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 Cranbook and surrounding area for Pink Chunks/Powder/Pebbles sold as DOWN containing Fluorofentanyl, Ketamine and Benzodiazepine (unspecified).   

With summer underway and more people heading to beaches, lakes and backyard pools, Island Health is reminding everyone to make water safety a priority to prevent drownings and serious injuries.

As people make plans for the Canada Day weekend, it’s important to be prepared and stay safe as warm temperatures, dry conditions and wildfire risk continue in many parts of the province.

Northern Health has issued a Toxic Drug Alert for Dawson Creek. A green substance sold as “down” has been linked to sudden overdoses requiring naloxone and/or hospitalization. Overdoses occur when the substance is inhaled. Use caution when using substances through any route.

A visitor to B.C. has been confirmed to have measles and traveled within Interior Health while infectious. There are no measles cases in Interior Health at this time.

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

New clinical guidance will offer best practices for recognizing and supporting people at risk for suicide, helping more people get the right care and saving more lives.

B.C. Ministry of Health

Addiction assessment nurses now support patients in nine hospital emergency departments in the Fraser Health region, helping streamline access to personalized treatment and recovery services.

B.C. Ministry of Health

New streamlined credential recognition means nurses from the United States can now work in B.C. much quicker, with registrations taking only a few days, compared to the previous average as long as four months.

B.C. Ministry of Health

Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, and Susie Chant, parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care, have issued the following statement in recognition of National Nursing Week and International Nurses Day:

B.C. Ministry of Health

Last updated: October 31, 2024

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:

Warming centres

EmergencyInfoBC will share verified cold weather event information during emergencies, including cold weather advisories and warming centres. See the BC Housing website for shelter information throughout BC. For emergency warming centres, public warming spaces, and Emergency Support Services reception centres, visit: http://EmergencyMapBC.ca.

For other cold weather-related resources, see our Your health this winter health feature and our Hypothermia and Cold Temperature Exposure topic.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Binggrae brand Power Cap, Watermelon Flavored Ice Tube recalled due to undeclared milk.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

C'est Prêt! brand and Circle K brand chicken sandwiches recalled due to pieces of bone.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace because they may contain egg, soya, and / or milk which are not declared on the label.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Binggrae brand Power Cap, Watermelon Flavored Ice Tube recalled due to undeclared milk.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Ocean Mama Seafood brand Easy Peel, Deveined, Shell On Raw Shrimp 26/30 recalled due to 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Olymel brand Cooked diced chicken 1/2 in recalled due to pieces of bone.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Glenwood brand Teriyaki Beef Jerky Slab recalled due to chloramphenicol.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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

In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 44, 2024.

Public Health Agency of Canada

In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 43, 2024.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Read about: Seasonal influenza vaccine statement for 2024–2025, Influenza B returns and public health implications, Blastomycosis and the impacts of climate change in Canada

Public Health Agency of Canada