Even though we are in the dead of winter, a rise in bugs and their inflictions have been taking place across the prairies.

Recently a Winnipeg family discovered they had Chagas disease after attempting to donate blood. This Chagas disease was caused by what is known as a "Kissing Beetle" and its symptoms include a parasite entering the blood system and quite possibly entering the heart which can potentially be fatal. the people most affected by this disease belong in South American countries, so for this disease to pop up in the Central Plains. 

A man was contracted with disease here in Winnipeg, as well as his mother and siblings. The cause is believed to be his mother's previous occupation that had her in South America decades ago.

WebMD claims the easiest ways to avoid kissing bug disease once bitten are to wash the bites to lower chances of infection, use calamine lotion,oatmeal soaked cloth, or anti itch cream to stop the itching, use an ice pack to stop swelling, and to see your doctor if you're worried about being infected. 

Since kissing bugs live in South America, there isn't too much worry about them being found here in Winterpeg, but should you travel South ensure your household has properly sealed gaps, holes, and doors, let your pets sleep inside after nightfall, and clean up any piles of wood or rocks that may be up against your house. 

 

 

 

Another plague to the plains popped up on Dan Law's st. Boniface boulevard. The long-feared emerald ash borer has been detected in Winnipeg. For years they have been under the radar across North America, but have been popping up in areas of Ontario since the mid 2000's. 

Winnipeg's prolonged battle with Dutch elm disease is likely here for the long run, and we may lose all ash trees in the vicinity within the next decade. Natural Resources Canada states that typically 99% of ash trees in infected areas die within six years. That means Winnipeg's 350,000 + trees will be gone in the next 10 years. This species is 30%, or $440 million worth, of the city's vegetation.