Epilepsy, defined as a wide range of seizure disorders of the central nervous system, specifically the brain is reported to be found 1 in 100 Canadians, that is more than 300,000 Canadians and 50 million people worldwide.  

Members of the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance (CEA), In Ottawa, planned to hold a reception on Parliament Hill with 14-year old Megan.

CEA tweeted that needs of patients who use cannabis for medical purposes must remain at the heart of policy reform. 
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Every year Epilepsy Toronto had been organizing an Annual Conferences that covers a variety of topics important to our clients and members. This year's conference "Beyond The Medical: Epilepsy Self-Management and Advocacy Epilepsy Toronto Conference and AGM 2017" would be held on Saturday May 13th, 2017  between 8:30am – 3:30pm YMCA- 20 Grosvenor Street Toronto.

Showing awareness and expressing concerns for epilepsy in the society members of parliament also rose to support its cause.

Conservative MP Patrick Brown said, “Those living with epilepsy face challenges, discrimination and often times a lower quality of life”, GlobalNews reports said.

NDP MP Mathew Kellway said “This is what’s in our hearts today, on this, the first official day for epilepsy awareness,” GlobalNews reports said.

Volunteers from Epilepsy Toronto were stationed in different areas including many hospitals in Toronto to distribute information cards and collect donations.

Union Station and downtown Toronto’s PATH system had been painted purple.

Drew Woodley, Director of Communications for Epilepsy Toronto said that it was important the message should be spread far and wide to raise better understanding about epilepsy.

​​An event was planned by Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Tuesday to encourage participation of public in a scavenger hunt and face painting.

In recognition of Purple Day SickKids Hospital in Toronto, which is also home to school for children with  intractable epilepsy, encouraged children to make t-shirts, decorations and artwork.

“For purple day, we really try to get the kids involved and know that it’s not a hidden secret and they should be involved,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kerr, Director of Epilepsy Classroom, who provides them with neuropsychological consultation.

 “The classroom is really established as a remedial program for kids with epilepsy who also have some learning issues,” Kerr said. “But the added piece is that we really want to empower them to live well with epilepsy and to build resilience so they can be the best selves they can be.”

​#TorontoPolice, #TP, #overdosage, #opioids, #TorontoPublicHealth, #TPH, #carfentanil, #Dr.BernardLeFoll, #Const.DavidHopkinson, #Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto 

Two of Toronto nightclubs were being scrutinized for the safety of the club goers after six suspected overdoses, including one death was reported, media reports said.

A public safety alert concerning the safety of nightclubs Rebel and Uniun had been issued by Toronto police (TP) after the incidents of death and overdosage there, CBCNews reports said.

A 24-year-old woman was rushed to hospital after collapsing at Uniun nightclub on Adelaide Street West, and later pronounced dead Saturday morning, according to Toronto police.

Police said another woman at the club also collapsed and was taken to hospital in serious condition.

In December 2016, said the police, a woman died of overdoses at an electronic dance music concert at the waterfront venue.

The owner of these two clubs, INK Entertainment had been fully cooperating with the police investigation. 

Overdose deaths In Toronto have increased by 73 percent over the past decade, said Toronto Public Health (TPH) and added it planned a wider distribution of life-saving naloxone kits in its new Overdose Action Plan.

Opioids like heroin and fentanyl, said TPH, are responsible to a large extent for the accidental deaths in Toronto as these can prove fatal even in small dosages.

The deadly opioid carfentanil was found in Richmond Hill earlier this year, said York Regional Police.

TP Const. David Hopkinson said toxicology reports would confirm what these overdose patients had actually taken on Friday night and added it was also unclear if all the cases were linked.

According to health officials recreational drug users were ignorant what they were taking as more and more opioids were being mixed with other drugs in Toronto.

"We are seeing almost at a daily basis now that, when we perform tests at our biological lab... individuals are getting exposed to drugs and they have no idea," said Dr. Bernard Le Foll, a clinician scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.

"A single pill can kill you," he said.
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(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Image: Wikimedia Commons

#Robin Hood brand flour, #E.coli,  #BritishColumbia, #B.C. #Alberta, #Saskatchewan, #Manitoba, #Canada, #CanadianFoodInspectionAgency

The original recall of Robin Hood brand flour issued last month by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on 10-kilogram bags of flour limited to B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba had been expanded to the entire country due to the E. coli contamination, media reports said.

Food inspection Agency officials asked Canadians to throw out any 10-kilogram bags of Robin Hood brand all-purpose flour with a best-before date of April 17, 2018 or return these to the store, from where these were purchased, for a refund, CBCNews reports said.

The recalled product's UPC is 0 59000 01652 8.

The recall was activated during an investigation into an outbreak of E. coli O121.

25 cases diagnosed with E. coli O121 revealed a matching genetic fingerprint in four provinces, 12 in B.C., four in Alberta, four in Saskatchewan and five in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Several of the reported patients were men with an average age of 24 and had been consuming Robin Hood flour.

​The illness started from dates ranging from November 2016 to late February.

Six people, who were hospitalized, were recovering.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea.
 
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
 
Image of E. coli: Wikipedia