National

Flu season getting back to normal in B.C.: Henry

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Jan, 2023 05:06 PM

VICTORIA - The influenza outbreak that resulted in the deaths of six young people in British Columbia last month is on the decline, but the provincial health officer says the flu season is far from over.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says there have been no reported deaths of young people since last month when the province experienced an unusual spike of flu-rated cases during November and December.

Join Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, for an update about the respiratory illness season in British Columbia. https://t.co/cPnOF75P8s
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) January 13, 2023

She says the flu season, which includes influenza A, influenza B and respiratory syncytial virus, usually runs from December to March, but it hit young people early and hard this year, likely due to their lack of immunity after two years of COVID-19 prevention protocols.

Henry says there were 661 new cases of COVID-19 reported over the past week, including 24 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant XBB 1.5.

However, she says the numbers of people in hospital for COVID-19 and flu-related illnesses are declining, a factor connected to the those who received a COVID-19 booster vaccine and flu shot.

Henry says she expects any surge in flu this spring will be less severe than last month when hospitals and emergency rooms were overflowing with patients.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trevali exec, contractor convicted in Burkina Faso

Perkoa mine manager Hein Frey, who is South African and worked for Trevali, received a 24-month suspended sentence. Daryl Christensen, who is South African and a manager with Trevali's contractor Byrnecut, received a 12-month suspended sentence.

Trevali exec, contractor convicted in Burkina Faso

Groundbreaking ceremony for new Newton Community Centre   

The initial construction of the Newton Community Centre will include a 10-lane 50-metre swimming pool, leisure pool, hot tubs, sauna and steam room, fitness centre, licensed childcare and multi-purpose spaces. A future phase of development is anticipated to include a library, multipurpose gymnasium and culture amenities.

Groundbreaking ceremony for new Newton Community Centre   

Boosting GST rebate appropriate: experts

After months of mounting political pressure from the NDP to help low- and modest-income Canadians facing a rising cost of living, the federal government officially announced on Tuesday it will double the GST rebate for six months. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced the federal government will expand eligibility for the one-time top-up of $500 for the Canada Housing Benefit available to renters.

Boosting GST rebate appropriate: experts

Long lineup in London as queen lies in state

Equipped with sleeping bags, books and backpacks of food, they formed a queue that was nearly four kilometres long as of 6 p.m. local time. With Westminster Palace silhouetted across the river, people waited patiently as the line wound its way past the London Eye and across Lambeth Bridge.

Long lineup in London as queen lies in state

Northeast B.C., blaze scanned to confirm perimeter

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the scan was done late Tuesday. It will also be used to identify hot spots on the east flank of the 287-square kilometre wildfire, nearest to the W.A.C. Bennet Dam and the evacuated community of Hudson's Hope.

Northeast B.C., blaze scanned to confirm perimeter

Man fatally shot in Burnaby, B.C., attack

A statement from Burnaby RCMP says the attack happened just after 11 p.m. Tuesday along a busy stretch of Hastings Street near Confederation Park. The unnamed victim died at the scene.