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CTV News
19-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Mosquito study underway in B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region after scattering of severe illness
A small number of virus cases in B.C. last year has triggered a study in the Sea-to-Sky region of mosquito populations and the diseases they may carry. A small number of virus cases in B.C. last year has triggered a study in the Sea-to-Sky region of mosquito populations and the diseases they may carry. A small-scale mosquito surveillance project is being launched in B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region to better understand the mosquitos in the area and what diseases they may be carrying. The project, launched by Vancouver Coastal Health in collaboration with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, Líl̓wat Nation, Squamish Nation and the University of B.C., was prompted after a spate of mosquito-borne illness was reported in the region late last year. 'Late last year in the fall, we were notified of a small cluster of individuals who were diagnosed with an illness known as California Serogroup, and they had all presented with severe neurological symptoms of encephalitis,' said Dr. Moliehi Khaketla, medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health. Encephalitis is an autoimmune response that leads to a swelling of the brain. According to Khaketla, the majority of people who contact the virus show 'mild to no symptoms' and it is only 'a very small proportion' of individuals that have these severe neurological presentations. While the specific infection was not new to the province, it was notable that four cases occurred over the course of one summer and that the severity of those cases meant the infected required hospitalization, said Khaketla. Prior to these four cases, there had been only three cases of California Serogroup reported since 2009. 'We decided to investigate to better understand if these individuals had acquired this illness while traveling to another area, or if they had stayed locally in B.C., and we determined that they had all likely acquired this new emerging pathogen locally in the Sea-to-Sky region, which was new,' said Khaketla. The project, due to last three months, may be extended to allow surveys of other regions in B.C. if new cases arise. 'Because this is an emerging pathogen, this is our first step to being able to better understand this problem,' Khaketla said. 'Depending on how these results go, and if we see new additional cases this summer of this illness, it may prompt other regions across B.C. to conduct something similar.' As the study gets underway, VCH is highlighting the importance of preventing mosquito bites and the various ways that they can be protected against. Khaketla recommends wearing mosquito repellents, wearing clothing that covers more skin – like full-length pants or long-sleeved shirts – installing screens on windows and avoiding being outdoors during times when mosquitoes are more active, typically around dusk and dawn. Removing sources of stagnant water, where mosquitos can breed, may also remove the risk, he said. 'That could be simple things like removing the water under saucers or flowerpots, or changing bird baths, or unblocking your rain gutters, things like that,' he said.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles spread 'like wildfire' among unvaccinated children in northeast B.C., health officer says
A pocket of unvaccinated children in northeast B.C. allowed cases of measles in the region to spread "like wildfire," says B.C.'s deputy provincial health officer, Dr. Martin Lavoie. He made the remarks during a provincial update on the disease that has seen multiple exposures reported in and around Fort St. John, including at an elementary school, emergency room and prenatal clinic. "If the virus finds people who are not immunized, it will start infecting," Lavoie said during the July 10 presentation given to media. Over the past weeks, he added, "the virus has found communities or pockets of population that are large enough in numbers to allow the virus to all of a sudden, I would say, explode or start like a wildfire ... and then it takes some time before it dies off and runs its course." The risks of allowing it to spread, he said, included serious disease or even death. According to provincial numbers, there is currently just one case of measles still active in the province. But as of July 8, 10 people were hospitalized due to the virus, with a total of 102 confirmed cases provincewide this year. That's the highest number in more than a decade, though still significantly less than a 2014 outbreak centred around B.C.'s Fraser Valley that resulted in 344 confirmed cases. In that case, the epicentre of the disease was at a school where about 360 students from kindergarten to grade 12 were infected, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Lavoie said the outbreak in northeast B.C. had followed a similar pattern, with the first case believed to be travel-related. From there, an exposure was reported at an elementary school in the community of Wonowon, around 90 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John. Subsequent exposures were then reported at shops and businesses, as well as at Fort St. John's emergency room and prenatal clinic for pregnant mothers. The majority of those infected were under 18, provincial data shows, making up 70 per cent of known infections. The actual number is likely higher, Lavoie said, as many cases are known to go unreported. Six of the 10 confirmed hospitalization cases in B.C. are located in Northern Health, with one in each of the four other health regions. Lavoie said because the population of northeast B.C. is smaller than the Fraser Valley, he did not expect total infections to climb as high as they had in 2014, though he warned there was still a risk of travel-related infections bringing it to other locations. He also noted that the virus was able to spread so successfully because it has been roughly 20 years since measles were in the region in any significant numbers, so there was an entire generation of unvaccinated people ready to be infected. Northern Health's chief medical health officer, Dr. Jong Kim, said the bulk of the infections had occurred in known "under-immunized, vulnerable communities," but he hoped the peak of infection had already been seen, with cases now on the decline. He also said outreach efforts were underway to communities in the region that are deemed to be most at risk of future outbreaks. According to the local school district, the school where the initial measles outbreak took place is 90 per cent Russian or German-speaking, in an area with religious communities who may not undergo regular vaccine schedules. Lavoie said B.C.'s immunization rate of about 84 per cent was quite good but not perfect, while B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said getting immunized is the best thing B.C. residents can do to protect themselves and others. Alberta experiencing highest per-capita measles rate in North America B.C. released its latest case figures one day after Alberta had reported 1,230 infections since March. While Ontario has reported the highest absolute number of cases with 2,244 confirmed infections since October, Alberta leads not only Canada, but also North America on a per-capita basis. Lavoie said his office isn't concerned that B.C. could be facing a similar situation."So we are very close to Alberta, of course, so they could be a source [of measles] for us as people travel back and forth," he said. "We think our coverage rates are actually not in a bad place. I said they were good, not perfect, so I would doubt we would see something that big." Lavoie also acknowledged the high case count in Ontario and urged British Columbians to protect themselves. Ontario reported last Thursday that an eighth infant had been born with congenital measles since the outbreak began last fall. Infants can contract congenital measles in the womb through their mothers who are not vaccinated, resulting in severe complications, including inflammation of the brain and death. The latest data in Ontario shows 48 pregnant people have been infected with measles, and Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, announced in early June that an infant born prematurely and infected with measles in southwestern Ontario had died. Dr. Jennifer Vines, public health physician at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said during Thursday's update that B.C. has not yet seen such a case. "But we are preparing for it by engaging pregnancy experts to prepare for everything we need to know on how to manage measles in pregnancy … so we can be prepared for this unfortunate possibility," Vines said. Vines said the Ontario congenital cases reinforce the importance of everybody getting vaccinated, "but in particular, anyone who is pregnant, who knows they are susceptible to measles, getting quick follow-up if they think they have had a measles exposure, or seeking advice right away from their pregnancy provider." Lavoie said people who are pregnant and infants, including children less than 12 months old, are at risk of being infected with measles. Pregnant women and young children under the age of five also fall among the groups with a higher risk of complications and death. Officials say those who have received two doses of the vaccine against measles should be fully protected, and that extends to babies born to vaccinated mothers, though infants should also follow recommended vaccine schedules.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
B.C.'s health minister to provide update on measles cases amid new exposures
B.C.'s health minister is set to provide an update on measles cases in the province Thursday morning. It comes as officials warn of new potential exposures to the highly contagious disease. According to the latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, there is currently one active case in the Fraser Health region. There have been 99 cases so far in 2025, most of which were in the Northern Health region. Officials are warning of a number of potential new exposures. The first was at the Fort St. John Prenatal Clinic on June 27 between 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. There were also reports at the Fort St. John Hospital emergency department on July 4 from 3:30 p.m. to July 5 at 2 a.m., July 1 from 4:35 a.m. to 6:05 a.m., and from 6:35 p.m. to July 2 at 12:03 a.m. Cases are at a 27-year high in Canada, with more than 3,700 reported. Alberta has the most infections in North America on a per capita basis, with more than 1,200 cases since March. Since the introduction of the measles vaccine, rates of infections have dropped greatly in Canada and around the world. However, measles is making a resurgence as immunization rates decline. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red and inflamed eyes that are often sensitive to light. These symptoms are followed by a rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs. The rash lasts about four to seven days and there may also be small white spots inside the mouth. Symptoms can start between seven and 21 days after a person is infected with the measles virus. Measles is a serious illness that can also lead to complications including pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and even death. If you have confirmed measles, you're asked to stay home and isolate for at least four days after the rash first appeared.
CTV News
23-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
New UBC study reveals health dangers when extreme heat and smoke collide
As wildfires burn across the country and temperatures continue to climb, many Canadians are likely to face a mix of smoky skies and intense heat this summer. New research from the University of British Columbia suggests that combination may pose a particularly serious threat to human health. The study—led by Dr. Sarah Henderson, professor at UBC's School of Population and Public Health and scientific director at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control—looked at how simultaneous exposure to wildfire smoke and high temperatures can impact illness and death rates. Henderson and her team looked at more than 21,000 deaths that occurred outside hospitals and care facilities in the greater Vancouver area over 13 wildfire seasons, from 2010 to 2022. 'There was a higher risk on those days that were both hot and smoky,' said Henderson. However, she says the relationship between heat and smoke isn't straightforward. While smoke-related health risks climb quickly at moderate exposure and then tend to level off, she says the dangers linked to extreme heat keep rising sharply. Henderson says the data suggests that high temperatures by themselves are more harmful to health than smoke exposure during milder conditions. However, Henderson says the threat smoke poses cannot be taken lightly. 'There's often a lot of focus on wildfire smoke on those days when the sky turns orange and everything smells like a campfire,' she said. 'But we found that there was risk on days when people might not even realize that it's a little bit smoky.' Henderson says their research showed that during the 2021 heat dome that killed more than 600 British Columbians, people with schizophrenia were the most at risk, because they often have a hard time realizing that they are unwell. People living in poverty and older adults with underlying health conditions were also high-risk, according to Henderson. She says keeping the air in your home as cool and clean as possible will give you the best chance to stay healthy. Henderson suggests air conditioners, indoor air cleaners and sealing up potential openings to keep the smoke out. Though she acknowledges that not everyone may have the ability to do that. 'If you can keep one room of your home cool and smoke free as possible, and spend time there when you need to, you will be protecting your health,' she said.
