Health

British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix says the province is experiencing unusually high demand for emergency medical services - even before the cold-and-flu season begins - and the situation may be a “new normal.” Dix speaks during an announcement, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, June 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

ER activity spike may be B.C.’s new normal: Dix

9,700 people in B.C. emergency care, about 700 more than usual

 

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

COVID outbreak at B.C. hospital results in one death

Four people have been infected since the outbreak was declared Monday, Aug. 28

 

Dr. Stuart Turvey poses in this undated handout photo. Dr. Stuart Turvey says a new study suggests four major types of childhood allergies — eczema, asthma, hay fever and food allergies — are linked to an imbalance of bacteria the gut. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - University of British Columbia

Infant antibiotics tied to eczema, asthma, food allergies

Canadian study finds medication can wipe out protective bacteria and introduce harmful ones

 

People attend a Red Dress Day ceremony marking the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited people in Canada, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, May 5, 2022. Racism and the lack of primary care providers mean off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit females have poorer health overall compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts, says a study by the Public Health Agency of Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Racism factor in unequal health care provided Indigenous women: PHAC study

‘Colonialism isn’t historic, it’s ongoing — these harms are continuing and they’re perpetuated still’

People attend a Red Dress Day ceremony marking the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited people in Canada, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, May 5, 2022. Racism and the lack of primary care providers mean off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit females have poorer health overall compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts, says a study by the Public Health Agency of Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Newly appointed Health Minister Mark Holland says accountability for new federal health funding will largely come from Canadians themselves. Holland smiles as he makes his way to a cabinet shuffle, in Ottawa, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Ottawa ‘shouldn’t walk around with a stick’ to enforce health deals: Holland

All provinces except Quebec accepted a $198-billion deal in principle earlier this year

Newly appointed Health Minister Mark Holland says accountability for new federal health funding will largely come from Canadians themselves. Holland smiles as he makes his way to a cabinet shuffle, in Ottawa, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
This court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook from Aug. 10, 2023 shows of nurse Lucy Letby at Manchester Crown Court in Manchester, England. A neonatal nurse in a British hospital has been found guilty of killing seven babies and trying to kill six others. Lucy Letby was charged with murder in the deaths of five baby boys and two girls, and the attempted murder of five boys and five girls, when she worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England between 2015 and 2016. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

Neonatal nurse in a British hospital found guilty of killing 7 babies

Lucy Letby also tried to kill 6 others in a ‘complete betrayal of trust’

This court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook from Aug. 10, 2023 shows of nurse Lucy Letby at Manchester Crown Court in Manchester, England. A neonatal nurse in a British hospital has been found guilty of killing seven babies and trying to kill six others. Lucy Letby was charged with murder in the deaths of five baby boys and two girls, and the attempted murder of five boys and five girls, when she worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England between 2015 and 2016. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)
A new survey says an alarming number of kids age 12 and older have been treated for drug overdoses in Canada. Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Kids overdosing is a public health emergency, Canadian pediatricians say

Overdoses leading cause of death of those between 10 and 18 years old in Western Canada

A new survey says an alarming number of kids age 12 and older have been treated for drug overdoses in Canada. Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Surgeons at NYU Langone Health prepare to transplant a pig’s kidney into a brain-dead man in New York on July 14, 2023. Researchers around the country are racing to learn how to use animal organs to save human lives. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Pig kidney works in donor body marking step toward animal-human transplants

Researchers are breaking new ground in the scicne of using animals to save human lives

Surgeons at NYU Langone Health prepare to transplant a pig’s kidney into a brain-dead man in New York on July 14, 2023. Researchers around the country are racing to learn how to use animal organs to save human lives. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)
A marine layer hangs in the air as a SeaBus passenger ferry crosses Burrard Inlet, in Vancouver, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. As temperature records are shattered across southern British Columbia this week amid a scorching heat wave, the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC is sounding the alarm about the ongoing risks to animals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. wildlife association reports uptick in heat-related calls

Group offers advice as health issues, clashes with people and pets climb with the temperature

A marine layer hangs in the air as a SeaBus passenger ferry crosses Burrard Inlet, in Vancouver, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. As temperature records are shattered across southern British Columbia this week amid a scorching heat wave, the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC is sounding the alarm about the ongoing risks to animals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Midwife Terah Leah cuts the umbilical cord of a child of after a home birth. File photo courtesy Foothills Midwifery

New deal for B.C. midwives increases wages, provides Indigenous support

Midwives Association of British Columbia voted 99 per cent support for the agreement

Midwife Terah Leah cuts the umbilical cord of a child of after a home birth. File photo courtesy Foothills Midwifery
Seniors wait after receiving a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Montreal on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Health Canada has approved the first vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults age 60 and over. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Health Canada approves first RSV vaccine for adults age 60 and over

Arexvy found to be 82 per cent effective at preventing lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV

Seniors wait after receiving a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Montreal on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Health Canada has approved the first vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults age 60 and over. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
From left, Leanne Nicholson, Mike Taylor, Ken Taylor, Ann Taylor and Sherrie Taylor in a family photo. Ken Taylor needs a kidney and the family is asking for the public’s help in finding a living donor. Submitted photo

Family seeking organ donation for former Boundary resident

Family of Ken Taylor asking for someone to become a living kidney donor

From left, Leanne Nicholson, Mike Taylor, Ken Taylor, Ann Taylor and Sherrie Taylor in a family photo. Ken Taylor needs a kidney and the family is asking for the public’s help in finding a living donor. Submitted photo
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks during an announcement, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, June 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Cyberattack on B.C. health websites may have taken personal information

240,000 email addresses may have had their personal data compromised

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks during an announcement, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, June 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - This undated, colorized electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, indicated in yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, indicated in blue/pink, cultured in a laboratory. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)

Long COVID struggles persist, new treatment studies bring hope

U.S. investing in research to address brain fog and other long COVID symptoms affecting millions

FILE - This undated, colorized electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, indicated in yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, indicated in blue/pink, cultured in a laboratory. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)
BCEHS paramedic public information officer Brian Twaites (Photo Submitted by BCEHS)

911 calls for severe allergic reactions nearly double in summer: BCEHS

Paramedics urge vigilance for people at risk of anaphylaxis

BCEHS paramedic public information officer Brian Twaites (Photo Submitted by BCEHS)
New Health Canada regulations that require warning labels to be printed on individual cigarettes are coming into effect tomorrow. An example of cigarette packaging with expanded warnings, including a warning printed on the cigarettes themselves, is shown on a screen after a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, June 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

New Canadian cigarette warning labels come into effect this week

‘Poison in every puff’ among messages as feds aim to deter kids, convert parents

New Health Canada regulations that require warning labels to be printed on individual cigarettes are coming into effect tomorrow. An example of cigarette packaging with expanded warnings, including a warning printed on the cigarettes themselves, is shown on a screen after a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, June 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Vernon’s Heron Grove long-term care facility is one of seven long-term care facilities in B.C. operated by Good Samaritan Canada – and one of four in the Okanagan-Shuswap – where Hospital Employees’ Union members have voted overwhelminly in favour of strike action. (Black Press - file photo)

HEU members at 7 B.C. care facilities vote yes to strike

98 per cent vote in favour of job action to back demands for new deal with Good Samaritan Canada

Vernon’s Heron Grove long-term care facility is one of seven long-term care facilities in B.C. operated by Good Samaritan Canada – and one of four in the Okanagan-Shuswap – where Hospital Employees’ Union members have voted overwhelminly in favour of strike action. (Black Press - file photo)
Hazy skies over Terrace on July 8, as Environment Canada issued an air quality statement for the city amid wildfire smoke across northwest B.C. (Kevin Shenanaganz Bolton/Facebook)

Wildfire smoke highlights need for better ventilation in public spaces

Experts say estimates indicate wildfires will increase 25 per cent by 2030

Hazy skies over Terrace on July 8, as Environment Canada issued an air quality statement for the city amid wildfire smoke across northwest B.C. (Kevin Shenanaganz Bolton/Facebook)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on January 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Feds looking for input on new law to improve safety in long-term care

Legislation is also a condition of the Liberals’ supply-and-confidence deal with the NDP

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on January 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
B.C.’s only FASD clinic is located in The People Place in Vernon. (Bowen Assman- Morning Star Photo)

Lack of funding to sink B.C.’s only FASD clinic in Vernon

“If we close, patients with FASD will be lost and will be hard or impossible to recreate.”

B.C.’s only FASD clinic is located in The People Place in Vernon. (Bowen Assman- Morning Star Photo)