Health

Free range chickens are seen in Abbortsford, B.C. Monday, March 28, 2011. Over the last few months, Canadians have been hearing about the spread of H5N1 avian flu, taking an enormous toll on poultry farms across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

What we know about H5N1 avian flu and the risk to humans

Risk to humans remains low despite spread among poultry

 

Alberta Health Services has launched a new EMS-811 Shared Response program. (Advocate file photo)

Non-urgent 911 medical calls are now being sent to Health Link

Alberta’s latest initiative to free up ambulances and provide the appropriate level of care

 

A mobile mammography unit will be making its way to Stettler in early February. (Photo submitted)

Mobile mammography clinic making its way to Stettler in February

Mobile clinic will be in town Feb. 1-8,2023

  • Jan 18, 2023

 

Red Deer mom Abby Ward holds baby Mavis for her flu immunization on October 17. (AHS photo)

Flu immunization clinics on the way to Stettler

Alberta Health Services (AHS) will begin holding flu immunization clinics across the…

  • Nov 1, 2022
Red Deer mom Abby Ward holds baby Mavis for her flu immunization on October 17. (AHS photo)
Photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control

Sex pods? Long sleeves? Americans try to cut monkeypox risk while waiting for shots

People adapt their behaviour as vaccine availability fails to meet demand

Photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control
A woman walks by a sign during the AIDS 2022 conference in Montreal, Sunday, July 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Federal government announces $18M for HIV testing at Montreal AIDS conference

Number of Canadians living with HIV has risen by 25 per cent since 2008, says advocacy organization

A woman walks by a sign during the AIDS 2022 conference in Montreal, Sunday, July 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
In the image from video provided by Notre Dame Law School, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Altio speaks at the Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Summit in Rome, on July 21, 2022. Alito mocked foreign leaders’ criticism of the Supreme Court decision he authored overturning a constitutional right to abortion, in his first public comments since last month’s ruling.(Notre Dame Law School via AP)

VIDEO: U.S. Justice mocks Trudeau, other foreign leaders critical of Roe v. Wade overturning

Justice Samuel Altio made remarks at religious liberty conference in Rome

In the image from video provided by Notre Dame Law School, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Altio speaks at the Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Summit in Rome, on July 21, 2022. Alito mocked foreign leaders’ criticism of the Supreme Court decision he authored overturning a constitutional right to abortion, in his first public comments since last month’s ruling.(Notre Dame Law School via AP)
Carolyn Bennett rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 10, 2022. Canada’s minister of mental health and addictions says more doctors across the country should be willing to prescribe a safer supply of drugs instead of fearing they will be investigated by their regulatory colleges.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

More doctors across Canada should prescribe safer drugs to reduce overdoses: minister

Physicians who prescribe pharmaceutical-grade alternatives could better support patients: college

Carolyn Bennett rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 10, 2022. Canada’s minister of mental health and addictions says more doctors across the country should be willing to prescribe a safer supply of drugs instead of fearing they will be investigated by their regulatory colleges.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
This 2014 illustration made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention depicts a polio virus particle. On Thursday, July 21, 2022, New York health officials reported a polio case, the first in the U.S. in nearly a decade. (Sarah Poser, Meredith Boyter Newlove/CDC via AP)

New York reports 1st US polio case in nearly a decade

Polio was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 1979, meaning there was no longer routine spread

This 2014 illustration made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention depicts a polio virus particle. On Thursday, July 21, 2022, New York health officials reported a polio case, the first in the U.S. in nearly a decade. (Sarah Poser, Meredith Boyter Newlove/CDC via AP)
This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a monkeypox virion, obtained from a sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says the province has identified a case of monkeypox. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner, CDC

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health confirms province’s first monkeypox case

On Wednesday, Quebec confirmed 52 monkeypox cases

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a monkeypox virion, obtained from a sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says the province has identified a case of monkeypox. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner, CDC
B.C. Premier John Horgan, left, and Health Minister Adrian Dix listen during an announcement to mark the start of construction on the redevelopment and modernization of the Burnaby Hospital, in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, May 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. starts Burnaby Hospital upgrade as rural hospitals face weekend ward closures

Hospitals at Clearwater, Port McNeill closed temporarily, Burnaby gets $1.3 billion upgrade

B.C. Premier John Horgan, left, and Health Minister Adrian Dix listen during an announcement to mark the start of construction on the redevelopment and modernization of the Burnaby Hospital, in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, May 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. WHO’s top monkeypox expert Dr. Rosamund Lewis said she doesn’t expect the hundreds of cases reported to date to turn into another pandemic, but acknowledged there are still many unknowns about the disease, including how exactly it’s spreading and whether the suspension of mass smallpox immunization decades ago may somehow be speeding its transmission. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP, File)

WHO: Monkeypox won’t turn into pandemic, but many unknowns

‘We are concerned that individuals may acquire this infection through high-risk exposure’

FILE - This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. WHO’s top monkeypox expert Dr. Rosamund Lewis said she doesn’t expect the hundreds of cases reported to date to turn into another pandemic, but acknowledged there are still many unknowns about the disease, including how exactly it’s spreading and whether the suspension of mass smallpox immunization decades ago may somehow be speeding its transmission. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP, File)
Spallanzani infectious disease hospital director Francesco Vaia talks to reporters during a press conference, in Rome, Friday, May 20, 2022. Vaia said that three cases of monkeypox have been confirmed and isolated at the Spallanzani hospital in two patients who traveled to the Canary islands, and one to Vienna. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

African scientists baffled by monkeypox cases in Europe, US

France, Germany, Belgium and Australia confirmed their first cases of monkeypox on Friday

Spallanzani infectious disease hospital director Francesco Vaia talks to reporters during a press conference, in Rome, Friday, May 20, 2022. Vaia said that three cases of monkeypox have been confirmed and isolated at the Spallanzani hospital in two patients who traveled to the Canary islands, and one to Vienna. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. Public health authorities will provide an update today on the suspected presence of monkeypox cases in Montreal. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)

Health officials say ‘strong possibility’ of 17 monkeypox cases in Montreal area

‘This is not something we can acquire by going to the grocery store’

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. Public health authorities will provide an update today on the suspected presence of monkeypox cases in Montreal. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)
Vaping devices are displayed at a store in New York, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. The Canadian government is in the midst of reviewing the legislation that legalized vaping for the first time since it was passed in 2018, and appears to be veering away from the narrow path between treating vapes as a harm reduction tool and danger in and of itself. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mary Altaffer

Government’s changing vape strategy shifts focus away from cigarettes, advocates fear

Harms of vaping relative to smoking tobacco cigarettes are still something of a mystery

Vaping devices are displayed at a store in New York, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. The Canadian government is in the midst of reviewing the legislation that legalized vaping for the first time since it was passed in 2018, and appears to be veering away from the narrow path between treating vapes as a harm reduction tool and danger in and of itself. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mary Altaffer
Emerson and Amelia Nelson are seen in a handout photo. Their mother hopes the siblings and other children with ADHD get support through B.C.’s new service “hubs” for neurodiverse children. But Jaymie Nelson is concerned about possible wait lists and staffing issues in the new system, set to be launched next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Rochelle Hepworth

B.C. to launch ‘circle of care’ for neurodiverse kids but parents have many questions

40 family connections centres, or hubs, are slated to be opened across the province

Emerson and Amelia Nelson are seen in a handout photo. Their mother hopes the siblings and other children with ADHD get support through B.C.’s new service “hubs” for neurodiverse children. But Jaymie Nelson is concerned about possible wait lists and staffing issues in the new system, set to be launched next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Rochelle Hepworth
Dr. Andrew Bui-Nguyen poses in the treatment room of one the two clinical sites in Montreal, Sunday, May 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes.

First patient in Quebec gets approval from Health Canada for magic mushroom therapy

Clinic to become first health-care facility in Quebec to legally treat depression with psilocybin

Dr. Andrew Bui-Nguyen poses in the treatment room of one the two clinical sites in Montreal, Sunday, May 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney provides details on sustainable helicopter air ambulance funding in Calgary on Friday, March 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta says 19 of 50 new ICU beds are available, but hospitals still under strain

New beds address Alberta’s status as having Canada’s lowest number of intensive care beds per capita

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney provides details on sustainable helicopter air ambulance funding in Calgary on Friday, March 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Health Canada has recalled a lot each of Pharmasave Advanced Relief Eye Drops and Compliments Advanced Relief Eye Drops over a packaging error. (Courtesy Health Canada)

Health Canada recalls eye drops with some ingredients missing from labels

Packing error left some possibly allergy-inducing ingredients off bottles

Health Canada has recalled a lot each of Pharmasave Advanced Relief Eye Drops and Compliments Advanced Relief Eye Drops over a packaging error. (Courtesy Health Canada)
Lia Crowe photo

Dream on

No lullaby required: tips for harnessing the power of sleep

  • May 4, 2022
Lia Crowe photo