Public Health Alerts
Public Health Alerts
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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.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
To learn more about the coronavirus, symptoms, how it spreads and prevention visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health feature.
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 
June 30, 2022
Squamish, B.C. - Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is advising the public that some patients accessing maternity services at Squamish General Hospital (SGH) may be diverted to alternate hospital sites for care in early July 2022. Patients who are in labour may be diverted to Lions Gate Hospital, Richmond Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital or B.C. Women’s Hospital, where appropriate obstetrics oversight and care is available.
June 27, 2022
To save lives, and help people who use drugs make informed choices, a new Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) drug checking machine is now operational in Terrace.
June 26, 2022
A Heat Warning was issued on Sunday, June 26 by Environment Canada, who advised of increasing temperatures from Sunday, June 26 through to Monday, June 27.
June 24, 2022
There has been an increase in overdose events in the community of Terrace. The reported substance is a purple powder/pebbles substance, sold as down. The substance is highly toxic and contains benzodiazepines and high levels of fentanyl.
June 24, 2022
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued special weather statements for several parts of the province. This is not a heat warning or an extreme heat emergency, but we will experience the first high temperatures of the summer.
June 24, 2022
Fraser Health Authority-Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued special weather statements for several parts of the province.The special weather statements include the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley, beginning Friday, June 24, and lasting into next week. This is not a heat warning or an extreme heat emergency, but we will experience the first high temperatures of the summer. The warmer weather will also cause rapid snow melt, leading to high rivers and streams throughout the province so please keep water safety in mind this weekend.
June 24, 2022
Island Health Authority - Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued special weather statements for several parts of the province. This is not a heat warning or an extreme heat emergency, but we will experience the first high temperatures of the summer. The warmer weather will also cause rapid snow melt, leading to high rivers and streams throughout the province so please keep water safety in mind this weekend.
June 24, 2022
Have you ever felt dizzy, tired, confused or thirsty after a day in the summer sun? If so, you may have been dehydrated.
June 24, 2022
Keeping cool during the long hot days of summer is not just about comfort, it’s also about safety. When temperatures soar, many children are at risk of dangerous heat-related illnesses. As a parent or caregiver there are plenty of ways to ensure kids stay cool while enjoying the warmer weather.
June 23, 2022
Metro Vancouver, BC - Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued special weather statements for several parts of the province. The statement indicates our region will experience the first hot stretch of the summer with inland temperatures reaching into the upper 20s starting tomorrow, and into the low 30s into early next week. This is not a Heat Warning or an Extreme Heat Emergency, but we will experience the first high temperatures of the summer. The warmer weather will also cause rapid snow melt, leading to high rivers and streams throughout the province so please keep water safety in mind this weekend.
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.
People in health-care facilities on Vancouver Island are benefiting from stable, consistent and supportive patient care as housekeeping and food service workers previously contracted out return in-house as Island Health employees.
People accessing health care in Vancouver are benefiting from more stable, consistent, and supportive patient care, as more support service workers previously contracted out return as Providence Health Care (PHC) employees.
To protect the supply of specialized infant formulas, the Ministry of Health has issued guidelines to pharmacies asking them to keep these formulas behind the counter.
Residents and seniors in the Comox Valley will soon have access to high-quality and innovative dementia care within a state-of-the-art long-term care home.
People throughout B.C. are getting the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) exams they need faster and closer to home, with the most MRI and CT exams ever completed in a year last year.
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
- Air Quality Advisories
- BC Air Quality
- BC Air Quality Health Index
- Fraser Health
- Interior Health
- Island Health
- Northern Health
- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Health Canada – Air Quality
Cooling Centres
EmergencyInfoBC has a list of cooling centres that can provide protection from heat-related illness during hot summer weather.
If your local community is not listed, please call your local municipality or check their website to see where there are air conditioned cooling centres for those who need them.
COVID-19
For information about COVID-19 from your local health authority, see:
- Interior Health: Information you can trust about COVID-19
- Island Health: COVID-19
- First Nations Health Authority: COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
- Fraser Health: COVID-19
- Northern Health: COVID-19 information
- Vancouver Coastal Health: COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
COVID-19 Public Exposures
COVID-19 School Exposures
- Fraser Health: School exposures
- Interior Health: School exposures
- Island Health: Exposures in Schools
- Northern Health: COVID-19 school exposures
- Vancouver Coastal Health: VCH exposures in schools
Hospital Visiting Guidelines
Drinking Water Quality and Advisories
Food Safety and Inspections
Health Authority News Releases
For latest updates from your Health Authority, see:
- BC Centre for Disease Control
- BC Children's Hospital
- Fraser Health
- First Nations Health Authority
- Island Health
- Interior Health
- Northern Health
- Provincial Health Services Authority
- Vancouver Coastal Health
Influenza
- ImmunizeBC, Find an Influenza (Flu) Clinic
- First Nations Health Authority
- Fraser Health Authority
- Interior Health Authority
- Island Health Authority
- Northern Health Authority
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
Mental Health and Substance Use
- First Nations Health Authority: Mental Health and Wellness Support
- Fraser Health
- Interior Health: Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Island Health: Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Northern Health: Mental health and substance use
- Vancouver Coastal Health: Mental health and substance use
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.
The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The recalled product has been sold in British Columbia and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.
The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace due to the possible presence of pieces of plastic.
The recalled products have been sold nationally and online.
The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace because they may contain milk which is not declared on the label.
The recalled products have been sold in Alberta and online.
Lao Beijing brand Drinkable Yogurt recalled due to mould.
The recalled products were sold in British Columbia and Ontario.
Raaka brand Coconut Milk Unroasted Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao recalled due to undeclared sesame.
The recalled product was sold nationally.
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.
Health Canada's sampling and evaluation program has determined that the recalled children's costume does not meet the flammability requirements under the Toys Regulations.
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.
Detections of seasonal respiratory viruses excluding influenza have been stable since May.
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 24, 2022
Stepping up to the Canadian opioid crisis: a longitudinal analysis of the correlation between socioeconomic status and population rates of opioid-related mortality, hospitalization and emergency department visits (20002017); Encouraging older adults with pre-frailty and frailty to MoveStrong: an analysis of secondary outcomes for a pilot randomized controlled trial
At the national level, influenza activity continued to decline to an influenza positivity rate of 4.8% indicating that Canada is nearing the end of its 2021-2022 late onset seasonal influenza epidemic. Despite the decline, sporadic and some limited localized influenza activity continues to be reported in most regions across the country.
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 23, 2022