Health officials are reminding residents to take precautions against hantavirus when in areas potentially infested by rodents.

People can get hantavirus by breathing in contaminated airborne particles from the droppings, urine and saliva of infected deer mice.  Hantavirus infection is rare but it can be fatal.  Symptoms of hantavirus include fever, muscle aches, cough, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.  These symptoms can quickly develop into a severe and often fatal lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

“Seek urgent medical attention if you develop a fever, coughing and shortness of breath within one to six weeks of exposure to potentially infested areas,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said.

Exposure to hantavirus most often occurs when people clean up enclosed buildings such as grain bins, sheds, barns, garages, trailers, cottages and homes, or farm equipment and vehicles that have been in storage.

“Be aware of the risk and take the necessary precautions to avoid direct contact with mouse droppings or inhaling contaminated air particles,” Shahab said.

When cleaning rodent-infested areas:

• Ventilate the building by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before cleaning;
• Use wet mopping methods and wear rubber or plastic gloves;
• Wear goggles and a well-fitting N-95 type filter mask when cleaning areas contaminated by droppings in a confined space;
• Dampen areas contaminated with rodent droppings with bleach disinfectant and remove droppings with a damp mop or cloth;
• Avoid using dry cleaning methods such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming or air-hosing;
• Steam clean, shampoo or spray upholstered furniture with a detergent, disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water; and
• Wash clothes and bedding with detergent in hot water.

You can also reduce exposure to hantavirus by:

• Blocking openings that might allow rodents to enter a building;
• Storing human and animal food, water and garbage in containers with tightly-fitted lids; and
• Moving woodpiles or other potential hiding places for mice away from your home.

There have been 31 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome reported in Saskatchewan since 1994, 10 of which resulted in death.

For more information on hantavirus, visit the Government of Saskatchewan website at www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/diseases-and-conditions/hantavirus and HealthLine Online at www.healthlineonline.ca.  For advice on symptoms or when to seek care, call HealthLine 811.

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For more information, contact:

Shirley Xie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: Shirley.Xie@health.gov.sk.ca

For the Period April 25 to May 1, 2017

Saskatchewan farmers are slowly making their way into the field. Adverse weather has delayed spring field work, such as applying herbicide, harrowing and seeding, in some areas.  Many fields remain wet. Warm and dry weather will be needed in the coming weeks before seeding can get fully under way.

The majority of producers with crop from last year still in the field have so far been unable to finish harvesting due to cool weather, wet field conditions and lodged crops. It is estimated that approximately one million acres of the 2016 crop remains in the field, with the majority being in the west-central and northeastern regions of the province. There was little harvest activity over the winter months in these areas, and spring progress has been very limited. Aeration bins and grain dryers have been in continuous operation on many farms since last fall.

Despite these challenges, some producers in the south of the province have begun seeding pulses and cereals. One per cent of the provincial crop is in the ground, compared to the five-year (2012-2016) seeding average for this time of year of six per cent. In the southeast, producers are reporting that three per cent of the crop is seeded, while in the southwest, producers have two per cent seeded. There is very little, if any, crop seeded in the other areas of the province.

Much of the province received large amounts of precipitation over the last month, and fields remain wet in many areas. Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 30 per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate and one per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate and three per cent short.

Producers are busy seeding, calving, controlling weeds, working fields and trying to wrap up last year’s harvest.

Fishing Season opens in Southern Saskatchewan today.  Here is the link to the 2017 Anglers Guide and a fishing Friday Funny.

http://publications.gov.sk.ca/documents/66/89778-2017%20Anglers%20Guide.pdf

Catholic School Ruling

In April, Justice Donald Layh ruled that the Government of Saskatchewan must stop funding non-Catholic students in Catholic schools as of June 2018. The ruling includes the following:

• “The Constitution Act, 1867 does not provide a constitutional right to separate schools in Saskatchewan to receive provincial government funding respecting non-minority faith students because funding respecting non-minority faith students is not a denominational right of separate schools” (p. 228).
• “Section 17(2) of the Saskatchewan Act, which provides constitutional protection against discrimination in the distribution of moneys payable to any class of school, only protects separate schools to the extent they admit students of the minority faith” (p. 229). 
• “Provincial government funding of non-minority faith students attending separate schools is a violation of the state’s duty of religious neutrality under s. 2(a) of the Charter” (p. 229).
• “Provincial government funding of non-minority faith students attending separate schools is a violation of equality rights under s. 15(1) of the Charter” (p. 229). 

On May 1, Premier Wall announced that the provincial government will invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect school choice in the province.

If you are interested in sharing it’s perspective on this ruling with SARM, please email comments to the office at rm218@sasktel.net 

It’s been nearly five years since a red rescue helicopter came to the aid of Regina resident Carrie Derin, who was impaled by a log during an ATV excursion in Moose Mountain Provincial Park.

Derin was one of the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service’s (STARS) first patients in Saskatchewan. Since then, the STARS team has carried out more than 4,000 missions across the province.

Monday, on the service’s fifth anniversary of operating in Saskatchewan, the provincial government announced $10.5 million in funding for the 2017-2018 year.

An additional $10 million will come over the next five years through funding agreements with the province’s five Crown corporations, who will each provide $2 million.

Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit said the service has become an essential part of making health care accessible to the province’s more remote regions.

“The geography of Saskatchewan is part of what makes us who we are, but it comes with its own set of challenges,” Ottenbreit said.

“STARS ensures that people facing traumatic injury in a rural or remote location have access to emergency health care.”

The province provides roughly half of STARS’ $21 million budget. Last November, funding from the province was slashed by $500,000, causing the air rescue service to postpone certain upgrades to medical equipment.

Monday’s announcement restores the provincial side of funding back to its full amount.

“We are proud to have become an integral part of Saskatchewan’s health care system in the last five years, working alongside our local partners in the chain of survival,” STARS president and CEO Andrea Robertson said.

“When seconds count, STARS is honoured to give those in need a second chance.”

STARS — originally called Lions Air Ambulance Service — was established in Alberta in 1985.

In the 2015-16 fiscal year, STARS flew 1,041 missions in Saskatchewan.

Spring Bans have been removed this morning.

Spring Road Restictions Order 12

The Government of Saskatchewan announced today that it will be restoring funding for Saskatchewan libraries back to the 2016-17 funding levels to ensure that regional and municipal libraries and the interlibrary loan services remain operational.  Today’s announcement will provide $4.8 million in addition to the $3.5 million that was announced on budget day, March 22.

“Premier Wall has always said that we would be the kind of government that would admit its mistakes and then fix those mistakes,” Education Minister Don Morgan said.  “There were many necessary, difficult decisions taken in this budget, however the reductions in library funding without giving libraries the tools to meet the new challenge was a mistake.  So today I am announcing restoration of library funding as well as a consultative review with the Saskatchewan libraries and municipalities to determine the way forward in terms of what is best for library users and communities as well as what is also financially responsible.”

Funding for the Pahkisimon Nuye?áh library system in Northern Saskatchewan remains consistent with last year’s funding level at $974,000.

“The decision by Minister Morgan and Premier Wall to restore funding will ensure the continuation of the best provincial library system in Canada,” Regina Public Library Board Chair Sean Quinlan said.  “Today’s announcement will positively affect generations of Saskatchewan residents today and into the future.  The Regina Public Library will work with government to ensure our library system is sustainable.”

The government will be engaging with libraries, municipalities and the public to develop a long-term strategy for the future of libraries.  This will include reviewing The Public Libraries Act to ensure libraries have modern legislation that reflects current needs.  This will also involve working with libraries to find efficiencies, including options for transportation and co-location, to ensure the most effective use of available resources.

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For more information, contact:

Chris Hodges
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: chris.hodges@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-533-7506

We were hoping to have these off next week, but with the current weather I am anticipating they will be postponed.

Spring Road Restictions Order 10

The RM of Cupar is getting a large waste disposal bin from April 24-28.  It will be located outside the fence at the shop in Markinch.  Please take advantage of it being there and dispose of any old furniture, building and renovation disposal, household garbage etc.

If you have any questions, contact the office at 723-4726