flu season

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

 

Hundreds took part in a Langley-based protest against vaccine mandates and media coverage of the pandemic on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (Dan Ferguson/Black Press news services)

Year In Review: Langley saw pandemic protests, new shots, and the triple-demic

Fewer deaths, but a lot of school absences this fall as flu season hit

 

A nurse prepares a flu shot at the Salvation Army in Atlanta, Feb. 7, 2018. The B.C. Centre For Disease Control says there are signs influenza is on a “steady decline” in the province, although case numbers remain high and positive tests rates for respiratory syncytial virus continue to rise. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Goldman

B.C. disease centre says flu shows signs of decline, with no new deaths of children

171 new hospital admissions last week for patients with COVID-19, a slight decrease

 

A child with the flu can have hallucinations, but be assured these episodes can be brief and don’t require treatment, says Dr. Kathryn MacKinlay, a Pediatrician in Vernon. (Interior Heath)

This year’s flu causing hallucinations among children: B.C. pediatrician

Her daughter started experiencing hallucinations the morning after a feverish night

A child with the flu can have hallucinations, but be assured these episodes can be brief and don’t require treatment, says Dr. Kathryn MacKinlay, a Pediatrician in Vernon. (Interior Heath)
A sign directing visitors to the emergency department is shown at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Friday, May 15, 2015 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Premiers to hold virtual news conference on struggling children’s hospitals

Hospitals across the country facing increase in pediatric patients with respiratory ailments

A sign directing visitors to the emergency department is shown at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Friday, May 15, 2015 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Aa patient receives an influenza vaccine in Mesquite, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. At least five children died in British Columbia from influenza last month alone, a rise that comes as an early season of respiratory illnesses adds strain to the beleaguered health-care system.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/LM Otero

Children’s deaths from influenza up in B.C., with five mortalities last month

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an average of five to six kids died per flu season across Canada

Aa patient receives an influenza vaccine in Mesquite, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. At least five children died in British Columbia from influenza last month alone, a rise that comes as an early season of respiratory illnesses adds strain to the beleaguered health-care system.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/LM Otero
Daily hospital visits continue to increase in B.C. as cases of respiratory illness surge among kids. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

B.C. hospital visits up about 200 cases a day amid influenza surge

Province one third of the way through its flu season, Dr. Bonnie Henry says

Daily hospital visits continue to increase in B.C. as cases of respiratory illness surge among kids. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The Langley School District board offices. (Langley Advance Times files)

School absences up across Langley this fall

Flu, RSV, and COVID all circulating, as substitute teachers in short supply

The Langley School District board offices. (Langley Advance Times files)
Kate Forte kisses her daughter, Lexie Stroiney, 6, as research nurse Michelle Harris, left, demonstrates a blood draw on her stuffed animal “Sprinkles” at Children’s National Hospital, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Lexie had COVID-19 and is part of a NIH-funded multi-year study at Children’s National Hospital to look at impacts of COVID-19 on children’s physical health and quality of life. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

BC Children’s Hospital triages patients from E/R due to respiratory illness spike

Department is mostly seeing viral illnesses including COVID-19, influenza, or RSV

Kate Forte kisses her daughter, Lexie Stroiney, 6, as research nurse Michelle Harris, left, demonstrates a blood draw on her stuffed animal “Sprinkles” at Children’s National Hospital, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Lexie had COVID-19 and is part of a NIH-funded multi-year study at Children’s National Hospital to look at impacts of COVID-19 on children’s physical health and quality of life. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks at the legislature in Victoria on March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. will only consider mask mandate if new major virus emerges: public health officer

Dr. Bonnie Henry says masks were vital during COVID peak, but not as much so now

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks at the legislature in Victoria on March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presents the latest information on COVID-19 and influenza in a briefing on Sept. 28. (The Canadian Press/screenshot)

VIDEO: B.C. prepares for flu and COVID-19 this fall

Province expecting worse influenza season than seen in past 2 pandemic years

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presents the latest information on COVID-19 and influenza in a briefing on Sept. 28. (The Canadian Press/screenshot)
A bed in need of cleaning is moved in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. may move hospital patients to free up beds ahead of projected COVID, flu surge

Up to 1,800 current patients could be switched to community care or care homes, says province

A bed in need of cleaning is moved in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Island Health and pharmacies across Vancouver Island are preparing for the upcoming flu season. (Photo courtesy of Island Health)

B.C. experts predicting bad flu season as people drop masks, return to travel

Estimated 12,200 Canadians hospitalized with flu annually during pre-pandemic years

Island Health and pharmacies across Vancouver Island are preparing for the upcoming flu season. (Photo courtesy of Island Health)
Industrialized agriculture may be the main factor in the spread of avian influenza says local farmers (Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record)

UPDATE: B.C. avian flu spreading debate about bird management

Backyard poultry owners concerned about what a local outbreak means for their chickens

Industrialized agriculture may be the main factor in the spread of avian influenza says local farmers (Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record)
Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)

Avian flu in North Okanagan creates large control zone

Canadian Food Inspection Agency infected zone includes Grindrod

Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)
Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)

UPDATE: Avian flu confirmed at Okanagan farm

Canadian Food Inspection Agency tests came back positive

Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)

WEB POLL: Getting a flu shot this year?

It’s not as serious as COVID, but who wants to get sick at all?

  • Oct 15, 2021
FILE – People wear masks as they pass a pharmacy offering flu shots in downtown Calgary, Alta., Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, amid a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. doctor urges vaccines as ‘resurgence’ in flu expected to coincide with 4th COVID wave

After almost no influenza last year, flu season is expected to be severe this fall and winter

FILE – People wear masks as they pass a pharmacy offering flu shots in downtown Calgary, Alta., Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, amid a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw updates media on the COVID-19 situation in Edmonton on Friday, March 20, 2020. Alberta Health says an investigation into Canada’s first human case of a rare swine flu variant in central Alberta has determined it’s the only case in the area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Alberta Health says province has had only one human case of rare swine flu

It was the first reported case in Canada since 2005 when reporting became mandatory

Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw updates media on the COVID-19 situation in Edmonton on Friday, March 20, 2020. Alberta Health says an investigation into Canada’s first human case of a rare swine flu variant in central Alberta has determined it’s the only case in the area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A needle and syringe used to administer the flu shot in shown in Virgil, Ont., Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. At this point during last year’s flu season, Canada had already recorded 711 positive cases of influenza. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tara Walton

Flu season in Canada ‘exceptionally low’ so far, public health says

COVID-19 is proving to be worse this fall, with more than 1,400 people in hospital

A needle and syringe used to administer the flu shot in shown in Virgil, Ont., Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. At this point during last year’s flu season, Canada had already recorded 711 positive cases of influenza. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tara Walton