Interior Health (IH) has released a five-year Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap that provides long-term, strategic direction for preparing for and mitigating the health impacts of climate change. IH is committed to being a leader in creating a sustainable and resilient health-care system that equitably contributes to the well-being of clients, patients, staff, communities and the […]

By Sameer Elsayed, Professor of Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University.  First published in The Conversation. It’s been almost four years since the first human cases of COVID-19 infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 were reported. Though the global health emergency was declared over on May 5, 2023, COVID-19 remains a major […]

Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service report on illicit drug toxicity deaths in August: “Today’s BC Coroners Service report for August 2023 tells a story we have heard too often. We are not just talking about numbers, we are talking about people. We’ve […]

On International Overdose Awareness Day, Interior Health has released the 2022 Medical Health Officer (MHO) report, The Toxic Drug Crisis in BC’s Southern Interior Region (Part 2). Authored by MHO Dr. Carol Fenton, the report updates on the impact of the unregulated substance poisoning emergency since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, explores the various reasons […]

For the 13th consecutive month, more than 190 British Columbians have lost their lives to the toxic, unregulated drug supply, according to preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service. “I am saddened to once again report that British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis shows no signs of abating,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner. “We are […]

On July 6, the world’s average temperature was the hottest ever recorded, at 17.23 C. That beat the previous highs on… July 3 and 4! June was the hottest month ever, but July is shaping up to be even hotter. Experts expect more records to break over the next while, as an El Niño weather pattern combines with record emissions...

As confirmed by his parents, the BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of nine-year-old Carter Vigh of 100 Mile House, related to an existing medical condition aggravated by wildfire smoke. The sudden and unexpected death of this young boy is a heartbreaking loss for his family and community. As the province experiences...

Interior Health has issued an ADDITIONAL DRUG ALERT for Trail after a samples are believed to be connected with multiple drug poisoning events in the community causing paranoia, disorientation and decreased mobility in addition to loss of consciousness. Samples are being sent for further analysis as they contained unidentified...

Though the risk of death posed by the unregulated drug supply remains extremely high, the number of deaths in British Columbia due to drug toxicity decreased from near-record levels in April to 176 lives lost in the month of May. “BC Coroners Service findings confirm that this public-health emergency continues to be driven ...

Starting June 1, 2023, people in B.C. can get prescriptions from their pharmacist for contraceptives and medications to treat 21 minor ailments, such as allergies, shingles, cold sores, pink eye and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. “We are delivering on our commitment to give pharmacists the power to provide prescriptions,”...