Canada report

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 8, 2001

Ebola virus scare is a false alarm; risk called slight

HAMILTON, Ontario -- A Congolese woman who arrived in Canada and fell ill does not have the Ebola virus as feared, and the danger of her sickness spreading is minimal, health officials said Wednesday after receiving test results.

The woman's illness has caused alarm since Monday, when doctors raised the possibility of Ebola and she was put into isolation at Henderson General Hospital. But health officials said Tuesday that she had tested negative for the deadly virus, making it very unlikely that she has it.

"Those are preliminary results. Viral isolation is still ongoing," said Dr. Mark Lobe. The 32-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized Sunday night after she became semiconscious.

At first doctors diagnosed a low-grade case of malaria; they are still testing the possibility she has some sort of hemorrhagic fever. Blood samples were sent to a Winnipeg laboratory and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Results are expected today.

The woman was in serious condition Wednesday night but was showing signs of improvement.

Health officials think 16 people were exposed to some degree to the woman, but Lobe said they are not considered at high risk.

Canada can do little for Calif. power crunch

TORONTO -- Canada has sent some power to California to take advantage of high prices from the electricity shortage, but industry and government figures say geography and logistics make it unlikely that Canadian suppliers can solve the state's energy problem.

The major player so far has been B.C. Hydro, which is run by the British Columbia provincial government and supplies more than 90 percent of the province's power. It has sold $300-million worth to California utilities but has yet to get all its money, spokesman Wayne Cousins said.

Most of B.C. Hydro's power is hydroelectric, which gives it greater ability to control how much it produces, Cousins said. When it needs more surplus for times of higher prices, it can increase the flow from reservoirs and crank up the generators.

The cost of a megawatt hour, the trade unit for electricity, has exceeded $500 in recent weeks, compared to the usual range of $25 to $40. On average, 1 megawatt can power about 1,000 homes.

Air Canada studying need for French in West

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Air Canada is conducting a survey of passengers this month to see if its regional airlines can abandon French-language services on flights and at ticket counters at some places in Western Canada.

Dennis Erickson, manager of corporate communications for Air Canada Regional, said the airlines are trying to determine the level of bilingual service sought by customers.

New federal rules require the airline to offer services in French and English on routes where at least 5 percent of its customers demand bilingual services.

A spokesman for the British Columbia French-speaking community said French speakers should not have to "pound their fist on the counter" to receive services in French.

Rather, a national airline that used to be the property of the federal government should voluntarily ensure that bilingual services are available, said Serge Corbeil of Federation des Francophones de la Columbie-Britannique.

Airlines should offer the service, he said, even if only 2 percent or 3 percent of passengers want it.

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