Annual report of the Department of Public Health, Province of Alberta.

  • Alberta. Department of Public Health.
Date:
[1953]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Department of Public Health, Province of Alberta. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/298 (page 33)
    several weeks. There is no vaccination against the disease but some of the newer antibiotics are fairly effective in treatment. 2. Tularaemia in Nature—Tularaemia infection in Alberta is known to be present in cats, fleas, deer flies, field mice, gophers, grouse, gulls, mice, mink, muskrats, rabbits, sheep, shunks, swine and ticks. One case of Tularaemia in man was traced to the contaminated water in a settling tank at the Canadian Pacific Rail¬ way roundhouse in Lethbridge. 3. Collections—During 1953 four collections of ticks, three made at Foremost and one at Nemiscam, were positive for tularaemia infection. Fly Control. 1. Lethbridge Fly Control District—The fly control program was very successful, with the benefits being received by the towns, villages and dairy farmers participating far outweighing the actual cost. It is anticipated that the program will become an integral part of the basic sanitation program in that area. 2. Camrose Fly Control—During the summer the town of Camrose became interested in a Fly Control Program. In order to achieve maximum results in the short time available it was recommended that the whole town be “fogged” with an insecticide. A commercial pest control firm was engaged and, apparently, good results were obtained. Mosquito Control. 1. Edmonton—At the request of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce suggestions for a Mosquito Control Program in the City were prepared. These were approved by the Chamber and for¬ warded to the City. The City Commissioners placed the Control Program under the Parks Department for implementing. 2. High River—At the request of the Local Medical Officer of Health and the Executive of the Active Club suggestions for a Control Program were prepared. The Control Program is to go into effect in the Spring of 1954. 3. In Irrigated Districts—The great expansion of irrigation in Alberta has brought about a serious mosquito problem, because of the shallow pools created. 4. Number of Species Present—To date 31 species of mosquitoes are known to be present; six of these are potential transmitters of equine encephalomyeltis. Considerable effort is being devoted to determining the distribution of Culex tarsalis, which is of consider¬ able importance in the transmission of encephalomyelitis. Encephalomyelitis. 1. The Disease—Encephalomyelitis is a virus disease that affects both man and animals. The type that occurs in Alberta is known as the Western Encephalomyelitis. Intermittent outbreaks of this dis¬ ease have occurred generally attacking horses, although a number of human beings were also affected. This disease belongs in a group referred to as Viral Encephalitides which have many similarities to Poliomyelitis. 2. Distribution—In Alberta indications of the virus infection have been demonstrated in such animals as horses^ prairie gophers and small birds.