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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, September 9, 2003-40 West Nule resuits finally in By JASON MISNER The Champion Long-awaited West Nile test resuits are finally in the hands of provincial bealtb officiais, nearly four months foiiowing the completion of a rare blood study in soutb Oakville. Kelly Keith, spokesperson for Healtb Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory of the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Heaith (CSCHAH), said in an interview Tbursday that the blood results were sent off to Ontario's Ministry of Healtb the previous week. She said she couidn't comment on what the re-tests showed. The health mninistry, which is funding the $250,000 study and is responsible for releasing the information, couldn't be reached for comment at press time. ViaI-sized biood samples were drawn froin 1,505 residents from soutb Oakville in April and May to determine if they con- tracted the mosquito-bome virus. The data is to, be extrapolated to the general popula- tion. A higb number of samples from the blood study were re-tested at CSCHAH ini Winnipeg after it was found that the resulta migbt have been akewed by other West Nile-like diseases, such as St. Louis encephalitis. But what bas Haiton healtb officiais and politicians confused is that it waa neyer Use healtb ministry's intent to use Use biood test resuits as tome form of West Nule trans- jmission messaging this year. Paul Cantin, press secretary to Healtb Minister Tony Clement, said recently that "Use purpose of (Use study) is more to try and belp build up Use overail body of sci- entific information avaiiabie to researchers. 1I Uink it would be difficult to say Usat wbatever conclusion Usas cornes out Usis study would've changed Use way public beaith decisions were made Usis year." The Champion accessed Use Ontario government's Web site and found Usat Usree news-releases were îstued Usis year about Use blood study. A May 2 release quoted Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's Medical Officer of HealUs as saying Use information from Use blood study "will enbance our public edu- cation messages and Useclinical advice Usat physicians give Useir patienta." ln Use saine release, HealUs Minister Tony Clement was quoted as saying, "it will allow municipalities to develop improved ways of eradicating mosquitocs inUsheir areas." However, none of Use Usree releases gave a speciflc date wben or exactly bow Use resuits would be used for public conaump- tion. TJhat May 2 release alto stated Use tests were to be completed by mid-June. Later a healUs ministry spokesperson said Usey wouid be ready by Use end of July because of Use re-testa and Usen was changed to mid-August, again because of Use time needed to complete Use re-tests. Regardleas, Use study's results have been considered an important element to Halton's comprebiensive West Nile preven- tion battie plan for Usis year. ln fact, Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton's Medical Officer of HeaiUs had hoped Use results would have been in bis banda in May to be -sas COUNCILLOR on page 13 Th e right cape! ierice for the r(ic ahead! O--Pen for SUMMUM nd loalUel*hf s oi Htlton MPP Ted Cbuligh et the officiai opening of Mie provin- cia eleotion eampaIgin honed tifs on Charls Street Saiurday snonhg. Mr. Chudiaigh le eeldng Photo by GRAHA4M PAINE O * '*7 O NT RI PR V NC A E:E T THUSECOCOBR. On election day you must be: * 18 years of age * a Canadian citizen, and * a resident of Ontario Persons who ceased to, live in Ontario witbin the two years prior to election day may be entîtled to vote under certain conditions. Cali us for further information. The Permanent Register of Electors means that province-wide enumeration is no longer necessary. 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