traditional old time fir! Wagon rides, Victorian games and pastimes, PLUS traditional homestead demonstrations. It involves the dropping has the ability to adulticide o f gas, electric & o f environmentally safe, the mass spraying o f chemi co n v en tio n al fireplaces: slow-dissolving pesticide cals into the air - and will do · s to n e & b r ic k fa c in g s · b u ilt - in pellets into catch basins and so if human risk of West Nile · w o o d s u rro u n d s c a b in e tr y j standing water to help stunt increases. · c a s t s to n e m a n te ls For more information call 905-827*6911 or www.ontarioparks.com the formation of adult mos The region considers it a 406 Speers RcL, Oakville (across from Ilona Lansing) | · 2 patk entrances · 2 separate activity areas quitoes that can bite and last resort option, however. 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