Williams Lake BC's trusted daily news source.

You can help reduce air pollution, improve your health, and save money during National Environment Week (June 2-8th).

Lace up, oil that bike chain, carpool, take transit, or work from home! Look for ways to share, shorten or change your commute so you spend less time alone in your car and more time doing what you want to do. Be in the know by carpooling with co-workers or friends. Or take transit where you can finally finish that novel, clean out your inbox, or make a new friend. By walking or riding your bike to work, your commute can be your new (free) gym.

Health Canada has been made aware of quality concerns with a manufacturer in China that produces acetaminophen (Paracetamol) as an ingredient for health products. Health Canada has identified four products intended for children and infants that contain acetaminophen from this manufacturer. Prestige Brands, which manufactures the final products, is voluntarily recalling all their affected products from the marketplace. This is being done as a precaution only.

There are hundreds of what could be called 'SPIN' farmers (SPIN stands for s-mall p-lot in-tensive) in North America, and all over the world. And the number is growing.

It is changing the face of farming not only for the land, but for the farmers themselves, as it presents a financially viable – even profitable – means of earning an income from food production. Additionally, if operated in urban settings, it beautifies vacant lots, underutilized or unmaintained lawns, and other downtown areas that benefit from increased colour and plant life – all while making local and healthy food production more visible to all demographics, and part of their daily lives. SPIN Farming is a win-win situation, so it makes sense that it is on the rise.

Ticks are back -- it’s time to take precautions.

Several locals have reported having found ticks on their clothing, as well as on thier pets already this spring.

Improving weather conditions means many of us are getting out and enjoying the great outdoors. The warm weather also brings out ticks, small bugs that bite and feed on the blood of humans and animals and can sometimes transmit disease. Ticks are most often found in tall grass and wooded areas. Fortunately, there are precautions people can take to prevent illnesses that may be transmitted from tick bites.

Bird lovers are asked to help protect bird populations and prevent the spread of infectious diseases through the regular cleaning of birdfeeders and birdbaths.

During spring, many small migratory songbirds are returning home from winter retreats to the south. Species such as pine siskins, redpolls and grosbeaks are commonly found in large flocks at this time of year. This can result in high density congregations of birds around birdfeeders and water sources such as birdbaths.

British Columbia’s provincial health officer released the following statement on H7N9 influenza in China:

“BC’s public health officials are working with national and international authorities to keep a close eye on the H7N9 influenza situation in China.

“The level of risk to British Columbia and Canada is currently considered to be low, with reported cases limited to the eastern provinces of China. As well, to date in China, there have been no reported cases of human-to-human transmission.

“The strain of H7N9 avian influenza causing illness in China has also not been identified in birds or humans in Canada.

British Columbians need to know that if they are a victim of crime, help is just a phone call or click away - all day, every day throughout the province.

That's why a public service awareness campaign will run throughout the month of March to promote VictimLink BC, a confidential and multilingual referral service available by phone or online to all victims of crime.

(Click on the image to view the full size VictimLinkBC brochure online.)

Cariboo area patients with chronic disease and those with mental illness and substance use issues will benefit from new or expanded programming announced by the Province today. These programs are community-based and intended to help improve patients’ quality of life and help keep people out of the hospital.

“Providing support at a community level will help us meet the increasing health care demands in areas of mental health and chronic disease,” says Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett.

The government is making changes to ensure people receiving income and disability assistance will be able to purchase their eyeglasses online without being out of pocket.

Effective early March, the Ministry of Social Development will be launching a pilot program that will give individuals and families on income and disability assistance the option to purchase eyeglasses online and have the claims submitted to Pacific Blue Cross for payment on behalf of the ministry. Upon the completion of the pilot, the opportunity to participate as a supplier will be extended to other online eyewear companies, provided they meet government criteria for providing services.

The BC Centre for Disease Control monitors influenza closely and issues regular influenza surveillance bulletins during flu season.  The most recent influenza surveillance bulletin shows a sharp increase in influenza activity.

Across the province, indicators showed a spike of influenza activity. More people went to the doctor with flu-like symptoms and the proportion of those who received a flu diagnosis was among the highest seen in the past decade for this time period.