Public Health Alerts

Public Health Alerts

Health alerts such as outbreaks, boil water advisories and product recalls can come from various trusted sources throughout British Columbia, in your local Health Authority area, and across Canada. This section of our website brings together all of these alerts in one location.

Heath authorities are responsible for providing up-to-date public health information in their communities. We have divided this section into topics with links to provincial and health authority specific information. These resources help you get access to the information and services where you live.

Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for Kamloops and surrounding area for multiple drugs testing positive for Carfentanil (1.2%), Fentanyl (21-50%), and/or Fluorofentanyl (21-50%).

Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for Kamloops after a sample being sold as Dilaudid/Dillies/Hydromorphone contained N-propionyl parafluoronorfentanyl.  This is a counterfeit (fake) tablet sold as Dilaudid, it does not contain hydromorphone. It contains an unknown amount a drug related to fentanyl.

Due to potential gaps in maternity department physician scheduling, Interior Health is advising expectant parents and families of potential changes to maternity services at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) over the summer, beginning July 26. Anyone in labour should go to RIH to be assessed and emergency care for people in imminent labour or experiencing urgent complications will be available at RIH.

Ministry of Health

Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in the U.S. are now seeing targeted advertisements encouraging them to follow their hearts to B.C., as the Province launches a recruitment marketing campaign in Washington state, Oregon and California.

B.C. Ministry of Health

New minimum standards for overdose prevention services are being introduced to enhance safety, improve consistency, and ensure greater oversight for clients, staff delivering life-saving services and members of the community.

B.C. Ministry of Health

New care beds at Alouette Homes will soon support more people requiring long-term involuntary care with a safe, home-like setting and specialized care that meets their unique needs.

B.C. Ministry of Health

The Province is launching an assessment of its primary-care system to ensure it is effectively supporting community-based solutions, including in rural areas, and providing everyone in B.C. with timely access to primary care.

B.C. Ministry of Health

The new hospital in Fort St. James is now called Nats’oojeh [Nat-Soo-Jay] Hospital and Health Centre, reflecting the Dakelh First Nations heritage.

B.C. Ministry of Health

Seniors in Prince George will soon have access to more long-term care as construction starts on a new long-term care village.

B.C. Ministry of Health

People living in and around Langley have better access to team-based primary care and medical imaging services as, on May 13, 2025, the permanent location of the Langley Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) opened.

B.C. Ministry of Health

People experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis in the Comox Valley now have access to more services to help them stabilize and connect to the support they need.

B.C. Ministry of Health

Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement in recognition of Family Doctor Day:

B.C. Ministry of Health

Work is underway to bring approximately 20 complex-care homes with robust health and social supports to people with complex mental-health and substance-use challenges in Nanaimo.

B.C. Ministry of Health

Last updated: August 13, 2025

Air quality

Air Quality Advisories may be issued in many areas of BC when there are high concentrations of fine particulate matter primarily due to smoke from wildfires burning throughout BC and Washington State. Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds, temperatures, and wildfire behaviour change. 

For information on air quality advisories, warnings when air pollution levels exceed limits and Smoky Skies Bulletin announcements regarding wildfire smoke, visit the Government of British Columbia's Air Quality Advisories.

Emergencies

For information on emergencies and natural disasters affecting the province such as floods, wildfires, and earthquakes and other emergencies that require public awareness and action, visit the EmergencyInfoBC page.

Drinking water quality and advisories

B.C.’s regional health authorities are also responsible for issuing notifications about drinking water quality. The three water notification levels range from the least to most serious and include water quality advisory, boil water advisory and a “do not use water” notice. To learn more about these advisory levels and their impact, visit the Government of British Columbia: Water quality notifications page.

For water quality notifications in your specific health authority, visit:

Food safety and inspections

Food safety and inspections in British Columbia are managed by health authorities, ensuring food is safe to eat and that food premises comply with regulatory requirements to protect public health. Learn more about provincial food safety and security on the Government of British Columbia: Food Safety & Security web page.

For your specific health authority specific information, visit:

Health authority news releases

For latest updates from your health authority, see:

Health services

The HealthLink BC Directory provides listings for health services provided by the provincial government, provincial health authorities, and non-profit agencies across the province. You can search for walk-in clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals, mental health programs, home care programs, pharmacy services, laboratory services, and more. To start searching, visit HealthLink BC Directory.

Mental health and substance use

Mental health and substance use concerns can affect many British Columbians whether they are family, neighbors or co-workers. To learn more, visit the HealthLinkBC Mental Health and Substance Use page. Services available provincially include the following:

For health authority specific services and resources, visit:

Cooling centres

EmergencyInfoBC will share verified hot weather event information during emergencies, including extreme heat advisories and cooling centres. In response to extreme heat, First Nations and local governments in affected areas may open emergency cooling centres or general cooling spaces. Locations may be listed on EmergencyMapBC at the discretion of local governments. If cooling locations are not listed on the map in your area, contact your Band office or local government. See the BC Housing website for shelter information throughout BC. 

For other heat-related resources, see our Beat the Heat and Your health this summer health features. Additional information is also available on the Government of British Columbia: Be prepared for extreme heat and drought webpage.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Soppressata Hot and Genoa Salami recalled due to Salmonella.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Habibi brand Pistachio Kernel recalled due to Salmonella.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Lucky Boat brand Frozen Fried Featherback Fish Meat recalled due to undeclared wheat.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The food recall warning issued on 2025-07-21 has been updated to include an additional code, marked by an asterisk (*).  The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

7 - Select Bake Shoppe brand Chocolate Fudge Brownie recalled due to pieces of plastic.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Vicente Marino brand "Filetti di acciughe" recalled due to histamine.   

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Pavao's brand Pork & Chicken Sausage and Texas Hamburger recalled due to undeclared soy and milk.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace because it contains sulphites which are not declared on the label.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Public Health Agency of Canada

2 new measles cases were reported by 2 jurisdictions (Alberta, Ontario) in week 51.

Public Health Agency of Canada

2 new measles cases were reported by 2 jurisdictions (Ontario, Quebec) in week 50.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Statement—Updated guidance on Imvamune in the context of a routine immunization program; Is there sufficient evidence to inform personal protective equipment choices for healthcare workers caring for patients with viral hemorrhagic fevers?

Public Health Agency of Canada

1 new measles case was reported by 1 jurisdiction (Ontario) in week 49.

Public Health Agency of Canada

No new measles cases were reported in Canada in week 48.

Public Health Agency of Canada

7 new measles cases were reported by 2 jurisdictions (New Brunswick, Ontario) in week 47.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Read about: Updated guidance on human papillomavirus vaccines, Mycobacterium tuberculosis pseudo-outbreak, paediatric tuberculosis in First Nations communities

Public Health Agency of Canada

1 new measles case was reported by 1 jurisdiction (New Brunswick) in week 46.

Public Health Agency of Canada

The distribution of hunger in Canadian youth; Characteristics of Canadians who use vaping products, by smoking status: findings from the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2020; Perceptions of overdose response hotlines and applications among rural and remote individuals who use drugs in Canada: a qualitative study

Public Health Agency of Canada

In Canada, 30 new cases of measles and 1 new case of rubella were reported in week 45, 2024.

Public Health Agency of Canada