Syphilis cases in babies skyrocket in Canada amid health-care failures

Syphilis Outbreak-Things To Know

The number of babies born with syphilis in Canada is rising at a far faster rate than recorded in the United States or Europe, an increase public health experts said is driven by increased methamphetamine use and lack of access to the public health system for Indigenous people.



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Canadian researchers find new gene mutation that could be linked to increased breast cancer risk

Dr. Akbari

A group of researchers led by a Canadian scientist have identified a rare gene mutation that could be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. In a peer-reviewed study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, the researchers identified a mutation in a gene called ATRIP.



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What is Ozempic and why is B.C. cracking down on sales of the drug to Americans?

Ozempic

Thousands of people in the U.S. have been getting the diabetes drug Ozempic from pharmacies in B.C. this year, prompting the province to announce a restriction on sales to avoid a local shortage. Here's how Americans are turning to pharmacies north of the border — and why.



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Families ask why B.C. surgeon still allowed to see patients after string of negligence claims

Catherine Adamson

Two recent rulings against Dr. Tracy Hicks follow a long series of malpractice allegations made in court throughout the orthopedic surgeon's career.



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CAQ unveils Santé Québec, the new agency in charge of fixing the province's health-care system

Christian Dube QUEBEC HEALTH 20221026

The Coalition Avenir Québec government has tabled bill aimed at making the health-care system more efficient and more accessible. If Bill 15 becomes law, Santé Québec will become the new agency that oversees the province's health-care system.



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Danielle Smith discussed COVID charges 'almost weekly' with justice officials, according to leaked call

Alta-Election 20221209

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith spoke to a pastor just weeks before his criminal trial on pandemic-related charges, promising she would again discuss his case with justice officials, beyond the pleas she had already made on COVID-related prosecutions.



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Budget 2023 offers billions for dental care, plus spending cuts and tax hikes to tame deficit

FedBudget-Main 20230328

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled a federal budget Tuesday projecting a deficit about $10 billion higher than initially forecast — an increase driven by a worsening economy and new spending on initiatives like a national dental care program.



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B.C. to limit sales of diabetes drug Ozempic to non-Canadians as demand soars amid weight-loss claims

Ozempic Diabetes Weight Loss Drug

The province of British Columbia says it's planning to restrict how much Ozempic can be sold to non-Canadian citizens as American demand for the diabetes drug surges, driven by celebrities and online influencers claiming it can help with weight loss.



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WHO recommends COVID-19 boosters for high-risk adults 6-12 months after last dose

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

The World Health Organization has tailored its COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for a new phase of the pandemic, suggesting that healthy children and adolescents may not necessarily need a shot but older, high-risk groups should get a booster between six-to-12 months after their last vaccine.



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Ontario minister defends covering fewer eye exams for seniors

Ont-OHIP-Optometrists 20230327

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones is defending a move to reduce the frequency of eye exams for healthy seniors, saying Monday that changes to funding for optometry services involve "fine tuning" the coverage.



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How an autism diagnosis helped this resident doctor find her place in medicine

Dr. JJ Mracek

Despite previous success in school, Dr. JJ Mráček struggled to find her footing in medicine. Then, just before she finished med school, Mráček got a diagnosis at age 32 that felt like a puzzle being finished: she is autistic.



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Shoppers Drug Mart eliminates 'pink tax' on menstrual pain medication following CBC investigation

Maxidol & Aleve

Marketplace found two examples of menstrual pain medication costing more than their general pain relief counterparts at Shoppers Drug Mart, which said it will align the prices “within a week.”



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N.B. surgeries down 13% compared to pre-pandemic levels, data shows

Shutterstock - medium file

About 20,500 fewer surgeries were performed in New Brunswick during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic levels, new data shows.



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This U.K. team brings hospital care into homes. Could more of these programs help Canada?

Hospital at Home

Health-care teams in the U.K. are providing hospital-quality care for people in their homes to help ease systems facing a shortage of hospital beds. And while versions of these programs exist in Canada, some experts say we need more of them.



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Jagmeet Singh says Liberals must expand dental care program to maintain deal with NDP

Health-Care 20221212

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says next week's federal budget must expand dental care in order to maintain the confidence-and-supply agreement his party has with the Liberals. He said he also wants to see some action on mental health, financial supports for the vulnerable and a response to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.



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More surgeries being scheduled, but not enough to clear pandemic backlog, nationwide data suggests

Julia Barbagallo

Canadians continued to face longer wait times for joint replacements and an array of cancer surgeries as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, a new report shows, putting further pressure on hospitals and provincial governments to tackle the backlogs — all while the country grapples with a health-care staffing crisis and an aging population.



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'Tranq dope': Dangerous animal tranquillizer spreading in Canada's street drugs

Moss Park Overdose Prevention Site

Canada's highly toxic illicit drug supply is worsening with the emergence of xylazine, a dangerous and unpredictable animal tranquillizer that's putting drug users' lives at risk in alarming new ways.



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Calgary doctor believed to be 1st in Canada to perform spine surgery on conscious patient

spine surgery thumbs up

Todd Bene, a Calgary man who had chronic pain due to a damaged disc in his back, recently became the first patient to undergo spinal surgery while awake.



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Shortage of key heart medication — nitroglycerin spray — sparks worry in Alberta

nitroglycerin spray shortage

A tight supply of a fast-acting heart medication is causing concern for Alberta health-care providers as a shortage looms across the country.



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Vaccine makers prep bird flu shot for humans 'just in case' as rich nations lock in supplies

avian flu

Some of the world's leading makers of flu vaccines say they could make hundreds of millions of bird flu shots for humans within months if a new strain of avian influenza ever jumps across the species divide.



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Skunks are dying of avian flu. What does that mean for you and your pets?

SKUNK DOG AVIAN FLU

Experts are advising British Columbians, and pet owners in particular, to take precautions after a recent case where several skunks died of avian flu in Metro Vancouver.



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Recall issued for some Nestlé infant formula due to potential bacteria contamination

baby bottle feeding

A voluntary recall has been issued for one of Nestle Good Start Soothe infant formula due to a potential bacteria contamination.



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Why Canada avoided a severe winter COVID wave

Toronto Pedestrians, Sunset

Canada has managed to avoid a severe COVID-19 wave this winter despite a total lack of public health restrictions, a busy indoor holiday season and a rapidly mutating virus that is still very much circulating in the population.



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Most Canadians eat too much salt. Here's how you can cut back

Shutterstock - Medium file

A recent report from the WHO said that Canadians, on average, are consuming 9.1 grams of salt per day — nearly twice that recommended amount. And more than 75 per cent of that salt is coming from restaurant meals and processed foods, dietary experts say. 



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Newly available COVID-19 origins data could point to raccoon dogs in Wuhan market, study says

1344385622

International scientists who examined previously unavailable genetic data from samples collected at a market in China close to where the first human cases of COVID-19 were detected say they found new suggestions the pandemic may have originated from animals, not a lab.



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15,000 Ottawa children missed measles vaccine during pandemic, says OPH

Young child gets vaccinated against COVID-19 in Vancouver

Thousands of children lack protection against measles and other diseases in Ottawa because they didn't receive routine vaccinations during the pandemic, according to new data from Ottawa Public Health.



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Canada lifting COVID-19 screening requirements for travellers from China, Hong Kong

Asia Lunar New Year Travel

Starting Friday, air travellers arriving in Canada from China, Hong Kong or Macao will no longer have to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken before their departure.



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World Health Organization updates variant names to track Omicron's rapid evolution

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/WHO

The World Health Organization is updating the naming system for variants of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — to better reflect Omicron’s global dominance and track its ongoing evolution.



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Life-changing surgery allows Quebec woman paralyzed from chest down to use hands again

Jeanne-Carriere

Jeanne Carrière had been unable to use her hands or lower body after breaking her neck in 2021. In July 2022, she underwent nerve transfer surgery at Montreal’s Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, regaining some of what she lost — including hope.



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Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin suing Trudeau, federal government over his termination from vaccine rollout

Fortin-Charge 20221205

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the senior military commander who once led Canada's vaccine rollout, is suing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the federal government and top military and political figures for more than $6 million in damages months after he was acquitted of sexual assault.



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Feds back supervised consumption sites day after Manitoba introduces bill on licensing them

Overdose Crisis 20230130

The federal minister of mental heath and addictions says she is concerned some may misunderstand the role harm reduction plays in reducing overdose deaths after the Manitoba government said it would introduce legislation that would require licensing for supervised drug consumption sites.



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Why parents of some Ontario adults with severe autism say they're 'terrified' for their futures

Andrew Kavchak and his son Steven

Advocates say there are not enough group homes in the province to accommodate the growing need. In large cities like Ottawa and Toronto, available spaces are being used for urgent care situations, such as when parents are no longer able to manage the care.



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A Conservative government would sue pharma companies over opioid crisis, Poilievre says

Poilievre BC 20230314

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday that a federal government led by him would sue the biggest pharmaceutical companies to recover federal dollars spent on the opioid crisis.



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13 times more babies born with syphilis in Canada over 4 years, data shows

Baby Cuddlers

Syphilis infections are surging across Canada, including cases of babies born with congenital syphilis.



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Winnipeg family told their loved one was dying, but it wasn't her in hospital

Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre hospital

Bianca Beauregard got a call last Friday that her sister was in a Winnipeg hospital following an overdose and wasn't expected to survive. But after family members visited Health Sciences Centre to say goodbye, they discovered the woman lying in the hospital bed wasn't their loved one. 



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Foreign nurses out $24,000 — and left with no recourse — after job offers in N.L. disappear

April Nuval, Abrey Nuval and Joy Thompson

A Niagara Falls, Ont., mother who paid a Toronto-based employment agency $24,000 for immigration services to bring her two daughters, who are foreign nurses, to Canada discovered there was nowhere to turn after a dispute arose with the agency and the job offers were revoked.



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8 dead skunks found in Vancouver and Richmond test positive for avian flu

Skunk Trapping Shutterstock

Eight skunks found dead in late February have tested positive for avian flu. The B.C. government says it is the same strain of avian influenza associated with the outbreak that began in April 2022.



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Do private, for-profit clinics save taxpayers money and reduce wait times? The data says no

surgeons surgery operating room

Despite promises from some politicians that it will streamline services and solve the issue of long wait times, health-care professionals that CBC News interviewed say there are nuances and that such happy outcomes are not borne out by the data.



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Can't sleep? A growing array of natural products promise help but likely don't deliver, says sleep doc

insomnia poor sleep

While some experts question how well these products work, people who are desperate for a little rest — especially as they prepare to lose an hour when clocks move forward for daylight time this weekend — are willing to try just about anything.



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Veterans Affairs says only one employee offered medically assisted death to clients

Remembrance Day 20221111

Veterans Affairs Canada says a single employee suggested medical assistance in dying (MAID) to four veterans, and that the issue is not widespread in the department. A report on the issue said Veterans Affairs will increase training on MAID.



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Duclos warns provinces to stop allowing clinics to charge patients for virtual health care

Cda Health 20230120

The federal government warned the provinces Friday that they could see their future federal funding clawed back if they continue to allow private clinics to charge patients directly for virtual health care.



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Federal government to claw back $1.3M of New Brunswick health funding

Abortion access 20220511

The federal government is clawing back $1.3 million in health transfer payments from New Brunswick mainly in response to user fees patients paid for medically necessary services.



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'Mommy brain' might be a good thing, new research suggests

Tired mother postpartum depression Shutterstock stock image

Postpartum 'mommy brain' is familiar for many mothers, but new research suggests it's actually a time when women's brains are rewiring themselves to learn new skills, multi-task and even have better memory later in life.



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ER physician's project uses donated cellphones to connect vulnerable with ongoing medical care

Dr. Somers wearing mask, holding phone

A project started by a Toronto ER physician that provides prepaid cellphones to people who are homeless or socially isolated could be a way to get those patients better followup care outside of the emergency department.



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Colorectal cancer keeps rising among younger adults. No one's sure why

alexis juliao

New statistics show colorectal cancer is on the rise among younger adults. No one's sure why. But the trend is clear, so the question now is: What should Canada do about it?



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Despite social media buzz, Ozempic is not a quick-fix weight loss solution, doctors say

Ozempic-Weight-Loss 20230308

Demand for Ozempic in Canada has risen steadily over the last year, according to the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, as celebrities sing the drug's praises and many people post success stories in weight loss they attribute to the drug.



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WeightWatchers going into prescription weight loss business with telehealth provider acquisition

WeightWatchers Acquisition

WeightWatchers' stock soared on Tuesday after the company said it is getting into the prescription drug weight loss business with the acquisition of Sequence. Sequence is a telehealth provider that offers users access to drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity under such brand names as Ozempic, Wegovy and Trulicity.



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Parents say daughter died after mental-health system failed her

Yuliya Andriychuk

The parents of a woman who lived in Dartmouth, N.S., say their daughter died after being turned away from a mental-health clinic, and they want to know why it was so hard for her to get help.



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Minister has 'ghosted' families and isn't providing reliable info, autism coalition says

COVID ONT 20210428

Families of children with autism in Ontario are having a difficult time accessing consistent, reliable and transparent information about services and it doesn't help that the minister in charge has "ghosted" them, advocates said Monday.



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Donate, auction or destroy? 105 unused COVID visitation units up for grabs in Manitoba

Visitation pod

The provincial government spent $24 million on external shelters so nursing home residents could have family visits during the pandemic — but now 105 of these units sit virtually unused and could wind up in the scrap heap.



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