Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. poultry staff told to vaccinate against flu as avian strains spread among birds

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Nov, 2023 05:40 PM
  • B.C. poultry staff told to vaccinate against flu as avian strains spread among birds

British Columbia's provincial health officer says people living or working on poultry farms should "prioritize" getting influenza vaccinations as avian flu spreads among flocks this fall.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says while avian flu does not transmit easily from birds to humans, infections "can happen and are very concerning" because of the potential for the virus to mix with human influenza and mutate into something much more contagious.

Henry told a news briefing that health officials are well aware of the risks if a human becomes infected with both avian flu and standard influenza strains, and that is why people connected to poultry farms are being asked to vaccinate against the human strains right away.

The number of B.C. poultry flocks infected with avian flu has grown dramatically in recent weeks, with Canadian Food Inspection Agency data showing nine commercial infected zones, mostly in the Fraser Valley.

Provincial trends for other respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 have meanwhile slowed, with data from the BC Centre for Disease Control showing sharp drops in hospitalization, deaths and positivity rates for the coronavirus.

However, Henry is warning residents to remain vigilant, with COVID-19 outbreaks continuing in hospitals.

Island Health said in a statement earlier Thursday that an outbreak had been declared at the centre unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital, with 15 patients infected and all experiencing mild illness.

There are also ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks at Abbotsford Regional and Chilliwack General hospitals in the Fraser Health region. 

The CDC says there were 144 new COVID-19 hospitalizations in the week ending Nov. 4, fewer than half the 296 hospitalizations three weeks earlier.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, slain B.C. Sikh leader at heart of diplomatic crisis?

Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, slain B.C. Sikh leader at heart of diplomatic crisis?
On June 18, Hardeep Singh Nijjar phoned his eldest son for the last time, to say he was on his way home for dinner. Nijjar is now at the heart of a diplomatic crisis between India and Canada, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that intelligence services were investigating "credible" information about "a potential link" between India's government and the killing.

Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, slain B.C. Sikh leader at heart of diplomatic crisis?

Park ranger assaulted: VPD

Park ranger assaulted: VPD
Police in Vancouver say a woman is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a park ranger who was working in the city's Oppenheimer Park. They say the 39-year-old was arrested yesterday morning.  

Park ranger assaulted: VPD

Bus assault in New Westminster

Bus assault in New Westminster
New Westminster Police are seeking witnesses after a person was assaulted by a group of young people onboard a bus. Police say the victim suffered minor injuries from the incident, which happened around 6:30 p-m Sunday.

Bus assault in New Westminster

Canada signs $3-billion deal to finance nuclear power in Romania

Canada signs $3-billion deal to finance nuclear power in Romania
Canada is helping to finance two new nuclear reactors in Romania, which that country's energy minister says will help diminish Russia's ability to use its energy exports as a weapon. Canadian Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson signed the $3-billion deal with his Romanian counterpart, Sebastian Burduja, in Ottawa today.  

Canada signs $3-billion deal to finance nuclear power in Romania

Sikh community 'reeling' on news of India interference in death: B.C.'s AG says

Sikh community 'reeling' on news of India interference in death: B.C.'s AG says
British Columbia's attorney general says the community is reeling over news that the Canadian government is investigating a link between the shooting death of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the government of India, although insiders say it's not a surprise.  Niki Sharma says the link is shocking and every B.C. resident has the freedom to express their political views without the threat of violence and harm. 

Sikh community 'reeling' on news of India interference in death: B.C.'s AG says

15 charged in PNE riots

15 charged in PNE riots
Vancouver police say 15 people have been charged with mischief for riot-like violence when a headline performer suddenly pulled out of a music festival at the P-N-E last summer. Police say the resulting mayhem and property destruction caused an estimated 300-thousand dollars damage at the P-N-E amphitheatre and in the surrounding neighbourhood.

15 charged in PNE riots