Health
Health & Fitness
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The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control is issuing a public health advisory to identify passengers who traveled on Greyhound bus #5098 on October 11 and were exposed to an active case of tuberculosis. The ill person took Greyhound bus #5098 from Vancouver at 5:45 pm, arrived in Chilliwack at 7:45 pm, left Chilliwack at 8:05 pm and arrived in Kelowna at 11:55 pm, during the infectious stage of the disease. The individual is currently receiving treatment in Kelowna.
The BC Centre for Disease Control, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Interior Health are working in cooperation with Greyhound to ensure that all contacts of the passenger in question are identified, and appropriately screened. Identified contacts deemed to be at risk of infection will be tested and, if necessary, offered preventative treatment. The entire route of Greyhound bus #5098 on October 11 was: Vancouver – Coquitlam – Langley – Abbotsford – Chilliwack – Hope – Merritt – Westbank – Kelowna bus depot.
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Influenza season is nearly upon us, and Northern Health is urging those who are eligible for an influenza vaccine to ensure they attend a local clinic over the next few weeks.
Quesnel Air Quality Roundtable seeking new leadership
The Quesnel Air Quality Roundtable is seeking new leadership, as long-time chairperson Dora McMillan has retired to allow, in her words, someone with new blood and fresh ideas to come forward.
"I have greatly enjoyed my time working with such a diverse and driven group of volunteers," said McMillan. "As the community strives to reach a new series of goals, I felt it was an opportunity for a new champion to emerge. I plan to remain involved and to help the new chairperson in the role."
'Imagine' grants available to support health
Northern Health is looking for community partners to help improve the health and wellbeing of those living, working, learning and playing in Northern BC. NH’s Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL), HEAL for Your HEART, Injury Prevention, and RoadHealth along with Men’s Health, Tob offering over $380,000 worth of “IMAGINE” grants that will provide financial support for the work of community organizations to promote safe, healthy families and healthy communities.
Cold and ‘flu season - health facility visitors can help
Northern Health is asking for continued cooperation from visitors to hospitals and other health care facilities during the winter months, which are prime season for outbreaks of rhinovirus (the common cold) and influenza.
“As illnesses circulate in the general community, it becomes almost inevitable that long-term care residents, hospital patients and staff in some facilities will come down with a contagious virus at some point,” said Dr. Ronald Chapman, acting Chief Medical Health Officer for Northern Health. “We need the help of visitors to these facilities in limiting the spread of these illnesses.”
Keeping the True North Strong and Smoke-Free
Northern Health is inviting community organizations and schools to submit project proposals aimed at increasing awareness and reducing tobacco use in Northern BC. The True North Strong and Smoke-Free community grant program, now in its seventh year, offers various funding to successful applicants.
The True North Strong and Smoke-Free community grants support community organizations and schools in reducing tobacco use. Projects can focus on any aspect of tobacco reduction such as spit tobacco, second-hand smoke, smoking cessation, youth tobacco prevention or awareness about the hazards of tobacco.
