by admin on December 15, 2011
Question by Charlie: Baby Deer Mouse hantavirus/HPV health hazard?
I recently was given a baby deer mouse by my neighbor, who found it near his house. I live in the Mojave desert, and I am a bit concerned about caring for the little guy, as he may carry hantavirus, or HPV. Should I be concerned, and what should I look for/do to prevent any risks?
Best answer:
Answer by The mom
I personally would not care for your little buddy. Rodents of all sorts are carriers of hantavirus, and it causes HPS (not HPV- different thing). HPS or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, results from exposure to the droppings, urine and saliva of the infected creatures. Since mice aren’t housebroken, you would come into potential contact with it every time you cleaned the cage. Plus, he will fluff up the bedding and send the virus into the air- which is the primary mode of transmission. Considering where you live, chances are pretty high your little friend carries the virus and you are being exposed daily. I know he’s cute, but he really does belong outside. You may be able to take him to a vet and see if he can be tested and treated, I don’t know. I do know he sure doesn’t belong inside your house, and you need to wear a mask and gloves to deal with him. It’s still risky.
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by admin on December 15, 2011
Question by Alexia: What should I do with my baby, I don’t have health care where I am in Canada?
My boyfriend got a job in Quebec, Canada, and wanted to move here with me. He got his work visa through his company, but they couldn’t get it it for me cause I was not his common-law wife. To become that you have to have lived together for 1 year. So I have been here for a couple of months now, and because I am not here legal, I can’t do anything, I can’t get a job, I can’t get health care, I can’t get a library card. I don’t exist here officially, and therefore there are no resources avalable. But I am pregnant and I need health care. Also everybody speaks French here, and it is required to be bi-lingual for all the jobs I have seen. I can pay for it but since I can’t work here, I don’t want to spend the money I have since I can’t make any money here. If I was written here, then French classes are basically free.
At this point, we have actually lived together for a year, and all my boyfriend has to do is call them and say that I am the common law wife now, which would entitle me to have some rights in Canada. But he won’t do it, he thinks it is better if I go and live with my mother in Sweden. That sounds like hell to me, sit there and rot away with a baby in my belly belonging to a man that doesn’t even want to claim me as his. I don’t know what to do, I don’t want to get an abortion. But how I am going to handle a whole pregnancy and baby without any support?
Best answer:
Answer by lori
You can always give the baby up for adoption.
What do you think? Answer below!
Image by ReSurge International
Bui Em, a 5-month-old little boy with a unilateral cleft lip stole the hearts of the recovery room nurses on the team. His big eyes and punk hairdo made them ooh and ah. His father, Tuan, heard about the Interplast team coming to Cao Lanh through an ad on TV several months ago. Although he called the phone number listed on the screen, he did not receive a return call and was quite disappointed. The next time he saw the ad, he decided to bring his son directly to the hospital on clinic day. He told us that he and his wife felt terribly sad for their son. After he saw his son in the recovery room shortly after his surgery, he had a beaming smile from ear to ear. Through our translator, Kim, we learned that he wished us good health and hoped we could continue to help the poor people in his country. He said words could not express his gratitude and his son’s lip repair turned out better than he could ever have imagined. Now how rewarding is that!!
