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SCIENCES ag M no mercy for the MAY 2020 Junior VOL 1 N 1

THE TEAM SCIENCES ag M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR IN CHIEF Sophie Gaulin SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR Prof Jean Eric Ghia COORDINATOR AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lysiane Romain Junior WRITERS Prof Jean Eric Ghia Stephen Jones Meghan Kynoch GRAPHIC DESIGNER V ronique Togneri ILLUSTRATORS David MacNair Tadens Mpwene COLOURISTS Marta Guerrero V ronique Togneri Special thanks to Marie Th r se Bocquel Danielle and Laure Ghia La titia Kermarrec and B atrice Lachaud for their input La Libert s Sciences Mag Junior was made possible with the support of This project has been made possible by the Community Media Strategic Support Fund offered jointly by the Official Language Minority Community Media Consortium and the Government of Canada FRIENDS BRONZE SILVER GOLD OUR PARTNERS Secr tariat aux a aires francophones OUR MEDIA PARTNERS Editorial address P O Box 190 Winnipeg Manitoba R2H 3B4 Tel 204 237 4823 sgaulin la liberte mb ca Magazine unit cost 4 50 Taxes Annual subscription to La Libert 65 90 GST and provincial tax included la liberte ca ISSN 0845 0455 Copyright 2020 La Libert All rights reserved Printed in Canada POSTAL CONVENTION PUBLICATIONS N 40012102 REGISTRATION 7996

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM FOR THIS SPECIAL ISSUE THE TEAM STEPHEN JONES WRITER SOPHIE GAULIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR IN CHIEF LYSIANE ROMAIN COORDINATOR AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR PROF JEAN ERIC GHIA SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR MEGHAN KYNOCH WRITER W hile COVID 19 has been turning our lives upside down for several weeks now it has also given La Libert the opportunity to publish its firstever youth science magazine in May 2020 for its 107th anniversary to Stephen and Meghan for sharing their passion and to the University of Manitoba faculty members who readily contributed their expertise Any resemblance to actual scientists and health care workers in this publication is by no means coincidental and is in fact downright In this 60 page publication our information deliberate science and communication professions come This special edition would not have been together to explain to youth in a fun and reliable possible without the financial contribution of way what happens to the human body when it our partners The children who read this is attacked by a virus like SARS CoV2 magazine will be as grateful as we are To carry out this major project we reached out Last but not least we would like to salute the to partners who generously donated their time outstanding efforts of the entire artistic team networks and expertise Illustrators Tadens Mpwene and David MacNair Our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of and our graphic designer V ronique Togneri and them We especially want to acknowledge the colourist Marta Guerrero all put their considerable unwavering support of Martine Bouchard talents to use in service of information and President and CEO of St Boniface Hospital who science immediately and enthusiastically embraced this We extend our warmest thanks to each and project and allowed us to work with Dr Grant every one of our colleagues partners sponsors Pierce the hospital s Executive Director of and broadcasters WANIFRA World Association Research and his wonderful colleagues at Youth of News Publishers News Media Canada the BIOlab Jeunesse Stephen Jones and Meghan Association de la presse francophone and the Kynoch Coop rative nationale de l information Popularizing science is no easy feat especially ind pendante whose spirit of collaboration and with the daily developments associated with solidarity so critical in this time of crisis will help such an unfamiliar virus We are hugely grateful us fight this virus and come out stronger SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 DAVID MACNAIR ILLUSTRATOR TADENS MPWENE ILLUSTRATOR V RONIQUE TOGNERI GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND COLOURIST MARTA GUERRERO COLOURIST 3

MESSAGE FROM ST BONIFACE HOSPITAL MESSAGE FROM R SEAU COMPASSION NETWORK MESSAGE FROM SOCI T SANT EN FRAN AIS MARTINE BOUCHARD PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANIEL LUSSIER EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANNE LEIS PRESIDENT he R seau Compassion Network was created by pioneering women of great vision who entrusted us with their legacy of bringing together people of all faiths traditions and cultures who want to be signs of compassion and hope We chose to support this magazine because we know that it will also be a beacon of hope in these difficult times We are proud to support St Boniface Hospital a member of our Network in sharing their world renowned research with children around the world through this publication We would like to acknowledge all the partners that made this beautiful unifying and informative project happen We hope that this magazine helps address issues that may seem complicated and are distressing to both youth and adults during this pandemic period oci t Sant en fran ais SSF is proud to be a partner in the production of this youth magazine on COVID 19 Children and youth will have access to health information in French that is clear accurate and adapted to their reality in the context of the pandemic D uring a pandemic one of the keys to limiting the spread of the virus and the anxiety it generates besides a vaccine is effective reliable and accessible communication When people are well informed implement protective measures and understand the reasons for following public health guidelines our hospitals around the world can work to the best of their abilities to save as many lives as possible The St Boniface Hospital was eager to support this project because we believe that a healthy community also depends on our children s knowledge of science the human body and its immune system I would therefore like to thank Dr Grant Pierce Executive Director of our Research Centre who ensured that his Youth BIOlab Jeunesse collaborators Stephen Jones and Meghan Kynoch were able to work closely and for many hours with Professor Jean ric Ghia and the teams at La Libert and POP Comm to produce this quality magazine I am proud that our institution continues to value projects such as this one that are rooted in solidarity and promoting our children s access to medical science T S Taking charge of one s health is important at any age and this magazine will help readers develop good habits while having fun Many thanks to La Libert and all the partners for a successful collaborative project DO NOT MISS THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH DIGITAL VERSIONS ON LA LIBERTE CA 4 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

ASHA EMMA T IDRISS he 2020 school year has been an eventful one for emma and her friends Asha Idriss Juan Li na and Sam Like many children around the world they had to leave school and their friends in march to stay home and help fight the coVID 19 coronaVIrus Disease 2019 pandemic But ms Laura their science teacher is determined to teach them how the human body LI NA JUAN SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustrations Tadens Mpwene reacts when it is attacked by viruses SAM 5

T oday ms Laura gives a very special assignment to a group of students in her class doing research to better understand the virus SArS coV2 that is affecting people around the world and causes coVID 19 But this virus is not easy to understand to understand how the human body works I m going to tell you a story the story of a castle that is about to be invaded says ms Laura Why don t we ask some real scientists to explain it to us too Illustrations Tadens Mpwene asks emma 6 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

real scientists wonders Juan But we don t know any my mom works at the university maybe she knows people who can help us says Li na R ight away the six friends contact some University scientists even though they are very busy all the experts contacted agree to participate they decide to meet the next day by videoconference to read Illustrations Tadens Mpwene the story together and answer the students questions SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 7

THE THE STORY STORY OF OF THE THE CASTLE CASTLE With its thick walls many narrow windows deep moat and well guarded gate the castle seemed indestructible SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustration David MacNair Once upon a time in a faraway land there was a very majestic castle that stood proudly on a small hill Its fortified walls and guards protected the villagers and the king who lived with his family in the castle tower

Illustration David MacNair The villagers lived there in perfect harmony Everyone had an important job and was happy doing their work Some took care of food and supplies others were messengers cleaners builders or guards SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

Is it true that our body defends itself like a castle PROF JEAN ERIC GHIA Dept Immunology Internal Medicine Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba ur body is made of a lot of different types of cells they are so small we can t see them with our eyes We need a microscope to see them Muscle In fact Li na we are made on average of thirty million million cells and they come in many different shapes and sizes Blood vessels arteries and veins And just like the villagers of the castle each cell has a specific job that helps us to function and stay alive Some groups of cells help us to protect ourselves skin others help us to move around muscle bring nutrients blood vessels and even transmit messages nerves Nerves The salution Professor Prof used in the magazine includes all the different levels of professorship assistant associate and full 10 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustrations Tadens Mpwene O Skin

name Skin cells Location covering the whole surface of the body Job Protect us name Muscle cells Location Attached to the bones in digestive system blood vessels and in the heart Job Squeeze or stretch to help move your body and some organs name Blood cells Location floating in blood Job carry oxygen to the body red cells protect against germs white cells and repair injuries platelets name Nerve cells neurons Location Brain and body nerves Send messages from the brain to control Illustrations Tadens Mpwene Job the body think and feel the outside world see hear touch taste and smell SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 11

S ome protective cells in our body are building blocks like the wall of the castle they stop invisible germs from getting inside our skin lungs and many other organs are made of those cells Protective cells In the nose and the mouth mixed with these cells are glands that make saliva spit and sticky mucous snot Like the moat of the castle these liquids can trap germ invaders Nose Mucous production cells Mucous Salivary glands Mouth Saliva Tongue Illustrations Tadens Mpwene Esophagus Trachea 12 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

M any germs get into our body through our mouth and nose this is why we often get sore throats and coughs Blood vessels Some germs get even further into the lungs Inside your lungs a big air tube trachea connects to smaller branches bronchi and bronchioles like an upside down tree they open into grape like clusters of air Alveoli sacs called alveoli that take oxygen out of the air that we breathe and release the used air that we breathe out Trachea Lungs Bronchi Illustrations Tadens Mpwene Bronchiole SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 13

Natural killer cell INSIDE OF A BLOOD VESSEL Dendritic cell I Red blood cell f germs make it past the mouth and past the saliva and mucous Neutrophil we have special cells in our blood called white blood cells that can hunt down germs and destroy them they all have very weird names you can find natural guards like Macrophage neutrophil or natural killer cells spies like dendritic cells soldiers like B and t lymphocytes and some garbage collectors named macrophages Platelet Illustrations Tadens Mpwene B and T lymphocytes 14 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

T hose cells in our body help to protect us Natural Guard Team just like the guards protect their castle Scientific name Neutrophil and natural killer cells Job Some of the first cells to respond to any new infection and to go in the infected zone Duties Attack eat and kill any dangerous looking germs outside or inside infected cells of the body Usually the guards are able to easily find catch and kill the invaders before they can harm the villagers Sometimes very strong or sneaky invaders can overpower the guards and enter the castle thankfully there Garbage Collector Team are backup teams of spies and soldiers who can help Spy Team Scientific name Macrophage Job Some of the first cells to respond to any new infection and to go in the infected zone Duties Clean up eat germs and send information to soldiers If the germs ful are too power e called other cells ar in to help Scientific name Dendritic cell Job Relay information between first response cells and specialized soldiers Duties With their multiple hands dendrites they capture germs and bring them to B and T lymphocytes to be studied B T SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Scientific name B and T lymphocytes Job Specialized soldiers for targeted attacks Duties Some T lymphocytes will find attack and kill any cells in our body infected by a particular germ B lymphocytes will throw special Y shaped chemical targets called antibodies onto germs When covered with antibodies the germs will become more delicious to macrophages and neutrophils 15 Illustrations David MacNair Soldier Team

TEAMS TEAMS AT WORK WORK AT Thanks to the different teams they won many battles against all kinds of invaders who were regularly trying to enter the castle Illustrations David MacNair Some battles were easy but some were long and hard especially against new and unfamiliar invaders To be successful all of the teams needed to work together SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

So if our body is a fortress who are the invaders that are making us sick asks Asha PROF AARON MARSHALL Dept Immunology Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba T he invaders are tiny germs smaller than the cells of your body We can only see them through a microscope there are different kinds of germs called bacteria and viruses We are surrounded by all kinds Illustrations Tadens Mpwene of viruses and bacteria but not all of them are dangerous only some types invade our body and cause damage that makes us sick SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 17

T he viruses are extra tiny even smaller than bacteria 10 times smaller they also can get right inside the cells of our bodies where they feel at home and multiply there to make us sick Imagine our cells are the size of a big dog Bacteria would be the size of a small bird and viruses would be as small as an ant Human cell DOG 10 times smaller Bacteria SMALL BIRD ANT 18 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Virus Illustrations Tadens Mpwene 10 times smaller

SPREAD SPREAD OF OF THE THE CORONAS CORONAS Although no one had ever seen one before the villagers worried the Coronas were on their way The king asked the guards to be ready for anything threatening SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustration David MacNair Life was great for the villagers until one day they started to hear about some invaders spreading terror in other castles in the region They were called the Coronas

coronas like the virus we re hiding from now Why are they so bad PROF PETER PELKA Dept Microbiology Faculty of Science University of Manitoba that they re bad many of them don t even harm us In fact Sam they need our bodies to help them grow Some viruses are able to enter our cells where they steal from our cells to make more copies of themselves When there are many of them they enter more and more cells causing damage 20 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustrations Tadens Mpwene V iruses don t know

T here are many types of virus that can cause colds minor flus rabies ebola and even warts Some are dangerous some are not very dangerous and some viruses don t affect us at all this new type of coronavirus that we re seeing since the end of 2019 causes a disease that mainly attacks the lungs but also seems to affect other parts of the body We call it coVID 19 Influenza flu Cold Wart Illustrations Tadens Mpwene COVID 19 Ebola Rabies SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 21

Bacteria are germs too are they the same as viruses PROF JUDE UZONNA Dept Immunology Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba N o Idriss they are different from viruses in many ways Bacteria can live in and on our bodies because our bodies are warm and moist and they can find food there But they don t need to get inside our cells to survive Bad bacteria can surround cells and compete or fight with cells for food and Illustrations Tadens Mpwene energy Some make poisons or weapons that hurt our cells or make us sick 22 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

D ifferent kinds of bacteria live on different parts of the body like on the skin or in your gut not all bacteria are bad some help us stay healthy by digesting tough foods and making vitamins for us but some can cause sore throat Illustrations Tadens Mpwene and breathing problems while others cause upset stomach SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 23

the coronas story reminds emma about how fast the virus causing coVID 19 is spreading how did this virus manage to overcome the entire world in a few weeks Why is it so strong S cientists are trying to answer these same questions right now about this new coronavirus which is very contagious It moves very fast from person to person and the whole world has been trying to figure out how to slow it down As of may 20 2020 24 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustrations Tadens Mpwene MEGHAN KYNOCH Program Coordinator Youth BIOlab St Boniface Hospital Research

T his virus multiplies in the lungs of an infected person When they cough sneeze or talk the virus can leave their body in little droplets and infect other people or land on surfaces that other people might touch 2 meters 6 feet Illustrations Tadens Mpwene So it s very important to not do what this person is doing you have to cough and sneeze into your elbow and stand at least 2 meters from other people SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 25

T hink of all the people you see and all the things you touch in a day this virus spreads very fast Wherever we go whether we re at our friend s house or travelling to the other side of the world we bring our germs with us on average each infected person can spread the disease to two or three people STEPHEN JONES Program Director Youth BIOlab St Boniface Hospital Research furthermore many people with the infection don t feel sick they are called asymptomatic and spread the virus when visiting friends Illustrations Tadens Mpwene and family 26 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

S ome people who catch the virus that causes coVID 19 don t feel sick at all some will feel like they have a mild cold with a fever or lose their sense of taste or smell but some people can get very sick and have trouble breathing even though they feel different they all have the same kind Illustrations Tadens Mpwene of virus SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 27

the coronas sound so scary already causing so much damage I m really worried DR HEATHER MACKENZIE Dept Clinical Health Psychology Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba D on t worry Juan It s normal that we might feel anxious or worried about an unknown virus that might infect our body In the story the king and his villagers also feel scared about enemies trying to invade 28 Illustrations Tadens Mpwene their castle SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

A nxiety is how our brain puts our body on high alert in case something dangerous might happen to us Understanding what this virus is and learning what we can do to protect ourselves will help us feel less scared Staying home and finding ways to relax and enjoy ourselves can help Illustration Tadens Mpwene lower anxiety SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 29

ATTACK ATTACK OF OF THE THE CORONAS CORONAS The king had been relaxing in his tower with his family and heard a commotion outside As he looked out the tower window he realized that something was wrong There was a huge fight happening in the courtyard He had never seen an attack like this Illustration David MacNair Could it be the Coronas SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustration David MacNair The king didn t know what to do he couldn t tell who was fighting who He ordered more guards down to get a clear view of the invaders

Illustrations David MacNair The king had a good reason to worry it was the Coronas Some older castles nearby had already surrendered and fallen at the hands of this new enemy While he met with his generals the Coronas were already able to get into some of the castle rooms to steal supplies gain strength and multiply unnoticed by the guards SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

I am scared for my grandma and grandpa Is that true that like older castles older people get a lot sicker because of this virus P DR GEERT W t JONG Pediatrician Dept Pediatrics and Child Health Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba eople get sick from the virus but even more from the response of the body trying to fight the virus this virus can make the body s defences overreact like an allergic reaction In young kids their defence cells fight calmly against the virus As people get older their defence cells can become more aggressive Illustrations Tadens Mpwene and sometimes overreact damaging healthy lung cells while trying to attack the virus SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 33

Asha mentions that her aunt is still K young but she received a kidney from someone else and she heard that makes it harder for her to fight the idneys clean blood by filtering it to keep people healthy your aunt s new kidney was given by a friend so her new filter cells don t look like the cells virus too that were already in her body the same way the castle s army recognizes and fights invaders the army of your aunt s body its spy and soldier cells might think that the new kidney is an enemy your aunt needs medicine that weakens her army to protect her new kidney But medicine can also make your aunt s defences less Illustrations Tadens Mpwene effective and make it harder to fight invaders like the new coronavirus DR JULIE HO Dept Internal Medicine Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba 34 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

Sam anxiously asks Because I have crohn s disease which gives me stomach pain and bloody diarrhea I take medication that slows down my body s defences too am I at greater risk for coVID 19 VANCOUVER DR CHARLES BERNSTEIN Dept Internal Medicine Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba CALGARY WINNIPEG on their computers weekly to discuss what is happening with crohn s disease patients And the truth is Sam doctors are learning daily about this new virus and how it works with TORONTO OTTAWA MONTR AL Illustrations Tadens Mpwene D octors from canada have been meeting the various cD medications So it s important you stay in touch with your doctors and follow their recommendations SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 35

CAPTURE CAPTURE OF OF THE THE CORONAS CORONAS They had a hard time finding one because they still didn t know exactly what the Coronas looked like other than their spiky crowns They finally caught one trying to get into a pantry and took him back to the tower for a closer look SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustration David MacNair The mayhem in the castle was getting dangerously close to the King s tower The King ordered his spies to go out and capture any of the invaders they could find

The king s generals studied the prisoner from every angle They had to figure out how to quickly spot the new kind of Coronas in the crowded castle and kill them before they destroy everything Illustration David MacNair The generals worked and worked until they dropped from exhaustion SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

Then the king s army generals recalled an ancient battle against a powerful group of invaders called the Bacterios They needed extra help from outside to win that battle juice from a special plant that the Bacterios hated But it didn t work with the Coronas This might be a long fight since the generals would have to figure out a way for their special soldiers to hunt the Coronas one by one SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustrations David MacNair When sprayed with this substance the Bacterios became powerless and gentle as lambs This helped win the battle faster

Eventually after spending countless hours studying the prisoner a general noticed something about these new strong Coronas besides their crown of spikes they had a strange tattoo on the bottom of their foot Illustrations David MacNair They finally had a way to recognize the Coronas The king realized he would need to train many new soldiers to find every invader It would take days of searching every room of the castle and checking every villager to make sure they caught all the Coronas SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

In the story the bad Bacterios lose the battle because of a mysterious plant Do we also have a way to fight viruses and bacteria Y es Juan your body usually learns to fight off DR ELENA DIBROV Research Associate St Boniface Hospital Research germs on its own but if it gets overwhelmed there are different medicines to treat different kinds of infections When you feel sick your doctor will ask questions about how you feel and maybe run some tests to find out what germs are making you sick Bacteria and viruses have different weak spots so we need to use different Illustrations Tadens Mpwene medicines to stop them 40 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

U sually people get rid of viruses like a cold on their own but for a few types of bad viral infections there are some special antiviral medicines Antibiotics will not help you fight infections caused by viruses Antibiotics are only helpful in killing bacteria so people should not take Illustration Tadens Mpwene them if they are sick from a virus SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 41

So if coVID 19 is a disease caused by a virus do we have antiviral medicines to fight it asks Juan U nfortunately there is no solution yet for coVID 19 because each type of new virus has different features like the tattoo from the story Illustrations Tadens Mpwene As of may 20 2020 Scientists around the world are studying this new virus to understand its specific features and maybe find a weak spot this is why it is so important to prevent infection until we find a treatment or a vaccine 42 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

about germs the students decide to take a break and have a snack Illustrations Tadens Mpwene T hat s a lot of information after washing their hands of course before continuing their research SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 43

Idriss had been wondering something during the break he thought he d heard of vaccines before I had a needle against yellow fever when I went to Africa to visit my grand parents Was it a vaccine Y DR CHRYSTYNA KALICINSKY Dept Internal Medicine Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba es your body can learn on its own to recognize and fight specific bacteria or viruses but it can take a long time and you might feel very sick for some infections that can be more harmful doctors can give a vaccine before you catch the germs to train your body Illustrations Tadens Mpwene to fight them faster 44 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

V accines train your body to fight specific bacteria or viruses they are made of tiny pieces of bacteria or virus with unique shapes called antigens on their surface like the spikes and tattoos of the coronas in the story they are too little to make you sick but your body still recognizes these antigens as a dangerous new germ and targets them for destruction with special weapons called antibodies Antibodies stick to the antigens on the new germs and help other defence cells find and kill them faster our body will remember that then if the real virus enters your body you are all ready to fight it the vaccine Illustrations Tadens Mpwene is like a training camp SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 45

But if we know that with a vaccine we won t catch the virus why don t we get it right away asks Idriss W e have all heard or read news stories about how important it is to develop a vaccine that can prevent coVID 19 But for vaccines to move from a thought or idea to a medicine that we can use it takes a lot of time there are several steps to make a vaccine and it can normally take up to 15 years In emergency situations like the coVID 19 pandemic researchers around the world work together to try to speed this up but they still have to make sure the vaccine works NUMBER OF VACCINE IDEAS 10 000 and that it is safe to use E ST I NG H UMA N T P H A SE 1 Y AN D D IS C OV E R ON TI E XP LO R A LAB T ES TI N G 2 TO 5 YEARS This is the time when researchers discover the piece of an infectious germ with special shapes antigens like the ta oos in the story They start making a vaccine to try out in experiments 46 1 TO 2 YEARS Using experiments researchers test the new vaccine in their labs If researchers see that the new vaccine works in the lab and is safe then they can plan to test it in humans SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 1 TO 2 YEARS Researchers test the new vaccine in a small group of healthy people to make sure it is safe to use 20100 volunteers Researchers study how the immune system responds If the vaccine helps people make antibodies and it is safe they can move on to the next phase of tests

I just can t wait for scientists to find a vaccine E ST I NG H UMA N T PHASE 3 against this virus 3 YEARS Researchers test the new vaccine in very large groups 1000s of volunteers to make sure there are no bad side e ects that they might miss in small group testing Illustrations Tadens Mpwene This phase brings in a wider variety of volunteers who may come in contact with the new germs in their daily life If it helps lower the number of people who get sick and side e ects are low the vaccine is almost ready to be approved for use in health care 1 VACCINE E ST I NG H UMA N T PH A S E 2 ION RE GUL AT 2 YEARS Researchers test the vaccine in larger groups of people 100s of volunteers who might be exposed to the new germs to see if the vaccine helps prevent them from ge ing sick They might also try di erent ways of giving the vaccine taking pills or ge ing a needle to see which works best If it is safe and it works to help protect people it will move on to the next phase of tests 2 YEARS 2 YEARS Now that the vaccine has been shown to be safe and we know that it works governments need to say that it is OK to use for everybody Following vaccination doctors and researchers will continue monitor the safety of the vaccine over time just to make sure everything is OK They will look at all of the information that researchers have collected Once they approve it companies can make lots of the vaccine so everyone can get it from their doctors ING M ONITOR P H A SE 4 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 47

It took some time but the king now had thousands of well trained soldiers Some of them even made special anti Coronas weapons shaped like a Y The army was now able to spot the Coronas by their tattoos and kill them They fought tirelessly for days on end The Coronas caused some damage to the castle but eventually the army destroyed them all SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustration David MacNair DEFEAT DEFEAT OF OF THE THE CORONAS CORONAS

The villagers could enjoy life again they were singing dancing the fear had disappeared life was returning to normal But the King made sure his army would always remember the Coronas in case of a future attack SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 D N THE E Illustration David MacNair The king congratulated the entire village for their hard work The castle was being repaired and everyone was ready to celebrate

HOORAY they beat them good riddance Illustrations Tadens Mpwene I hope they never come back 50 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

A ll the scientific explanations have aroused the students curiosity they have many more questions and are also eager to go back to the way things were and SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustrations Tadens Mpwene play together without worrying 51

mom tells me I should wash my hands thoroughly every hour and not put them in my mouth It seems very important says Juan MARTINE BOUCHARD President and Chief Executive Officer St Boniface Hospital T 1 2 3 18 19 20 here are many things we can do to keep ourselves and others safe from germs especially when new viruses show up it is very important to do these things so there are not too many people that get sick at the same time hand washing is the best thing we can do Wash with soap 20 seconds 52 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 Illustrations Tadens Mpwene and water for at least

M ost germs get into us through our mouths noses or eyes when we touch our face with our hands We should avoid touching our eyes nose or mouth with hands that haven t been washed and be sure to cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze either with a tissue or Illustrations Tadens Mpwene in the fold of our elbow SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 53

C oronaviruses are actually easy to kill with soaps when they are on our body and with disinfectant cleaners when they are on other surfaces If we make sure to clean the surfaces and things that we touch all the time we can keep Illustrations Tadens Mpwene ourselves safer and our hands cleaner 54 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

W e have to try to slow this new virus down so we have more time to understand it better and learn how to fight it We want to avoid having too many people sick and hospitalized at the same time to prevent our germs from spreading to other people we must stay at home as much as possible and avoid gatherings keep 2 meters away from others wear a mask when we feel sick or cannot respect the social distance then our scientists and hospital workers will have enough time to find the best Illustration Tadens Mpwene treatments SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 55

If these germs seem to be everywhere are they even on foods from the store PROF KARMIN O Dept Animal Science Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Dept Physiology Pathophysiology Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba Y es Sam veggies and fruits from grocery stores can carry germs from coming in contact with other things that might have germs like if a sick person coughs on them in stores for the new coronavirus scientists think Illustrations Tadens Mpwene that it probably doesn t live more than a few days on foods and dies when we cook our food at a very high temperature 56 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

my cat had a big cold last winter it was sneezing a lot Was it a virus could I catch a virus from my cat L DR CARISSA EMBURY HYATT Head of Pathology Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease Canadian Food Inspection Agency Government of Canada i na your cat s cold was probably caused by a virus or a bacteria A veterinarian can examine pets and do tests like a doctor would most cat colds are caused by viruses that only make cats sick A few viruses can make both cats and people sick so if your cat is sick Illustrations Tadens Mpwene it is a good idea not to hold it or wash your hands if you do SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 57

emma is worried her birthday is coming soon She is wondering why she cannot invite all of her friends over P andemics when germs spread quickly all over the world can happen for short or long periods of time But we can slow its spread for example by staying home for example castles that are very hard to find or to get into are less likely to come under attack PROF JASON KINDRACHUCK Dept Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba So emma keeping your social distances as well as limiting the number Illustrations Tadens Mpwene of people in a room will allow you to be better protected 58 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

So if we do get sick how long does it last W e know that among all the castles under attack some will fight better than others or be able to repair themselves more easily after the battle As castles get older it might be much harder the truth emma is that it could take them weeks to overcome their invaders Illustrations Tadens Mpwene depending on how bad the disease is SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 59

N ow that the children are a bit more familiar with their enemy they are ready to introduce it to the whole class they hope that just like in the story researchers around the world will join forces and quickly find a cure to rid the planet of this terrible virus Well done children says ms Laura now you have the knowledge you need to better defend yourself against viruses 60 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

Illustrations Tadens Mpwene SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 61

FOR THE WELL BEING OF OUR KIDS 1 Encourage your children to talk openly with you about the coronavirus this will help normalize any feelings and or questions your child has about coVID Sharing fact based age appropriate information can help correct misinformation children may have received from peers or other sources that may be fuelling anxiety encourage your children to come to you with any questions they have so they can get accurate information e g Why are people wearing masks Why can t I go grocery shopping with you anymore Why can t I see my friends anymore 2 Remain calm and reassuring children will look to parents and caregivers to determine how they should react 62 SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020

3 Focus on details that are relevant to children Share information about the things that you and your children can control such as hygiene practices they can do to keep themselves healthy e g wash hands cough into elbow Unless they ask don t volunteer information that might be worrisome 4 Help your child focus on things that they can do that will create a positive environment for your family and community Planning family activities e g fort making baking slumber parties taking time to stay connected to friends and family from afar help foster generosity and kindness by involving children in opportunities to help those in the community who are most vulnerable lonely e g baking treats or making meals for older family members sending a homemade card to patients and or health care workers in the hospital Source Heather MacKenzie Dept Clinical Health Psychology Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba Jo Ann Unger Kidthink Children s Mental Health Centre Inc SCIENCES MAG JUNIOR MAY 2020 63

It takes an entire community to support our children during this time of uncertainty I f I could do anything I would want to help my children better cope in this time of unparalleled uncertainty I d want to help them understand viruses that threaten our health like COVID 19 I d like tools to help me ease their fears and anxieties as they wonder why they can t play with their friends hug their grandparents or participate in their activities As a father I have also been fearful myself in not knowing the answers to the many questions my kids have asked since the pandemic began often having to search websites or ask local healthcare providers for information that is accurate and current This is why Children s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is proud to support the initiative of La Libert Newspaper and POP Comm to create this terrific illustrated resource for kids and parents to better understand viruses This home grown effort is a tribute to leadership and expertise right here in Manitoba Positive change in our community often starts with the actions of one or two innovators Sophie Gaulin and Lysiane Romain have joined forces with our own local health scientist and Children s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba CHRIM investigator Associate Professor Jean Eric Ghia as well as Stephen Jones and Meghan Kynoch from The Youth BIOlab at St Boniface Hospital Research Their goal to help ease children s stress and anxiety by explaining viruses like COVID 19 in an engaging and accessible way This magazine clearly shows how their work is driven by passion and expertise We invite you to support these efforts and those of our local caregivers and scientists while they continuecaringforkids during the fight against COVID 19 Visit goodbear ca covid19 to help Let s make anything possible Stefano Grande President and CEO Children s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba