Mumps outbreak In Fraser Valley s sissies xcanovss revs rato

Te Fraser Regional Health Committee is warning people of a mumps outbreak in the
Fraser Valley. They are suggesting that students make sure that their vaccination records
are up to date. According to Fraser Health, individuals born in 1970 or later and who have
never received a dose of mumps vaccination are at the highest risk as public funded mumps
vaccinations did not become available in BC until 1981.

The Fraser Health Region is the only area affected by a mumps outbreak and they are
reporting 122 confirmed cases of the virus since September 2"; however, they believe that
the actual number of cases is higher thanks due to under-reporting, Chilliwack, Abbotsford
and Langley have been the hardest hit. Seemingly, the outbreak began in Agassiz last
February and since then has steadily made, the trek westward and it is tricky to stop.

“By the time people recognize the symptoms and we confirm a case, the virus has been
in the community for anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, and is moving on
to infect others,” said Dr. Gillian Arsenault, Fraser Health medical health officer.

Usually mumps simply runs its,course. Up to two thirds of people don’t realize they
have it and even though they show no symptoms they are still contagious. It’s the unlucky
ones, the other third that suffer the symptoms, including swollen, painful glands like salivary

glands and testicles in men, and other pains like achy muscles and headaches. Complications \

are rare but can occur.

Fraser Health is also conducting mumps immunization clinics around the region.

Some suggestions provided by Fraser Health to avoid mumps is to make sure your
immunizations are up to date, avoid the transmission of saliva such as through shared water
bottles, cough or sneeze into your sleeve and wash your hands regularly and finally, if you do
find yourself with mumps, avoid people for at least nine days.

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Whats your
COQUITLAM? 55 sities seins

Ha. at The Other Press, we had an opportunity to discuss education with the candidates
in the New Westminster-Coquitlam riding to find out what they would do for Douglas
College students if elected. This riding includes the New Westminster Campus within its
catchment area.

Dawn Black (NDP incumbent)

Black said that tuition fees have risen dramatically, so we need to fix student aid and lower
the interest rate on student loans. She also wants to create a green college jobs program. This
would look at the partnerships with green organizations and creating training opportunities
for environmentally-minded people within our post-secondary education system. She would
also like to see the Evergreen Line completed so that students and other community members
may get to where they need to on time and in a way that it is better for the environment.

Michelle Hassen (Liberal candidate)

Hassen discussed the need to have a serious look at education and how it will impact

our future economy. She believes that we need to make education more affordable and
accessible, and stated that we need to reform education tax credits into education grants, and
allow students to access them at the beginning of the year. She would also like to reinvest in
scholarships and grants by investing for the long term, so that we will have this investment
for years to come in our system. Plus, Hassen would extend the grace period from six
months to two years on student loans after a student has completed their degree. She also
said that research and development is key to our academic future, and we need to invest in
this to keep us ahead of the game.

Yonah Martin (Conservative candidate)
Could not be reached by. deadline.

Lewis C. Dahlby (Libertarian candidate)

He would like to privatize schools, as he believes that “it is evil and immoral to make
people pay for something they might not need or support.” Through this he says that it
will drastically cut taxes and create more economic freedoms, which will be important for
Canada. He also believes the system will survive on voluntary charity.

Marshall Smith (Green candidate)
He stated that access to affordable education is a right as well as a benefit to society. His

 

ssue, New Westminster-

party would create a national student bursary program. This would be in place to replace the
Millennium Scholarships, which ended about a year back. His party would also forgive half
of student loans when students graduate. This is to create an added incentive for students to
complete their degrees and diplomas. He would also like to see an increase in federal money
to education as well as to expand apprenticeship programs. His final concern was the federal
government cutting back on student works programs and he would like to restore that to
reduce the burden on students attempting to find summer jobs.

Roland Verrier (Mar
Could not be reached |

 

Michelle Hassen (Liberal candidate) 7 :