IHA warns of toxic algae blooms
Spring is here and the warmer weather means algae can start growing in your favorite lake and may form a bloom. Algae are a natural part of the aquatic ecosystems of lakes and algae blooms can occur throughout the Interior Health region. Blue-green algae or Cyanobacteria can produce several types of toxins that can be poisonous...
BC PharmaCare provides new, expanded coverage
Thousands of people in B.C. will benefit from BC PharmaCare’s new and expanded coverage of medications for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, severe hypoglycemia, migraines, the treatment of low white blood cell levels, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, and birth control. Effective April 12, 2022, vedolizumab (Entyvio),...
Interior Health issues Drug Alert for Nelson area
Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for the Nelson area after a sample believed to be methamphetamine tested positive for down (caffeine, mannitol, fentanyl, benzodiazepine). Interior Health said in a media release Friday, the overdose risk is very high when stimulants are contaminated/mixed with down. “Please ensure your...
BC records 2,036 new COVID-19 cases in weekly report
The BC Centre of Disease Control reported 2,036 new COVID-19 cases for this past week Thursday in release on its website. The BCCDC now updates COVID-19 numbers every Thursday, instead of daily. Interior Health recorded 599 new COVID-19 cases. The BCCDC reported that there were 121 more people in hospital with COVID-19 compared...
B.C. residents asked to upload photos of ticks for online identification
To assist with documenting and helping better understand the risks of Lyme disease in the province, the BC Centre of Disease Control has started a new program to help the identification of ticks. In a media release on its website the BCCDC said it has joined forces with eTick, a free and easy tick photo identification service....
More than 9,400 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs since 2016
Preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service reveals that the toxic drug supply has claimed the lives of 9,410 British Columbians since January 2016, and that at least 174 lives were lost in the month of February 2022. “As we approach the sixth anniversary of the declaration of the public-health emergency into...
Doctors tour Kootenays to warn parents about vaccinating kids
A suspended doctor and a few colleagues toured the Kootenays over the weekend to warn parents about the risks of vaccinating kids. Dr. Stephen Malthouse was joined by Dr. Sophia Bayfield and Dr. Kevin Sclater at speaking engagements in Nelson, Trail and Castlegar April 8 and 9 to explain that the risks of children under the...
B.C. shifts to weekly COVID-19 data reporting
As British Columbia continues to take the next step in its COVID-19 response, the Province is transitioning from daily to weekly COVID-19 reporting. Beginning on Thursday, April 7, 2022, COVID-19 dashboards and reports issued by the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control will be updated on weekly basis...
Next steps in B.C.'s COVID-19 response
As people in B.C. continue to get vaccinated, the Province continues with previously announced plans to further lift COVID-19 restrictions, while protecting those most at risk with the launch of the spring booster vaccine program. “Thanks to the many British Columbians who have stayed up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, ...
Proof of Vaccination deadline paused for SD8 staff, contractors
Kootenay Lake School Board of Education has decided to pause its Proof of Vaccination mandate for staff and contractors. In a media release Tuesday, the SD8 Board of Education said Superintendent Trish Smillie has been directed to pause the Proof of Vaccination Regarding COVID-19 Administrative Procedure pending further changes...
