1. Home
  2. Public Health Alerts

Public Health Alerts

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

We have highlighted the most recent alerts from all regions and sources in British Columbia, to ensure you have quick access to the latest public information that may affect you and your family. For food recalls, medication and product recalls, and allergy alerts issues by Government of Canada agencies, visit the Across Canada tab. For information on air quality, forest fires, food inspections, and water quality advisories, visit the In Your Area tab.

Most Recent Alerts

July 20, 2017

West Nile virus risk increases as summer heats up

As summer temperatures increase, so does the risk of West Nile virus. The risk of getting West Nile virus is highest from the end of July through August. There are some important measures people can take to reduce their risk of infection.
July 19, 2017

Metro Vancouver Air Quality Advisory Cancellation

Metro Vancouver has ended the Air Quality Advisory that was in effect for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District since Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
July 18, 2017

BC wildfire support: tips to ease stress for families

Natural disasters like wildfires can cause heightened levels of stress and anxiety in children and youth. While many children and youth are resilient and will overcome these feelings, some need extra support to cope.
July 18, 2017

Metro Vancouver Air Quality Advisory Issued

​Metro Vancouver is now issuing an Air Quality Advisory for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District because of high concentrations of fine particulate matter due to wildfires outside of the region. These conditions are expected to persist for at least 24 hours.
July 18, 2017

Going home: safety tips for your return post-evacuation

When your local or First Nations government has declared it safe for you to return home, there are steps you can take to make the transition easier and safer.
July 18, 2017

Food and water safety information for evacuees returning after a fire

Now that officials have determined it’s safe for residents of Cache Creek to return to their homes, there are important tips they should be aware of in regards to health and safety.
July 17, 2017

Smoky Skies Bulletin Expanded in Southern Interior

The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Interior Health Authority, has increased the area covered by the Smoky Skies Bulletin issued on Friday 14th July due to forest fire smoke that is covering the area.
July 14, 2017

Wildfire Smoke and Your Health

If you live in a community that is affected by a wildfire, your immediate concern is likely the threat of the fire. However, for many, the smoke caused by fires can cause serious health problems.
July 14, 2017

Smoky Skies Bulletin Amended in Southern Interior

The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Interior Health Authority, has reduced the area covered by the Smoky Skies Bulletin issued on Tuesday 11th July due to forest fire smoke that is covering the area.
July 14, 2017

New alert system starts for bad dope

A new text and web form system may help prevent overdoses. Anyone in the VCH region, such as people who use illegal substances, can report overdoses that show unusual symptoms.

The BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Ministry of Health issue province-wide public health alerts on issues that can affect the health of you and your family.

BC Centre for Disease Control

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is the provincial public health centre responsible for protecting and enhancing the health of all British Columbians through communicable disease prevention. Below are the current communicable disease-related public health alerts made public by the BCCDC.

July 11, 2017

Research project pilots new illegal drug alert warning system to help prevent overdoses

Vancouver – Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is working with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) on a new project to develop a more timely and accurate way to communicate information about clusters of drug overdoses and drug contamination alerts.

June 16, 2017

BCCDC drug overdose meeting: Turning ideas into action to help save lives

With a supply of street drugs so toxic more than four people die from overdoses each day in BC, what more can policy makers, public health officials and other partners do to make the response more effective?

May 19, 2017

BCCDC advises British Columbians about a new outbreak of E. coli O121 associated with flour

March 9, 2017

Language matters: reduce stigma, combat overdose

March 9, 2017

Language matters: reduce stigma, combat overdose

Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health works with health authorities, health care providers, agencies and other organizations to guide and improve the Province's health services to ensure that British Columbians are supported in their efforts to maintain and better their health. Below is the latest public health-related news released by the Ministry of Health.

April 13, 2017

Statement on public health emergency anniversary

Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall has issued the following statement: 

April 7, 2017

Funding enhances palliative and hospice supports

The Province is providing $1.746 million for palliative and hospice care in British Columbia to support patients and caregivers.

April 7, 2017

Kelowna doctors aim to bring nurses onto staff roster with nurse-in-practice initiative

Several Kelowna-region family doctors are welcoming nurses to their practice teams, to expand access and support more patients with their health needs.

April 7, 2017

Upgrades planned for University Hospital of Northern BC

The Province is moving forward with projects at University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) to improve patient care.

April 7, 2017

Ceremonial key to Teck Acute Care Centre presented to young patient

Six-year-old Sammy Holmes was presented a ceremonial key to the new Teck Acute Care Centre by Vancouver-False Creek MLA Sam Sullivan, on behalf of Health Minister Terry Lake, commemorating the many milestones achieved by the BC Children’s and BC Women’s Redevelopment Project.


Each of the health authorities in the Province are responsible for providing current public health information to the people who live in that region. We have divided this section into topics with links to provincial and health authority specific information. These links will help you access the information that affects the community you live in.

Air Quality

Forest Fires

Food Inspections

Water Quality

Issues such as food recalls, medication and product recalls, and allergy alerts can affect more than one province in Canada. Here we have provided quick access to public health alerts made public by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Healthy Canadians and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

In Canada, most food recalls are coordinated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Depending on the level of risk, the CFIA will issue a warning to the public. Below are the latest recalls issued by the CFIA.

July 21, 2017

Updated Food Recall Warning (Listeria) - Various brands of butter

Distribution: Quebec. Recalling firm: Industry

July 18, 2017

Food Recall Warning - Allergen (Milk) – High Liner Foodservice Signature brand Breaded Calamari Rings and High Liner Signature brand Multigrain Breaded Fillets Tilapia

Distribution – National. Recalling firm – High Liner Foods Inc.

July 18, 2017

Food Recall Warning - Allergen (Gluten) – Lucky brand Black Pepper Powder

Distribution – Ontario. Recalling firm – J. L. Trading Co. Ltd.

July 18, 2017

Food Recall Warning (pieces of plastic) – Yoplait Minigo brand and Liberté brand yogurt pouches

Distribution – national. Recalling firm - General Mills Canada Corporation.

July 17, 2017

Notification (Extraneous Material) – Yoplait Minigo brand and Liberté brand yogurt

Distribution – National. Recalling firm – General Mills Canada Corporation.

Healthy Canadians

Healthy Canadians is a Government of Canada initiative that aims to keep you informed about issues related to health and safety. It is a joint initiative between Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada, Public Safety Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Healthy Canadians provides information about recalls and alerts for health products, consumer products, food, and vehicles. Below are the latest recalls and alerts provided by Healthy Canadians.

July 24, 2017

Magic Relighting Candles by Forum Novelties

Candles which can spontaneously re-ignite are prohibited in Canada under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act as they re-ignite after disposal potentially causing fires.

July 24, 2017

Foreign Product Alert: Big N Hard, Black Gorilla, Cummor, Dragon Max, Oh Baby!, Man XXX, Maxman IV, Maxman Premium, Maxman V, Monkey Business, MMC Maxman XI, MME Maxman IX capsules, New Advanced Technological, V9 Male Sexual Stimulant, Real Skill Male...

These foreign health products have been found by regulators in other countries to contain undeclared drug ingredients.

July 24, 2017

Important safety information for people with diabetes using NovoPen Echo or NovoPen 5

Health Canada is advising Canadians that Novo Nordisk A/S has updated a voluntary recall of insulin cartridge holders used in certain lots of its NovoPen Echo and NovoPen 5 insulin pens. The company detected that the cartridge holders may crack or break if exposed to certain chemicals, such as some cleaning agents.

July 23, 2017

6ixSlimes recalls various Slime toys

Health Canada's sampling and evaluation program has determined that the slime toys do not meet the Canadian toy safety requirements related to boric acid content.

July 21, 2017

Various brands of butter recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Public Health Agency of Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) helps to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. Its activities focus on preventing chronic diseases, preventing injuries, and responding to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks. Below are the latest health updates provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

July 25, 2017

Measles & Rubella Weekly Monitoring Report - Week 28, 2017: July 9 to July 15, 2017

In Canada, no new cases of measles were reported in week 28, 2017. Material on this Web site was produced and/or compiled by the Public Health Agency of Canada for the purpose of providing Canadians with direct access to information about the Government of Canada.

July 21, 2017

Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Prehospital Care and Ground Transport of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease

Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Prehospital Care and Ground Transport of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease Material on this Web site was produced and/or compiled by the Public Health Agency of Canada for the purpose of providing Canadians with direct access to information about the Government of Canada.

July 20, 2017

Respiratory Virus Detections/Isolations in Canada, Week 28 ending July 15, 2017

The Respiratory Virus Detection Surveillance System collects data from select laboratories across Canada on the number of tests performed and the number of tests positive for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Data are reported on a weekly basis year-round to the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases (CIRID), Public Health Agency of Canada. These data are also summarized in the weekly FluWatch report. Material on this Web site was produced and/or compiled by the Public Health Agency of Canada for the purpose of providing Canadians with direct access to information about the Government of Canada.

July 18, 2017

Measles & Rubella Weekly Monitoring Report - Week 27, 2017: July 2 to July 8, 2017

In Canada, no new cases of measles were reported in week 27, 2017. Material on this Web site was produced and/or compiled by the Public Health Agency of Canada for the purpose of providing Canadians with direct access to information about the Government of Canada.

July 17, 2017

West Nile Virus and Other Mosquito-Borne Disease National Surveillance Report - Week 27, 2017: July 2 to July 8, 2017

As of surveillance week 27, ending on July 8, 2017, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has not been informed of any human cases of West Nile virus by provinces and territories since the beginning of the 2017 season in Canada. Material on this Web site was produced and/or compiled by the Public Health Agency of Canada for the purpose of providing Canadians with direct access to information about the Government of Canada.

Is it an emergency?

If you or someone in your care has chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, it could be a life-threatening emergency. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately.
If you are concerned about a possible poisoning or exposure to a toxic substance, call Poison Control now at 1-800-567-8911.

Thanks to our partners and endorsers:

Northern HealthBritish Columbia College of Family PhysiciansProvincial Health Services AuthorityVancouver Coastal HealthBritish Columbia Medical Association: Doctors of BCIsland HealthCollege of Pharmacists of British ColumbiaCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of British ColumbiaFraser Health AuthorityCollege of Dietitians of British ColumbiaInterior HealthCollege of Dental Surgeons of British ColumbiaBC Centre for Disease Control