Environment: 1)Do masks help? What about air conditioning? What to know about wildfire smoke protection; 2)SMDHU offers tips to protect yourself from wildfire smoke; 3)Canada is not banning produce imports amid U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak, CFIA says

1)Do masks help? What about air conditioning? What to know about wildfire smoke protection

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Nicole Ireland, July 15, 2026

Many parts of Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area, are under an Environment Canada air quality warning as smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario drift south.

“Smoke from wildfires can have serious health consequences for those living nearby, but it can also affect the health of people living hundreds of kilometres away,” the Canadian Lung Association says on its website.

“There is no safe level of wildfire smoke.”

Here are some ways to protect yourself and your children:

USE THE AIR QUALITY HEALTH INDEX

Environment Canada has an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) available online, where people can check the level of pollution in their communities. You can find it at https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/index_e.html

A rating of 1-3 is low risk, 4-6 is moderate risk, 7-10 is high risk and over 10 is very high risk.

Many people with asthma or other chronic conditions — as well as infants, young children, pregnant people and seniors — feel the effects of smoke and other air pollution at lower levels than people who are very healthy.

STAY INSIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Stay inside with the windows closed as much as possible and if you have air conditioning, make sure it’s not bringing outdoor air into the home.

“Most air conditioning units do not take outdoor air into the home and are safe to use during periods of poor outdoor air quality,” the lung association says.

“If your system has a fresh air intake, set it to ‘recirculate mode’ or shut the outdoor intake damper,” it says.

It’s also important to keep outside doors and fireplace dampers shut.

If you don’t have air conditioning at home and the air quality outside is poor, consider going to a library, a shopping mall or a community cooling centre if you’re feeling the heat.

WEAR A MASK IF YOU NEED TO BE OUTSIDE

An N95, KN95 or KF94 mask can help reduce the fine particles in wildfire smoke getting into your lungs, The Public Health Agency of Canada says on its website.

These types of masks, called respirators, are effective because they’re “designed to fit snugly around your face, covering your nose, mouth and chin” and the material can filter out fine particles, the agency says.

Other masks, including cloth and medical or surgical masks don’t fit the face as snugly and the material isn’t as effective at filtering out the smoke particles, it says.

If the poor air quality is happening at the same time as extreme heat, some people may feel increased heat stress while wearing a mask. In that case, the priority is to stay cool, the public health agency says.

In addition to fine particles, wildfire smoke contains various gases and even respirator masks can’t protect against those, it says.

Respirator masks shouldn’t be worn by children under age two or by people who have trouble breathing while wearing them, the agency says.

MAKE SURE YOUR ASTHMA IS WELL CONTROLLED IN THE FIRST PLACE

Adults and children with asthma should always have a supply of both their “controller” medications and their “reliever” medications.

“Controller” medications are usually taken every day to keep inflammation in the lungs down and help to prevent asthma attacks. They usually contain an inhaled steroid.

“Reliever” medications are the inhalers that people take if they are suffering from worsened asthma, including asthma attacks. They are bronchodilators, which relax the muscles in the lungs and widen the airways. Salbutamol (brand name Ventolin) is a common inhaler medication.

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION WHEN NEEDED

If you or your child is experiencing dizziness, chest pains, severe cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or heart palpitations, see your local health-care provider or go to the emergency department, the Lung Health Foundation advises.

CONSIDER AN AIR PURIFIER FOR YOUR HOME

A high-quality air purifier should have a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. Or, look for a filter with a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating of at least 13.

If you can’t afford to buy a high-quality air purifier unit, you can make one. Take a look at YouTube for instructions, but basically you’ll need a box fan, MERV 13-rated furnace filters, duct tape and some cardboard.

2)SMDHU offers tips to protect yourself from wildfire smoke

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release

By Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, July 15, 2026

Simcoe Muskoka is experiencing its first air quality alert of the year due to wildfires in northern Ontario. Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of kilometres and affect communities far from active fires. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reminds residents to take steps to protect themselves from exposure to wildfire smoke, know the signs of smoke-related illness and understand when to get medical care.

Breathing wildfire smoke can affect your health. Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors and avoid strenuous activity when the air quality is poor. Stay informed by checking air quality alerts and check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), which can help you make decisions about your health.

Hot weather and poor air quality can happen at the same time because air pollution levels often rise during extreme heat. Extreme heat can cause severe illness. When both a heat warning and an air quality warning are in place, most people should prioritize keeping cool.

If you need to be outside, consider wearing a well-fitted respirator, such as an N95 or equivalent, to reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke. Keep indoor air as clean as possible by keeping windows and doors closed when temperatures are comfortable, using a portable HEPA air cleaner and setting your home’s ventilation system to recirculate mode. Reduce indoor air pollution sources by avoiding smoking and vaping, burning candles or incense, using wood stoves, and products that release strong fumes.

Consider spending time in public buildings with cleaner indoor air, such as libraries, community centres or shopping malls. When driving, keep windows closed and use the recirculate setting. If smoke is causing symptoms, move to a location with cleaner air and follow advice from your health-care provider.

Wildfire smoke can affect everyone, but some people are at greater risk of health effects. This includes infants and young children, older adults, pregnant people, people with chronic health conditions such as heart or lung disease, people who smoke, and people who work, exercise or spend long periods outdoors.

Pay attention to how you and those in your care feel during air quality alerts. Wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and affect the lungs and heart. Seek medical attention if you experience shortness of breath, wheezing or asthma attacks, a severe cough, dizziness, chest pain or heart palpitations. Call 911 right away if you think you are having a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke.

3)Canada is not banning produce imports amid U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak, CFIA says

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Hannah Alberga, July 15, 2026

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it is not considering restrictions on fresh produce imports from the United States, where thousands have been infected with a diarrhea-causing parasite.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Tuesday suggests that since May, nearly 7,000 people in multiple states may have been sickened with cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness that causes watery diarrhea for six to seven weeks. 

More than 1,600 cases have been confirmed and 5,100 are under investigation.

The bulk of the cases are in Michigan where local health officials have reported over 3,000 infections and suggested lettuce or salad greens could be a potential source.

But Michigan’s health department says no produce grower or supplier has been linked to the multi-state outbreak, and other foods cannot be ruled out yet.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said Tuesday that it is not investigating any outbreaks of cyclospora in the country.

The CFIA said officials are closely monitoring developments south of the border and will take any necessary action to ensure the food supply is safe. 

The federal agency responsible for food safety says it routinely tests for cyclospora as part of its surveillance program, which targets imported fresh whole and cut leafy vegetables – including bulk and pre-packaged lettuces and salad mixes – and fresh leafy herbs like cilantro and basil, along with raspberries and blackberries. 

This surveillance is conducted year-round, the federal agency says, and enhanced during periods of elevated risk. There is usually an increase of cyclospora cases in summer and spring when fresh fruit and vegetables are imported into Canada.  

“These measures may include targeted import controls, additional import requirements where appropriate, increased sampling and testing activities, and other preventive measures designed to reduce the risk before products enter the Canadian marketplace,” a spokesperson for the CFIA said in an email to The Canadian Press. 

WHAT IS CYCLOSPORA?

Cyclospora is not spread from person-to-person because the parasite can only infect someone once it leaves the body through feces. To spread, PHAC says the parasite needs to be outside the body for about a week to 15 days. 

When the feces of an infected person gets into the water supply used for crops or in food processing or packaging, it can contaminate food.

Symptoms can take a couple weeks to appear and commonly include watery diarrhea, bloating and gas, nausea, tiredness, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, weight loss and a mild fever.

Most people get sick for six to seven weeks, and sometimes symptoms go away and come back. 

HOW TO STAY SAFE

Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said cyclospora is not commonly found on food and is not in Canada’s drinking water, which makes eating local produce a way to reduce the risk of getting sick. 

Foods imported into Canada that have previously been linked to the parasite include basil, cilantro, raspberries, blackberries, mesclun lettuce, snow and snap peas, and pre-packaged salad mix.

Dr. Susy Hota, division head of infectious diseases at Toronto’s University Health Network, said always wash fresh fruit, even if it says pre-washed, and especially if it is sitting for a long time pre-packaged. “It seems to be a really nice breeding ground,” Hota said

However, she added, “That doesn’t 100 per cent ensure that you’re going to be safe from any food contamination because sometimes you don’t get everything when you wash it.”

Cooking produce from countries where cyclospora is found, such as Peru, Cuba, India, Nepal, Mexico, Guatemala, Southeast Asia and the Dominican Republic, can also help reduce the risk.

The illness is diagnosed with a stool sample and treated with a prescription antibiotic. Symptoms usually improve within two to three days after starting the medication, but it can take several weeks for intestinal problems to disappear.

Canadians who believe they have a cyclospora infection should contact their health care provider.