Researchers are still untangling the risks of catching COVID over and over

Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus particles replicating inside an infected cell.

In many ways, it feels like we tamed SARS-CoV-2 into submission. Yet this virus continues to circulate year-round, causing repeat infections, with few official measures still in place to curb its spread. Scientists warn the long-term toll on individuals' health remains somewhat uncertain.



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140,000 Nova Scotians are waiting for a family doctor. Can virtual care help?

Two people sitting at a dining table. Woman on the right types on a tablet computer.

Virtual Care Nova Scotia offers unattached patients access to doctors and nurse practitioners via app or website. Those patients can also be referred to a network of in-person clinics across the province when a video or phone call isn't adequate.



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3 years after Joyce Echaquan's death, loved ones reflect on what's changed — and what hasn't

Two women, one wearing a bright purple t-shirt and the other a white shirt with a purple flowery skirt, sit on a window ledge.

Though improvements have been made by the Lanaudière health board, Atikamekw community members say there is more work to do as the pain of Joyce Echaquan's death is still fresh and mistrust remains.



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Health Canada OK's updated Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19

A close-up of a hand holding a vaccine vial as a needle is filled from it.

Health Canada has given the green light to Pfizer's updated vaccine to protect people ages six months and older from COVID-19.



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Nurse says she won't rest until Indigenous patients 'actually feel safe' seeking health care

A smiling Indigenous woman with glasses and long dark hair sits at a desk with her hands clasped in front of her.

Tania Dick is the director for cultural safety and humility and clinical practice for the B.C. Ministry of Health, but she says the last 18 years of her career have shown her how much work is needed to eliminate anti-Indigenous racism from the nursing profession.



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Rapid tests are less accessible even as COVID wave ramps up across Canada, doctors say

Close up of a hand holding a positive rapid test, with two lines.

Some people are having a hard time finding rapid tests in rural and urban communities across Canada. Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases this fall, doctors say accessible availability of tests and better communication from public health officials is key to keeping virus spread low.



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Stopping high doses of domperidone, drug used for breastfeeding, can cause withdrawal, Health Canada warns

A woman reading a book to a smiling toddler.

A Health Canada review has found there is a risk of psychiatric withdrawal effects when women taking high doses of the drug domperidone to stimulate breast milk production suddenly stop taking it.



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Haida elder in 'extreme' appendicitis pain was allegedly released from B.C. hospital without treatment

An Indigenous woman with long brown hair wears a pink flowered tank top and stands in the sunshine on a front lawn.

Penny Kerrigan was flown to Terrace, B.C., because of severe stomach pain. She was allegedly discharged with just regular Tylenol for the discomfort and without a diagnosis of her appendicitis, something she ascribes to anti-Indigenous bias.



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Calgary lays charges against catering company believed linked to E. coli outbreak

Alberta's premier is seen answering questions at a podium.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, along with AHS health officials, are set to provide an update on the investigation into the E. coli outbreak in Calgary on Wednesday. Watch it here live at 9 a.m. MT.



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'COVID was never gone': As cases rise in B.C., so do worries about normalizing the coronavirus

Paramedics wearing full body protective equipment clean a stretcher

Infectious disease specialists and immunocompromised people are concerned about an increase in COVID-19 cases in B.C. — especially because it appears many people have stopped following recommended health measures like wearing masks and staying home when sick.



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Caregiver calls for 'culture change' in nursing after Indigenous man's death

A pair of hands with bright pink nail polish holds a black picture frame, with a photo of an Indigenous man in a plaid shirt standing next to two young boys.

The story of Keegan Combes, who died of accidental methanol poisoning after being neglected by staff at a B.C. hospital, has become part of the fight to dismantle anti-Indigenous racism in the nursing profession, according to B.C.'s regulator for nurses.



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9 Albertans infected with West Nile virus, AHS says

Mosquitoes

In the last year, two cases have been recorded in the Edmonton area and seven in southern Alberta. In the last month, there have been five recorded cases in the southeastern area of Alberta.



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Canadian kids' spinal surgery waits 'far exceed' recommendations: report

Smiling girl

Children across the country are waiting too long to see a specialist and get treatment, a new report by the Conference Board of Canada says.



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Family wonders if a quicker cancer diagnosis could have saved Thunder Bay, Ont., woman's life

A young woman stands in front of trees, holding a photograph.

A Thunder Bay, Ont., nurse who lost her mother last summer to Stage 4 T-cell lymphoma is pushing for a new policy to make it easier for patients to receive cancer diagnoses. She wants to know why a patient can't see a hematologist until the cancer is verified. Here's what we learned.



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Doctors say at-home screening for HPV could be an opportunity to 'eliminate a cancer'

Female family doctor stands in an examining room.

Take-home kits to screen for cervical cancer virus should be offered to reduce disparity, family doctors say in new guidelines.



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Newcomer kids to Canada face chronic health risks. Here's how these researchers hope to help

A woman sits at a table looking at two kids who are colouring.

In recent years, emerging research has found that newcomer children in Canada are developing chronic adult health conditions because of their circumstances. Researchers at McMaster University are looking to create a program that will help keep them healthy.



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What you eat could be key to improving your mental health, scientists say

Glass containers containing a variety of beans and pulses are pictured in a pantry shelf/cupboard.

Research shows that the types of microbes found in our gut, or gastrointestinal tract, could have a direct impact on our mood.



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Rehab programs can improve quality of life for patients struggling with long COVID: research

Woman rests her hands on handle bars of an exercise bike used to strengthen muscle tone for fatigue after COVID-19.

New findings indicate how exercise helps people living with long COVID walk farther and faster. Such patients commonly report that they have a hard time handling long or strenuous walks, which in turn hampers their quality of life.



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The number of people accessing safe supply in B.C. has dropped. It's unclear why — but it's prompting concerns

A person wearing a facemask holds up a sign that reads 'Safe Supply Now' at a rally.

The number of people accessing a prescribed safe supply of illicit drugs in B.C. has dropped by more than 11 per cent over four months, according to the provincial government, although the reasons for the decrease are unclear.



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Teen mental health support can learn from cancer care in Ontario, psychologist says

A young person holds a phone and looks out a window.

Two new studies show a significant pandemic increase in ER visits and hospitalizations for teenagers due to self-harm or suicidal ideation. Experts say better mental health supports are needed — and a model for cancer care could be the path to providing them.



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Alberta Health Services says E. coli cases related to daycare outbreak stable

A sign is pictured that reads

The health authority says there have been two additional lab-confirmed cases of the bacterial infection that have now been linked to the outbreak, up to 350 from 348 on Tuesday.



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As Canada moves toward 3-year training for family doctors, some worry about worsening shortages

A doctor wears a lab coat and stethoscope in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary, Friday, July 14, 2023.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada wants to increase the length of a family medicine residency from two years to three, as a way of preparing doctors for more complex patients. But the plan is raising concerns it will increase the shortage of doctors at a time when some six million Canadians don't have access.



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Alberta CMOH says E. coli numbers starting to 'trend in the right direction'

a bespectacled man speaks at a lectern while a woman looks on. Canadian and Alberta flags in the backdrop.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health said he's "encouraged" by the latest numbers following a weeks-long E. coli outbreak in Calgary, which has left hundreds of kids sick and closed multiple daycares. 



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Nationwide tracking sought for rare disease that is spread by canines, fatal if untreated

A coyote walks by snow pile.

As cases creep upward of a rare disease that spreads to humans from wild canines and dogs, medical experts say it's important to get a better understanding of its incidence across the country.



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Secondary cases of E. coli grow in aftermath of Calgary outbreak: Alberta Health Services

A red brick building with a sign that reads 'Alberta Health Services.'

There are now 348 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli in Calgary following an outbreak at daycares — including 27 secondary cases, up by four since Saturday, Alberta Health Services says.



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This pediatrician has a stark warning about the risks of 'anti-science'

A man in a suit and bow tie raises his hand, indicating a line of run-down houses behind him.

A pediatrician, author and co-inventor of a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine warns that the anti-vaccine movement has morphed into a political force that threatens the world's gains against deadly childhood infections like measles.



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Energy drinks can harm teens' health. Here's what experts say parents can do

Brightly coloured cans with the word "PRIME" in white capital letters are seen on store shelves. A woman is visible in the background reaching for a shelf.

Despite their popularity, experts say there are health risks to consuming energy drinks, and it’s important for parents and teachers to have open conversations with teens about those risks.



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Trans teens and youth say gender-affirming care is 'life-changing.' So why is it so hard to find in Canada?

A man stands in front of a rainbow tapestry.

Demand for gender-affirming care is becoming more common across the country. But families of youth who want this kind of care — which can range from mental health counselling to hormone replacement therapy or even just learning what treatments are available — say the wait is too long. Doctors say more physicians and nurses are keen to help and providing this care is just a matter of training.



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Mobile clinic has vision of bringing eye care to high-needs schools across Manitoba

A young girl smiles as she adjusts glasses on her face.

Manitoba's Mobile Vision Care Clinic expects to offer eye exams and glasses in about 100 Manitoba schools this year, testing approximately 12,000 students. For the majority, this will be their first eye exam, says the clinic's director.



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Some Quebec nursing students getting licensed out of province to bypass controversial exam

A stock photo of a nurse holding books.

Frustrated with Quebec's licensing exam for nurses, which was found to be flawed and unreliable last year, some Quebec nursing candidates are registering to practise in other provinces in order to take the exam offered to all nursing students in the rest of Canada. 



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Alberta premier orders review of shared kitchens in Calgary amid E. coli outbreak

An aerial view of the Alberta Children's Hospital.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said a central kitchen believed to be linked to an E. coli outbreak in Calgary that has made hundreds of children sick has been closed indefinitely, and said she has ordered a review of all shared kitchens in the city. 



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Botulism outbreak tied to Bordeaux restaurant sickens Canadians

Car parked in front of restaurant with the sign Tchin Tchin Wine Bar.

Health officials in France say a 32-year-old woman is dead and eight others remain hospitalized after an apparent botulism outbreak that includes Canadians.



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How can Alberta prevent future E. coli outbreaks? Politicians promise answers as experts weigh in

A sign is pictured that reads

As the magnitude of a Calgary daycare-related E. coli outbreak becomes clear, questions are being raised about what went wrong, calls are emerging for increased food safety surveillance and Alberta's health minister is vowing to get to the bottom of it.



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Premier Danielle Smith preparing compensation for families impacted by E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares

A woman in a red suit gives a speech, with her image projected on a screen behind her.

In her first interview about an E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares that spread to more than 300 children, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she's directed her government to come up with a proposal to financially help affected families.



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Drug overdose deaths from multiple substances on rise in Ontario since start of pandemic: report

A London police officer responds to an overdose call in July 2023.

A new report points to an increasingly toxic and unregulated drug supply, which is creating more complicated addictions that require nuanced treatments. The trend toward deaths from multiple toxic substances is also apparent across Canada and the U.S.



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Ontario proposes letting pharmacists prescribe flu meds, give RSV vaccines

Signage explaining that pharmacists are able to provide prescriptions for minor health conditions is photographed at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto on January 11, 2023.

Ontario is planning to allow pharmacists to prescribe flu medication, administer flu shots to babies and administer RSV vaccines, when available, ahead of an expected fall viral surge.



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Tuberculosis screening clinic to open in Pangnirtung, Nunavut

Shot of the hamlet from above.

Nearly two years after the government of Nunavut declared a tuberculosis outbreak in Pangnirtung, a community-wide screening clinic will open in the community of 1,500. 



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How E. coli infections wreak havoc on the body, causing dangerous disease — particularly in kids

A colorized scanning electron micrograph of Escherichia coli, or E. coli, grown in culture and adhered to a cover slip.

Certain strains of E. coli are capable of causing severe disease, by rapidly spreading through the human digestive system, wreaking havoc throughout the bloodstream, and eventually damaging the delicate kidneys. That's the situation right now during a large outbreak in Alberta, with hundreds of children now affected.



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Does COVID-19 spread in a hospital mean there's an outbreak? Not anymore, says B.C. health ministry

A man in a suit and glasses stands holding an open folder. In the backdrop is a construction vehicle.

In a response to questions from CBC about COVID-19 outbreak declarations at acute care and long term care facilities, the B.C. ministry of health confirmed that in some cases an outbreak is no longer reported even when there is a spike in cases. Instead, “enhanced measures” are put in place without alerting the public.



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With flu season on the horizon, we answer your COVID-19 questions

A nurse wearing a blue medical face mask pushes a needle into a young woman's upper arm.

After more than three years of COVID-19, many Canadians have learned how to make decisions around living with the virus. But as Canada heads into another cold and flu season, many still have questions about what to do if they start to feel sick. Here are answers to some common questions.



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Drug overdoses, COVID-19 drive Sask. life expectancy to lowest level in 22 years

Image of a headstone in a cemetery with flowers.

Saskatchewan's average life expectancy is at its lowest level since 1999. Experts attribute the decline to young people dying from drug poisoning and suicide, as well COVID-19 deaths.



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Staggering mental health, addiction stats push northern First Nations to call for emergency declaration

A man stands in the hallway of a building.

Mental health and addictions issues aren't new in First Nations in northern Ontario, but people in the field say the situation is getting worse. Chiefs across the region are calling for urgent intervention to ease the crisis, along with more autonomy in delivering health-care services to their communities.



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Popular decongestant in many cold meds is ineffective, says U.S. drug advisory panel

Store shelf containing various Dimetapp products

The leading decongestant used by millions of people looking for relief from a stuffy nose is no better than a dummy pill, according to U.S. government experts who reviewed the latest research on the long-questioned drug ingredient.



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Opening date for new hospital in Surrey pushed back to 2030 from 2027

A group of men in white hard hats with the letter H on them toss shovels full on sand on a pile.

B.C. Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced with aplomb on Tuesday ground-breaking on a new hospital in Surrey, but the facility, which includes a new cancer care centre, will open its doors three years later than originally planned and cost an additional billion dollars.



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This entire family died of suspected overdoses. Those left say parents with addictions need more support

Funeral handouts for Madison Cowan, John Cowan and Berkeley Donkervoort sit against a black background.

In a 6-month span, a 16-month-old baby and both her parents died of suspected drug toxicity in Saskatoon. The surviving family members say they want to see better supports for parents living with addictions, and better protections for their children.



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Cancer society wants government action on youth vaping rates in Nova Scotia

A young person holds a vape pen.

An official with the Canadian Cancer Society in Atlantic Canada is raising the alarm about youth vaping rates in Nova Scotia and what it says is a lack of action by the provincial government to do something about it.



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4 Calgary daycares linked to E. coli outbreak allowed to reopen at their discretion Monday, AHS says

Bacteria grows on a petri dish. It is yellow and there's red lighting in the background.

None of the four facilities that are allowed to open at their discretion Monday were linked to any positive E. coli cases, despite sharing a kitchen where the outbreak started, Alberta Health Services.



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Restrictions likely helped curb spread of COVID-19 in N.S., Dalhousie researchers find

a gloved hand holds a long cotton swab

A report from six Dalhousie University researchers finds infections and deaths increased when restrictions eased and the Omicron variant arrived.



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A race against time: How science and technology are being used to delay aging

A man with brown hair wears a green/grey top and a chain around his neck.

A tech tycoon from California has been taking part in a punishing one-man experiment for the past two years, backed by a team of experts, to create a scientifically sound protocol for healthy longevity, while others are assembling massive amounts of data — all in the name of delaying the aging process.



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B.C. health minister under fire as ER closures continue throughout the province

A red sign reading 'Emergency Only' is in front of a hospital.

As staffing shortages continue to cause short-term closures of emergency rooms across B.C., elected officials are putting pressure on the provincial government to step up. 



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