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Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Choking smoke in city ranks worst in Canada; health expert sounds alarm
Much of Manitoba had the worst air quality in Canada Thursday, as researchers warn the long-term effects of the smog are not yet fully realized. 'We know that there's increases in things like heart attacks and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest when it's smoky outside. We are learning about the neurological symptoms and we are learning more about the metabolic effects,' said Sarah Henderson, the scientific director of Environmental Health Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control during a virtual Thursday news conference to provide an update on Canada's wildfire situation. 'The key message here is that smoke affects the entire body.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Smoke hangs over the Red River as people walk the River Trail at The Forks on Thursday. AQMap, a site which compiles data on air quality from Environment and Climate Change Canada, showed parts of Winnipeg registered 269 Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) Thursday afternoon. Areas in Saskatchewan registered second at 239 PM2.5. Anything above 100 PM2.5 is considered very unhealthy. Winnipeg set a record for it's smokiest year to date. The city had recorded 306 smoke hours as of Tuesday, compared with 304 in 1961. People with medical conditions such as asthma, COPD, chronic heart diseases and chronic kidney disease are all at a heightened risk for complications, but birth outcomes could also be affected. 'We know that there are birth outcomes associated with smoke exposures, so there is a higher risk of pre term birth for infants who were exposed to smoke well in utero. We know that there's a higher risk of potential stillbirth,' Henderson said. With drought-like conditions fuelling wildfires across Manitoba and smoke in the long-term forecast, Henderson said the only option is for people to protect themselves against exposure. 'The No. 1 piece of information that you will hear is go inside and close the windows and doors. That may help to protect people somewhat, but it is not enough,' she said. Using indoor air purifiers and wearing masks are good ways to reduce smoke exposure, Henderson said. Andrew Halayko, a professor of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba's Max Rady College of Medicine and Canada Research chair in lung pathobiology and treatment, said areas in Manitoba that were historically polluted could be greatly affected. Halayko pointed to communities such as Flin Flon, which has a long history of mining and resource extraction and has polluted the nearby ground with heavy metals such as lead, mercury and selenium. A fire in the region in late May forced the evacuation of the city, located about 760 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. 'What happens to those metals when they're released from the soil? Do they somehow chemically interact with particles that we're inhaling? So now there's an element to that particular smoke that's more toxic,' he said. 'These are questions we don't know.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Winnipeg had recorded 306 smoke hours as of Tuesday, compared with 304 in 1961. Halayko is in the process of acquiring grants to further research how wildfire smoke interacts with other toxins, such as vehicle exhaust, and how it affects human health. The professor said he's also worried about how wildfire smoke will affect people psychologically; the directive to stay indoors is reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic and is changing social behaviours. It also adds a layer of stress to those who live near wildfires but not close enough to be evacuated. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. 'I think you would just increase the all these stressors on your day-to-day life. People think, 'That fire, although not in my backyard, is it actually going to take out the electricity to my town?' 'And what about people who are displaced? Maybe you've never been to Winnipeg. Never been in a large city. You're now being asked to sleep in large rooms like the convention centre on cots (alongside) people that you don't necessarily know. It's incredibly devastating to those people. It's got to be traumatic.' Halayko speculated that there could be some urban migration in Manitoba due to repeated wildfires in the North, but Henderson stopped short of telling residents to make moving plans. 'We know we cannot predict where and when smoke will be, and so it's really about learning to live with smoke when it occurs and developing that population scale resiliency, and thinking through all of the ways that we can reduce our exposure,' she said. Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom as a multimedia producer in 2023. Read more about Nicole. Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
National Observer
11-07-2025
- Health
- National Observer
Ten British Columbians in hospital with measles as disease spreads in north
Ten people are hospitalized with measles in British Columbia, with one active, contagious case as of July 8, the province's health ministry said. It said the infections are among 102 confirmed cases this year, with most involving people who were not fully immunized. Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Martin Lavoie said in an update on Thursday that cases are mostly centred in northern BC, with the Northern Health authority reporting 71 infections so far this year. Lavoie said the highly contagious disease started spreading "broadly" at the end of May, and has since found "pockets of un-immunized people" in northern BC and elsewhere. 'So we don't know exactly what will occur, because we are really trying to curb the spread as much as possible, but it will run its course, unfortunately, more than likely in that group of people,' he said. '(Once) you have a case, it tends to expose others very quickly and many are susceptible.' Lavoie said the province had taken steps to identify those unimmunized communities, adding that his office highly recommended immunization, which he said was safe and effective. He said BC's immunization rate of about 84 per cent was quite good but not perfect, while BC Health Minister Josie Osborne said getting immunized is the best thing BC residents can do to protect themselves and others. The update comes after people who attended a prenatal clinic in Fort St. John, BC, were told this week that they may have been exposed to measles, with Northern Health saying up to 20 patients were exposed. The tally of BC measles cases was up slightly from Monday, when the BC Centre for Disease Control reported 99 infections. Six of the 10 confirmed hospitalization cases in BC are located in Northern Health, with one in each of the four other health regions. BC released its latest case figures one day after Alberta had reported 1,230 infections since March. While Ontario has reported the highest absolute number of cases with 2,244 confirmed infections since October, Alberta leads not only Canada, but also North America on a per-capita basis. Lavoie said his office isn't concerned that BC could be facing a similar situation. "So we are very close to Alberta, of course, so they could be a source (of measles) for us as people travel back and forth," he said. "We think our coverage rates are actually not in a bad place. I said they were good, not perfect, so I would doubt we would see something that big." Lavoie also acknowledged the high case count in Ontario in urging British Columbians to protect themselves. Ontario reported last Thursday that an eighth infant had been born with congenital measles since the outbreak began last fall. Infants can contract congenital measles in the womb through their mothers who are not vaccinated, resulting in severe complications, including inflammation of the brain and death. The latest data in Ontario shows 48 pregnant people have been infected with measles, and Ontario's chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore announced in early June that an infant born prematurely and infected with measles died in southwestern Ontario. Dr. Jennifer Vines, public health physician at the BC Centre for Disease Control, said during Thursday's update that BC has not yet seen such a case. "But we are preparing for it by engaging pregnancy experts to prepare for everything we need to know on how to manage measles in pregnancy … so we can be prepared for this unfortunate possibility," Vines said. Vines said the Ontario congenital cases reinforce the importance of everybody getting vaccinated, "but in particular, anyone who is pregnant, who knows they are susceptible to measles, getting quick follow up if they think, they have had a measles exposure, or seeking advice right away from their pregnancy provider." Lavoie said people who are pregnant and infants, including children less than 12 months old are at risk of being infected with measles. Pregnant women and young children under the age of five also fall among the groups with a higher risk of complications and death.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Rebellious teens and outreach: Vaccinating British Columbians during a measles outbreak
The rise in vaccine hesitancy since the COVID-19 pandemic is well-documented, but frontline health-care workers and public health officials haven't given up pushing for unprotected British Columbians to get immunized against measles. The province currently has 102 lab-confirmed cases, but officials note that's likely a dramatic undercount, and our proximity to Alberta – where they're battling the highest number of infections per capita in North America – has the health minister and clinicians doing their best to promote protection before infection. 'Measles is an extremely contagious virus,' Josie Osborne said Thursday at a briefing on the spread of the disease. 'It is absolutely vital that we pay attention and that we follow that expert, evidence-based policy and decision-making and guidance that is provided to us.' Measles can start with fever, sore throat, cough, and runny nose before the telltale rash and bloodshot eyes appear. Symptoms can last for 10 to 21 days, and about one in 10 people will have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. Seizures, deafness, brain injury and death are rare but possible outcomes. (Source: B.C. Centre for Disease Control) Addressing vaccine hesitancy one-on-one That expert advice is to opt for the vaccine, which has been widely used for decades and provides nearly 100 per cent efficacy after two doses, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Dr. Eric Cadesky has counselled hundreds of nervous patients on the risks and benefits of vaccination versus infection from various viruses. 'Anyone who's on social media, which is 99.9 per cent of the world, is going to come into contact with this bad information being pushed to them,' he said in a virtual interview from his Vancouver office. 'I thank them for coming in and having the trust in me to have a conversation.' Cadesky's approach includes pointing out online influencers are themselves often profiting by spreading false information, and 'whether they're peddling other concoctions or vitamins, or they're just driving traffic to their website, our attention is part of an economy and our fear is something that other people can profit off of.' The longtime physician is particularly encouraged by teens and young adults who ask to be vaccinated after being raised by anti-vax parents. 'I think it's a great part of youth rebellion to make sure that your vaccination is up to date,' he said. (Source: B.C. Centre for Disease Control) Public health's approach The health-care system is taking various approaches to boost the vaccination rate, including among those who maybe haven't thought about their status for years. The Ministry of Health texted more than 31,000 British Columbians whose health records didn't indicate whether they were protected or not, and more than 500 have already chosen to get their MMR shots. With most measles cases in the north and in unvaccinated friend or family groups, officials will be doing outreach to other clusters that could be at risk as the most contagious airborne virus science has identified continues to hang in the air at hospitals, airports, shops and other places infectious people have spent time. 'We are starting with a selected community in the northeast area that's most affected at risk right now and organizing outreach, including immunization clinics,' said Dr. Jong Kim, medical health officer for Northern Health. Measles vaccines remain free and easily available through community health clinics, primary care providers, and many pharmacies in B.C.
Hamilton Spectator
30-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C. launches working group to address safety in supportive housing
VANCOUVER - British Columbia's government is forming a working group to tackle a number of safety issues in supportive housing, including concerns of drug trafficking, weapons and second-hand exposure to fentanyl. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says there is consideration of removing the facilities from the Residential Tenancy Act, which would allow housing providers to kick out dangerous people taking advantage of vulnerable tenants. The announcement comes after a number of recent incidents, including a fire on June 11 at the former Howard Johnson hotel in Vancouver that injured two people. Fire crews say they have been called to the site more than 900 times since the facility was converted to supportive housing in 2020, and police also say they have been called to the location thousands of times during the same period. Downtown business groups in Vancouver and Victoria have made recent pleas to government about doing more to address the public safety situation, with the deteriorating conditions severely hampering local shops' ability to continue operating. Kahlon says in a statement that the working group will involve law enforcement, supportive housing providers, union representatives and BC Housing 'to ensure safety for tenants and workers is paramount.' 'We have heard from providers that they need more authority to take action and keep people safe and we will be working with our partners to find a path forward that ensures people can live in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment,' Kahlon says. The ministry also says it is working with the BC Centre for Disease Control to look into the impact of the toxic drug crisis on supportive housing. It says early results from testing 14 buildings in both Victoria and Vancouver show that some supportive housing areas may be 'more likely to have elevated levels of airborne fentanyl, above the limit WorkSafeBC has established.' The province says there have been almost 7,500 new supportive housing units opened in B.C. since 2017, and another 2,900 are in progress. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
30-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. launches working group to address safety in supportive housing
VANCOUVER – British Columbia's government is forming a working group to tackle a number of safety issues in supportive housing, including concerns of drug trafficking, weapons and second-hand exposure to fentanyl. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says there is consideration of removing the facilities from the Residential Tenancy Act, which would allow housing providers to kick out dangerous people taking advantage of vulnerable tenants. The announcement comes after a number of recent incidents, including a fire on June 11 at the former Howard Johnson hotel in Vancouver that injured two people. Fire crews say they have been called to the site more than 900 times since the facility was converted to supportive housing in 2020, and police also say they have been called to the location thousands of times during the same period. Downtown business groups in Vancouver and Victoria have made recent pleas to government about doing more to address the public safety situation, with the deteriorating conditions severely hampering local shops' ability to continue operating. Kahlon says in a statement that the working group will involve law enforcement, supportive housing providers, union representatives and BC Housing 'to ensure safety for tenants and workers is paramount.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'We have heard from providers that they need more authority to take action and keep people safe and we will be working with our partners to find a path forward that ensures people can live in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment,' Kahlon says. The ministry also says it is working with the BC Centre for Disease Control to look into the impact of the toxic drug crisis on supportive housing. It says early results from testing 14 buildings in both Victoria and Vancouver show that some supportive housing areas may be 'more likely to have elevated levels of airborne fentanyl, above the limit WorkSafeBC has established.' The province says there have been almost 7,500 new supportive housing units opened in B.C. since 2017, and another 2,900 are in progress. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025.
