Health

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

 

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’

 

Lia Crowe photograph

Every body can move

The “health at every size” movement

  • May 18, 2022

 

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
In this photo provided by Pfizer, a lab technician visually inspects COVID-19 Paxlovid tablet samples in Freiburg, Germany in December 2021. As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug. (Pfizer via AP, File)

Rare cases of COVID returning pose questions for Pfizer pill

U.S. government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase pills

In this photo provided by Pfizer, a lab technician visually inspects COVID-19 Paxlovid tablet samples in Freiburg, Germany in December 2021. As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug. (Pfizer via AP, File)
Qualicum First Nation Chief Michael Recalma, left, is back on his feet after a kidney transplant in February, made possible by Qualicum Beach Coun. Scott Harrison, right, who donated his own kidney. (Michael Briones photo)

Qualicum First Nation chief makes first official appearance after kidney transplant

‘Forever friends’: Michael Recalma received donation from Coun. Scott Harrison

Qualicum First Nation Chief Michael Recalma, left, is back on his feet after a kidney transplant in February, made possible by Qualicum Beach Coun. Scott Harrison, right, who donated his own kidney. (Michael Briones photo)
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
A person eats in London on Oct. 17, 2007. The World Health Organization says the number of heavy people in Europe has hit “epidemic proportions,” with nearly 60% of adults and one third of children weighing in as either overweight or obese. In a report issued on Tuesday, the U.N. health agency’s European office said the prevalence of obesity among adults is higher across the continent than any other world region, except for the Americas. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

UN: Obesity levels in Europe at ‘epidemic proportions’

Highest rates in Turkey, Malta, Israel and Britain

A person eats in London on Oct. 17, 2007. The World Health Organization says the number of heavy people in Europe has hit “epidemic proportions,” with nearly 60% of adults and one third of children weighing in as either overweight or obese. In a report issued on Tuesday, the U.N. health agency’s European office said the prevalence of obesity among adults is higher across the continent than any other world region, except for the Americas. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
New Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping gives a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Alberta health minister says 7 of 250 surgeries transferred out of Red Deer hospital

NDP health critic says Red Deer situation is one of many staff shortages plaguing Alberta system

New Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping gives a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Possible cases of ‘unusual’ childhood hepatitis in Canada in ‘single digits’: Henry

None of the possible cases of severe acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, are in B.C

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Penelakut Tribe elder August Sylvester and his daughter Marya Luby perform a ceremonial cleansing of the MV Island Responder to rid it of evil, accompanied by captains Chris Mullin and Bob Mollet. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Official ceremony launches Island Responder into a new era

Commemoration of marine ambulance in B.C. community features Penelakut blessing

Penelakut Tribe elder August Sylvester and his daughter Marya Luby perform a ceremonial cleansing of the MV Island Responder to rid it of evil, accompanied by captains Chris Mullin and Bob Mollet. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Miranda Frigon (shown here with son Kale) is in search of a live kidney donor. She has previously had two double-lung transplants, due to the effects of cystic fibrosis, and her kidneys shut down after her second transplant in January 2020.

Abbotsford woman in search of kidney donor after two double-lung transplants

Miranda Frigon has support of hotdog king Skully White, who donated kidney in 2020

Miranda Frigon (shown here with son Kale) is in search of a live kidney donor. She has previously had two double-lung transplants, due to the effects of cystic fibrosis, and her kidneys shut down after her second transplant in January 2020.
Travelers wait in a security line at Love Field in Dallas, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The major airlines and many of the busiest airports dropped their mask requirements after a Florida judge struck down the CDC mandate and the Transportation Security Administration announced it wouldn’t enforce its 2021 security directive. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Most people in U.S. want masks for travellers: AP-NORC poll

Polling shows a wide partisan divide on the mask issue

Travelers wait in a security line at Love Field in Dallas, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The major airlines and many of the busiest airports dropped their mask requirements after a Florida judge struck down the CDC mandate and the Transportation Security Administration announced it wouldn’t enforce its 2021 security directive. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
This 1974 microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows changes in cells indicative of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Some doctors say it’s time to rename low-grade prostate cancer to eliminate the alarming C word. About 34,000 Americans die from prostate cancer annually, but most prostate cancers are harmless. A paper published Monday, April 18, 2022 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology is reviving a debate about dropping the word “cancer” when patients learn the results of these low-risk biopsy findings. (Dr. Edwin P. Ewing, Jr./CDC via AP)

Doctors suggest new names for low-grade prostate cancer

Medical professionals look to eliminate alarming word

This 1974 microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows changes in cells indicative of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Some doctors say it’s time to rename low-grade prostate cancer to eliminate the alarming C word. About 34,000 Americans die from prostate cancer annually, but most prostate cancers are harmless. A paper published Monday, April 18, 2022 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology is reviving a debate about dropping the word “cancer” when patients learn the results of these low-risk biopsy findings. (Dr. Edwin P. Ewing, Jr./CDC via AP)
Alanna driscoll - Lia Crowe photography

Strength is your foundation

Alanna Driscoll, owner of Evolved Strength training studio

  • Apr 15, 2022
Alanna driscoll - Lia Crowe photography
The current Tofino General Hospital was established in 1954. (Westerly News file photo)

Tofino’s diagnosis: this community needs a new hospital

Push growing to replace current West Coast health facility that is nearly 70 years old

The current Tofino General Hospital was established in 1954. (Westerly News file photo)