Category: Health Fitness

A group representing Canada’s obstetricians and gynecologists says it has reviewed evidence on Tylenol use during pregnancy and maintains that the painkiller is safe. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada said on Monday that it has revisited its position in light of reports questioning whether there is a link between mothers taking acetaminophen…

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will take over the troubled Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), after a Global News investigation revealed serious flaws in its operation and administration practises. PHAC launched a compliance audit into Oxaro Inc., the Ottawa consulting firm contracted by the federal government to administer the program, in late July….

A new study has found that while one in nine people globally live with diabetes, almost half don’t even know they have the disease. The study of data from more than 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2023 found 44 per cent of people 15 years and older with diabetes are undiagnosed. “It is…

By nature, twins have an unbreakable bond. It was no surprise Connie Claeys and Cortney Drover did everything together: Growing up in Saskatchewan, moving to Alberta and even working at the same place. The pair of identical twins have experienced life through a similar lens. In their late 20s, they faced their biggest challenge yet…

RICHMOUND – Provincial officials in Saskatchewan say parts of a former school that was serving as a compound for the self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada” and her followers have been declared unfit for human habitation, and the residents have been ordered out. The Saskatchewan Health Authority says in an email that occupancy of the building in…

Doctors are calling for restrictions on sports betting ads, saying they are setting youth up for a future of problem gambling. An editorial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday says the ads are everywhere during sports broadcasts and that the legalization of online gambling has made every smartphone a potential betting platform….

The death of Montreal Canadiens legend Ken Dryden resonated in political circles on Saturday where the former NHL great left his mark as a long-standing member of Parliament and former Liberal cabinet minister. The Montreal Canadiens organization announced Dryden’s death shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday. He died Friday at age 78 following a battle with…

Two Toronto hospital patients are now the first Canadians to have Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chip implanted in the country. The University Health Network (UHN) said in a news release Thursday the operations, conducted on Aug. 27 and Sept. 3 at Toronto Western Hospital, make it the first Canadian hospital to successfully implant the wireless…

Florida will work to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates in the state, building on the effort by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to curb vaccine requirements and other health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis also announced on Wednesday the creation of a state-level “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) commission modelled after similar initiatives pushed…

Wildfires continue to rage across the Northwest Territories, sending hundreds from their homes due to evacuation as officials warn others to be prepared to leave. As of Wednesday, there are 106 active wildfires in the territory with 89 considered out of control. Residents of Fort Providence, N.W.T., evacuated on Aug. 31 and three days later,…

As Canada’s children head back to school, a new report says the country’s youth are a “generation at risk” with some of the top threats facing them including bullying, poverty and mental health issues. The Raising Canada report, commissioned by charity organization Children First Canada this year, found 71 per cent of youth between the…

Polio, a highly contagious viral infection that can cause paralysis and death, has been eradicated in Canada for decades thanks to widespread vaccination efforts. There is no cure for polio; it can only be prevented, and doctors warn if vaccine rates continue to decline as they have in recent years, it could open the door to…

An Okotoks woman is calling her recent vacation a “$100,000 trip” after she suffered a health emergency and was hospitalized over 8,000 km away from home in southern Alberta. Dione Amundson and her son Peyton were in Japan for a two-week trip this past July. However, on day four she said she felt something ‘pop’…

A group of bereaved families who have lost their loved ones to overdose have launched a billboard campaign in Edmonton to honour them and educate the public about what they call a toxic drug supply crisis. Ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, the group, Moms Stop The Harm, gathered at the site…

Federal public servants were less likely to call in sick to work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, new government data shows. The figures shared by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat indicate that in 2020-21, when the pandemic had most office employees working entirely remotely, the average number of sick days for the…

Money from a historic tobacco settlement is set to flow to provinces and territories starting Friday, but advocates say the money needs to go towards health programs aimed at smoking cessation and youth prevention. The settlement was approved in March by Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz, with $32.5 billion in compensation to be…

A New York billionaire who is an avid supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump says he is helping fund the legal battle by a British Columbia ostrich farm against an order to cull their flock of about 400 birds after an avian flu outbreak. John Catsimatidis says he and a friend have contributed about US$35,000…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size A line of dining furniture sold at The Brick is being recalled by Health Canada for unsafe levels of lead. The brand of dining furniture — known as Lars — includes a counter wood top table and chairs with black coatings applied to the legs and metal…

New guidance in Canada is recommending that vaping be the last resort for Canadians trying to quit smoking. The recommendations, published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, lay out new methods to help people reduce and stop smoking altogether. Doctors are advised to ask their patients…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Health Canada has approved Moderna’s newly updated COVID-19 vaccine — and for the first time, the vaccines will be “made in Canada.” The company says having the vaccine available from domestic manufacturers and suppliers creates a critical piece of health resilience to “ensure Canada is ready, not…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted August 22, 2025 12:40 pm Updated August 22, 2025 12:41 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size New federal data says apparent opioid-related deaths dropped by 17 per cent across Canada in 2024 compared with the prior year. But they rose in Quebec, Newfoundland…

A person has tested positive for plague after possibly being bitten by an infected flea while camping in South Lake Tahoe, according to public health officials. El Dorado County’s public health division announced the positive plague case on Tuesday and stated that the individual is currently under the care of a medical professional while recovering…

A cull of some 400 B.C. ostriches that were exposed to avian flu can proceed, one of Canada’s top courts ruled on Thursday. The Federal Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., seeking to block a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) cull order. In its decision, the court concluded…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size People using the popular weight-loss drug Mounjaro in the United Kingdom are set to pay a higher price for it, as pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly said it will raise the U.K. list price by up to 170 per cent. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Seafood lovers in the U.S. are being warned about a recall over the risk of potentially radioactive shrimp — and no, it’s not a character in a new superhero movie. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued a warning about a frozen shrimp brand sold…

Moving from Ontario to New Brunswick didn’t just mean Jade Medeiros had to navigate a new province with two babies, she also had to figure out a new vaccination program. When her family moved to Moncton in 2020, she learned her two and three-year-old were already behind on routine vaccinations because New Brunswick has a…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Pfizer’s latest vaccine against the current variant of COVID-19 is set to be available this fall in Canada, the company announced on Tuesday. In a news release, Pfizer Canada and BioNTech said that Health Canada authorized the LP.8.1 variant COVID-19 vaccine for individuals six months and older….

Health Canada has approved Ozempic to reduce the risk of further kidney decline among patients with Type 2 diabetes. Between 30 and 50 per cent of people with Type 2 diabetes develop some form of chronic kidney disease. An international clinical trial, called FLOW, showed the risk of kidneys significantly deteriorating or failing was 24…

By The Staff The Canadian Press Posted August 16, 2025 2:21 pm Updated August 16, 2025 6:31 pm 2 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Firefighters on Vancouver Island say a “significant” amount of rainfall has helped crews make progress in battling an out-of-control wildfire, which is burning south of Port…

The Pan American Health Organization says Canada has the highest number of measles cases on the continent and more action is needed to address low vaccination rates. The regional agency within the World Health Organization, which covers North and South America, says there has been an exponential rise in measles this year. As of Aug….

The company that runs Canada’s Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) wrongly declared a B.C. woman dead and didn’t correct its mistake for months despite multiple requests, Global News has learned. Carol Messenger of Comox, B.C., learned that on Oct. 2, 2024, she was pronounced a “deceased claimant” by the support program, a year after she…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size More pistachio products are being recalled in Canada due to potential salmonella contamination, the latest in multiple recalls issued this week for pistachio-related products, including a viral Dubai brand chocolate bar. Several Andalos brand baklava pastry products are the latest to be recalled. The seven Andalos products that…

A new prescription eye drop that could potentially allow many people to put down their reading glasses has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Known as Vizz, manufactured by pharmaceutical company Lenz, the once-daily drops treat age-related blurry near vision — also known as presbyopia — for up to 10 hours…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Health Canada is warning Canadians that various Fieldsheer branded heated socks have been recalled over concerns the products could potentially cause blisters or burns. The Merino wool-heated sock and Premium 2.0 Merino heated sock are affected, but so is a different version of the Premium 2.0 that…

Pistachios have been the subject of a series of recalls linked to a salmonella outbreak, and while some health officials say that doesn’t mean people should avoid all pistachio products, others say toss the nut. Four brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products have been recalled over the past several weeks by the Canadian Food Inspection…

A review by The Associated Press shows that several of President Donald Trump’s nominees to the federal courts have revealed anti-abortion views, been associated with anti-abortion groups or defended abortion restrictions. Several have helped defend their state’s abortion restrictions in court and some have been involved in cases with national impact, including on access to…

Nine people are in hospital with salmonella infections after consuming certain brands of pistachios or pistachio-containing products, including viral Dubai brand chocolate bars. And so far, three-quarters of the people sickened are women, the Public Health Agency of Canada says. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said on Tuesday that the recall of a Dubai brand…

The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a statement Tuesday that 22 projects, totalling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted. Kennedy’s decision…

For the past decade, Sughra Ayaz has traveled door to door in southeastern Pakistan, pleading with parents to allow children to be vaccinated against polio as part of a global campaign to wipe out the paralytic disease. She hears their demands and fears. Some are practical – families need basics like food and water more…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size A Dubai brand chocolate product is being recalled in Canada due to potential salmonella contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says the recall was “triggered by test results” and affects pistachio and knafeh milk chocolate from the brand Dubai. The specific product is the 145-gram size…

Quelling the spread of measles involves immunization campaigns and public health protocols, but Tina Meggison says it also requires sitting down and having an open and honest conversation. That’s what she’s working to do within the Low German-speaking Mennonite community in Alberta. Meggison has more than a decade of professional — and a lifetime of…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Florida Department of Health said on Monday that there have been 21 cases of Campylobacter and E. coli infections linked to drinking raw milk in the state, including six children under 10. The state health department reported seven hospitalizations linked to the consumption of raw milk…

Cases of Lyme disease have been building steadily in Canada and the U.S. over the past few years, with the infectious tick-borne illness once again making its way into international headlines. Justin Timberlake last week became the latest celebrity to announce he has been battling the “relentlessly debilitating” disease, which causes sometimes-severe symptoms that can…

TORONTO – Shane Bieber hopes to be a popular pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays down the stretch, but realizes that in his new home, he’ll be the second most famous Bieber after Canadian pop icon Justin Bieber. The Blue Jays’ Bieber once wore a jersey with “Not Justin” on the back during a players’…

By Nicole Ireland The Canadian Press Posted July 31, 2025 6:20 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Public Health Agency of Canada says this year’s first human case of West Nile virus acquired within the country has been confirmed in Toronto. The confirmation comes after Toronto Public Health…

The provincial agency overseeing Ontario’s home care system was informed about a massive data breach in April, Global News has learned, more than two months before the public, along with hundreds of thousands of impacted patients, were notified. Ontario Health atHome, a Crown agency recently created by the Ford government to coordinate resources for home…

The first steps towards reducing the risk of cognitive decline associated with aging could be as simple as going for regular walks, according to new research. Multiple studies have shown that regular physical activity can be beneficial as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, and new research shared with Global News shows that it can…

A federal judge on Monday ruled Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding as the nation’s largest abortion provider fights President Donald Trump’s administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. The new order replaces a previous edict handed down by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani…

Finlay van der Werken’s life is now a collection of memories closely guarded by his parents. The 16-year-old is remembered as a loving son, a devoted older brother and a loyal friend. “I still hear his laughter,” his father, GJ van der Werken, said. “Finlay was a typical oldest son. (He was) very responsible, looking…

Did you get your steps in today? Well, a new study shows your goal may not have to be as high as it once was to help your health. The study, published this week in The Lancet, found that walking about 7,000 steps per day reduces the risk of several serious health outcomes, including a…

A national shortage of common prescription pain medications in Canada could last into early August. Health Canada issued a notice last week that drugs containing acetaminophen with codeine or oxycodone that are used to relieve pain are experiencing shortages. Acetaminophen with oxycodone is often under the brand Percocet, while acetaminophen combined with codeine is sometimes…

West Nile virus has returned to Canada for another season, with detections in mosquitoes in multiple regions of Ontario in the past week, including in Toronto. Niagara Region Public Health confirmed Tuesday that West Nile virus had been detected in mosquitoes in Welland, Ont., while Toronto and York Region reported their first positive cases in…

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is expediting its audit of the company that oversees the troubled Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) and has asked agency staffers to recommend new ways of delivering the services to ailing Canadians. “PHAC is currently accelerating its audit of Oxaro and Oxaro’s management of the Vaccine Injury Support…

The parents of a New Brunswick boy say they’re angry after they were asked to leave a hospital emergency room because their son, who has ADHD and autism, was allegedly being too loud while he was waiting to be seen for seizures. Lorissa and Glendon Kingston had brought their seven-year-old son, Cayden, to the Saint…

The federal government will “try” to improve how the Vaccine Injury Support Program delivers services and financial support to ailing and fragile Canadians, Health Minister Marjorie Michel said Monday. Michel made the brief remarks in New Brunswick, as she publicly answered questions for the first time about the VISP’s performance since a five-month Global News…

AIDS activists are urging the federal government to quickly renew Canada’s support for fighting infectious diseases abroad, warning delays will further hinder global efforts to combat key illnesses. “While some of the other nations around the world are retreating right now from investing in global health, Canada can and should be stepping forward swiftly, to…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted July 15, 2025 7:37 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Special air-quality statements caused by wildfire smoke remain in effect for many areas of the country, and in some places, people are also handling stifling heat and humidity as well as the haze….

Soccer had a fierce reckoning with heat at the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States — a sweltering preview of what players and fans may face when the U.S. co-hosts the World Cup with Mexico and Canada next summer. With temperatures rising worldwide, scientists warn that staging the World Cup and…

Four Conservative MPs are calling for a Commons committee investigation into the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), and a pivotal non-profit health foundation says the effort needs an urgent overhaul. Led by Dan Mazier, the Conservative health critic and deputy chairman of the Commons Health Committee, the group requested in a letter that Liberal MP…

By Steve Holland and Christian Martinez Reuters Posted July 17, 2025 2:30 pm Updated July 17, 2025 3:59 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size U.S. President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a “common” vein condition after being evaluated by his doctor over swelling in his lower legs, the White House…

Eight babies in the United Kingdom have been born using DNA from a third person to eliminate the risk of them developing an often fatal genetic disease. The method, referred to by the BBC as the three-person technique, was pioneered by a group of Newcastle-based British scientists and combines the egg and sperm of a…

Janet Charchuk knows that having Down syndrome puts her at higher risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease at a younger age than the average person. “It is something that I do worry about at times,” she said in an interview from her home in Alberton, P.E.I. But she’s doing everything she can to prevent it. “Your…

For decades, proponents of psychedelic drugs have come to Washington with a provocative message: Illegal, mind-altering substances like LSD and ecstasy should be approved for Americans grappling with depression, trauma and other hard-to-treat conditions. A presidential administration finally seems to agree. “This line of therapeutics has tremendous advantage if given in a clinical setting and…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted July 15, 2025 2:49 pm Updated July 15, 2025 4:57 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Officials are pulling another brand of salami off the shelves due to an ongoing salmonella outbreak. The Public Health Agency of Canada says 84 people have gotten…

More than 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine last year — about the same number as the year before — according to U.N. health officials. Nine countries accounted for more than half of those unprotected children. In their annual estimate of global vaccine coverage, released Tuesday, the World Health Organization and UNICEF…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Wildfire season is upon us once again, and smoke is reducing air quality through swaths of the country. Environment Canada suggests people check the Air Quality Health Index daily to determine how much time to spend outside. Here’s how to interpret the index: How do I find…

Alberta has surpassed the United States in confirmed measles cases, after 30 new cases were diagnosed over the weekend. Once declared eradicated in Canada in 1998, measles has made a comeback, spreading rapidly in recent months due to declining vaccination rates. The province has now seen 1,314 cases since the beginning of March. The U.S….

By Hannah Alberga The Canadian Press Posted July 11, 2025 11:37 am Updated July 11, 2025 11:44 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Health officials say a salmonella outbreak linked to deli meats sold at grocery stores and in prepared sandwiches has expanded. The Public Health Agency of Canada…

Years of American-led investment into AIDS programs has reduced the number of people killed by the disease to the lowest levels seen in more than three decades, and provided life-saving medicines for some of the world’s most vulnerable. But in the last six months, the sudden withdrawal of U.S. money has caused a “systemic shock,”…

As heat waves become more common in certain parts of the country, Canadians are relying more and more on air conditioning and similar cooling equipment, says new Statistics Canada data. The increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves is at least in part due to the changing climate, as experts have noted. This is also…

While the Trump administration explores ways to encourage Americans to have more babies and reverse the United States’ falling birth rate, a new poll finds that relatively few U.S. adults see this as a priority or share the White House’s concerns. Instead, Americans are more likely to want the government to focus on the high…

A federal government program designed during the pandemic to compensate people who have been seriously and permanently injured by vaccines is “failing” and a “breach of trust,” say opposition parties. A five-month-long Global News investigation of the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), involving more than 30 interviews with current and former Oxaro employees, injured claimants…

After a five-month investigation, Global News requested an interview with the Public Health Agency of Canada officials to discuss its Vaccine Injury Support Program. The federal agency declined the request, asking for written questions instead. Global News submitted an extensive letter with detailed questions about specific cases and facts. PHAC sent us the following statement:…

Oxaro Inc., the Ottawa-based consulting company the federal government hired in 2021 to administer its Vaccine Injury Support Program, declined to be interviewed by Global News. It requested this news organization submit written questions. Global submitted a 15-page letter of queries. An anonymous reply from a “VISP feedback” email address offered partial responses to the…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Public Health Agency of Canada publicly identifies Oxaro as VISP’s “independent 3rd party administrator” to highlight the arm’s-length relationship between government and contractor. This was the reason PHAC outsourced the administration of VISP in the first place: to avoid a potential conflict of interest between its…

A researcher says an experimental gene therapy for a rare inherited disorder is saving almost as much money for the treatment of five patients as the study itself costs. The early-stage study published last year found that three of the men being treated for Fabry disease were able to stop using enzyme-replacement therapy — which…

The federal government has launched a compliance audit to determine if an Ottawa consulting company is mismanaging the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), and Public Health Agency of Canada officials made a surprise visit to the firm’s offices in mid-June, Global News has learned. A five-month-long Global News investigation of the VISP program triggered the…

A $50-million program the federal government created to help Canadians seriously injured by COVID-19 vaccines is in disarray, current and former staffers say. The Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), created during the pandemic, was designed to compensate people who have been seriously and permanently injured by any Health Canada-authorized vaccine administered in Canada on or…

Canada’s Vaccine Injury Support Program is not the only one of its kind facing major challenges. Similar efforts in the U.S., U.K. and Australia have come under scrutiny for allegedly failing to support families amid surging applications and desperate pleas for help. The Australian government closed its new injury claim program and stopped accepting new…

Kimberly MacDougall lay in a hospital bed beside her injured husband, Stephen, as his final moments came. She and their two kids held him as he took his last breath. Stephen, 45, a service manager for a luxury automobile dealership, had been fighting to live for weeks in May 2021, but stopped struggling. She informed…

A warming climate is driving a rise in Lyme disease and the introduction of lesser-known tick-borne diseases, public health specialists say. “Climate change in Canada is happening at a much more accelerated rate than we see in parts of the rest of the world,” said Heather Coatsworth, chief of field studies at the National Microbiology…

The World Health Organization says its probe into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which caused the COVID-19 pandemic, is still ongoing, and despite a three-year investigation, has yet to find the exact cause. “As things stand, all hypotheses must remain on the table, including zoonotic spillover and lab leak,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus…

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the country is pulling its support from the vaccines alliance Gavi, saying the organization has “ignored the science” and “lost the public trust.” A video of Kennedy’s short speech was shown to a Gavi meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, where the organization that has paid for more than…

Health Canada has issued a public advisory warning Canadians about buying health products online after an international operation against counterfeit medicine saw thousands of packages stopped or seized before entering the country. From Dec. 16, 2024, until May 16, 2025, Interpol led an operation across 90 countries, Operation Pangea XVII, that resulted in the seizure…

An average of 20 Canadians died from an opioid overdose every day last year, federal health officials say, despite opioid-related drug toxicity deaths falling 17 per cent from the year before. The data for 2024 released Wednesday by the Public Health Agency of Canada showed 7,146 deaths were recorded last year. Eighty per cent of…

By Hannah Alberga The Canadian Press Posted June 25, 2025 10:39 am Updated June 25, 2025 12:23 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Officials say 72 people, mostly in Alberta, have fallen ill after eating salami recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. The Public Health Agency of Canada released…

A twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV being dubbed a “wonder drug” by some could be coming to Canada as soon as next year, though the company behind it says it could still take some time before the general population could access it. Gilead Canada confirmed to Global News that it had submitted lenacapavir for pre-exposure…

Doctors and health-care experts are warning Canadians to not only look after themselves but also check on others who could be vulnerable as large parts of central Canada face a sweltering heat wave. Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell says a large heat ridge or dome will build over the Ohio Valley in the U.S. and…

Recent settlements in U.S. government lawsuits against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma and the firm that allegedly consulted on boosting its sales have B.C.’s attorney general feeling “heartened” as she pursues similar lawsuits in Canada. Monday saw 55 U.S. states and territories reach a US$7.5-billion settlement with Purdue, the maker of OxyContin, and members of the Sackler…

The U.S. has approved the world’s only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV, the first step in an anticipated global rollout that could protect millions – although it’s unclear how many in the U.S. and abroad will get access to the powerful new option. While a vaccine to prevent HIV still is needed, some experts say…

By Devi Shastri The Associated Press Posted June 18, 2025 2:19 pm 2 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID. That’s because the variant — NB.1.8.1. or…

U.S. Dietary Guidelines are expected to eliminate the long-standing recommendation that adults limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day, according to three sources familiar with the matter, in what could be a major win for an industry threatened by heightened scrutiny of alcohol’s health effects. The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which…

Genetic data company 23AndMe had “inadequate” security systems and was “slow to respond” to warning signs that customers’ sensitive data was at risk before the “profoundly damaging” 2023 data breach, privacy officials say. Canadian Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne and U.K. Information Commissioner John Edwards released the results of their joint investigation into the breach on…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Purdue Pharma has won support from the attorneys general of 55 U.S. states and territories for its $7.4 billion settlement to resolve thousands of opioid lawsuits against the drugmaker and its owners, members of the Sackler family. A framework for the settlement had been announced in January by New…

U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly said on Monday it will offer the higher-dose versions of its popular weight-loss drug Zepbound on its website LillyDirect, with shipments starting in early August. The company said the 12.5 milligrams and 15 mg doses of the drug will be available for US$499 per month on the website with shipments to…

With hockey shirts decorating the wall, a favourite video game on TV, and a cellphone not far away, Henry Black is everything you might expect from a 16-year-old. But on June 25, 2024, a bike ride changed his life forever. “It started off a very average day,” said Black, recalling the day he biked with…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Dr. Theresa Tam’s time as Canada’s top doctor is set to come to an end next week, the Public Health Agency of Canada says. Tam has served as Canada’s chief public health officer since June 2017. PHAC said she would leave the role once her mandate finishes…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted June 14, 2025 5:58 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size A health authority in northern British Columbia says measles is officially circulating in a remote community in the province’s northeast. Northern Health says multiple lab-confirmed cases of measles have been confirmed in Wonowon, about 89 kilometres northwest…

By Kyle Duggan The Canadian Press Posted June 13, 2025 3:53 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Canadian Cancer Society is warning the Carney government that its legislation to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers could undermine health standards unless it’s amended to add new safeguards. The legislation, which the…

Albertans who want to continue to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus will have to pay out of pocket for it, the province announced late Friday afternoon. Since December 2020, the federal government had been looking after procuring and buying the vaccines, which the Public Health Agency of Canada said was unique to the COVID-19…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size There are approximately 225 active wildfires burning across the country, with 121 classified as being “out of control,” and this wildfire season is expected to continue to be challenging, federal officials say. On Thursday, officials with Public Safety Canada provided a technical briefing on the state of…

On Wednesday, the head of the U.S. health department, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appointed eight new members to a vaccine advisory committee from which he abruptly fired all 17 experts in one go earlier this week. He ousted the panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which was predominantly comprised of practicing…

A week ago, 31-year-old Gabriella Patey was told she had advanced-stage breast cancer and was expected to have only months to live. Armed with the “grim diagnosis” that had also claimed her mother’s life, Patey began telling family and friends and making end-of-life preparations. “I put a claim in through my bank for critical illness…

Canadian doctors and scientists say Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s firing of an immunization advisory committee south of the border is worrisome. On Monday, the U.S. health and human services secretary — a longtime anti-vaccine advocate — said he will appoint new members to the scientific group that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Some salami products under the Rea and Bona brands are being recalled from three provinces over concerns of potential salmonella contamination, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says. According to a food recall warning, Rea’s Genoa Salami Sweet and Genoa Salami Hot, as well as Bona’s Mild Genova…

As wildfires continue to burn across the Prairies, air quality continues to be an issue for many parts of Alberta. Some communities in the province remained under an air quality warning on Tuesday while special air quality statements were issued for others. Air quality health index values posted on the Environment and Climate Change Canada…

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks. Major physicians and public health groups criticized the move to oust all 17 members of the…

Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel says there’s no evidence that forcing people into addictions treatment works — but she won’t weigh in on whether provinces should pursue involuntary treatment. “I will tell you that I think every single Canadian has the right to get treated,” she said. “I won’t tell you that to force them…

Health Canada has issued a statement urging consumers not to inhale nitrous oxide products for recreational purposes, and warning about the serious health risks of doing so as reports of instances are on the rise, and as authorities are cracking down on the production, distribution, and sale of these products to the public. Commonly known…

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would revoke guidance to the nation’s hospitals that directed them to provide emergency abortions for women when they are necessary to stabilize their medical condition. That guidance was issued to hospitals in 2022, weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court upended national abortion rights in the U.S. It…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Tens of thousands of window-mounted air conditioner units are being recalled in Canada as part of a broader North American recall over the risk of mould exposure. This comes as summer-like temperatures and wildfire smoke spread across many parts of Canada. The government of Canada recall website…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The European Medicines Agency’s safety committee has concluded that the use of Novo Nordisk’s popular weight-loss drug Wegovy and its treatments for type 2 diabetes may cause rare occurrences of a potentially dangerous eye condition. Called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), the condition may affect up…

A premature infant who contracted measles before birth has died in southwestern Ontario, the province’s chief medical officer of health says, According to Dr. Kieran Moore, the infant’s mother was not vaccinated against measles. In a statement Thursday, he said while measles may have contributed to both the premature birth and death, the infant also…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Two lots of Seasonale birth control medication are being recalled by the manufacturer after it received a complaint that they contained extra placebo pills. Teva Canada Ltd. said it received a complaint that a package contained an extra row of placebos when there should only be one…

Smoky days from wildfires in the spring and summer are sadly becoming the norm in Western Canada, and the hidden impact it can have on your health is something that shouldn’t be ignored, health officials say. Bad air quality is linked to poor health outcomes and the development or worsening of some chronic diseases. “Things…

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would revoke guidance to the nation’s hospitals that directed them to provide emergency abortions for women when they are necessary to stabilize their medical condition. That guidance was issued to hospitals in 2022, weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court upended national abortion rights in the U.S. It was an…

As American health officials vow to overhaul the U.S. food supply, they’re taking a new look at infant formula. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed the Food and Drug Administration to review the nutrients and other ingredients in infant formula, which fills the bottles of millions of American babies. The effort, dubbed…

A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity…

By Ashley Joannou The Canadian Press Posted June 2, 2025 7:43 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The British Columbia government is commissioning an independent review of the province’s home-share program, months after an inquest into the starvation death of a woman with Down syndrome in a Port Coquitlam…

A team of Canadian researchers has created a test they say could quickly predict if a patient is going to develop sepsis, a life-threatening condition that happens when the immune system has a dysfunctional reaction to an infection and starts attacking the body’s own organs and tissues. Sepsis kills thousands of people in Canada and…

The ostrich farm in British Columbia, which has become a flashpoint of an avian flu outbreak, “has not cooperated” with the authorities to manage the outbreak, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Universal Ostrich Farm “failed to undertake appropriate biosecurity risk mitigation measures,” the CFIA alleged in a statement. CFIA had previously ordered the…

From oral drops falsely marketed as GLP-1 alternatives to unauthorized smartwatches claiming to monitor blood sugar without a single finger prick, a wave of fraudulent diabetes-related products are popping up on Canadian websites, prompting urgent warnings from health officials. Recently, Diabetes Canada says it has received a surge in calls and emails from people with…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted May 27, 2025 12:47 pm Updated May 27, 2025 7:38 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size A judge has fined a commercial kitchen company $10,000 for bylaw offences linked to an E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares that saw hundreds of children fall…

With measles making an alarming comeback across the country, more Canadians believe vaccines should be mandatory for kids in school, but a significant number of parents still aren’t convinced, according to a new poll. Polling by Angus Reid, published Thursday, shows support for mandatory childhood measles vaccination has jumped over the past year, yet one…

By Staff The Associated Press Posted May 28, 2025 3:09 pm Updated May 29, 2025 8:15 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size COVID-19 cases are rising again as a new variant begins to circulate in some parts of the world. The World Health Organization said Wednesday the rise in…

Canada’s gynecologists say COVID-19 vaccination “remains safe and strongly recommended” during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada issued the assurance Wednesday, a day after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a longtime anti-vaccine activist — declared the shot is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant…

Texas this year has been the center of the nation’s largest measles outbreak in more than two decades, as a mostly eradicated disease has sickened more than 700 in the state, sent dozens to hospitals and led to the death of two children who were unvaccinated. But even as the outbreak slows, a bill approved…

The operators of an ostrich farm in southeastern British Columbia say United States health official and former television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz has offered to save the birds from an impending cull by relocating them to his ranch in Florida. But Katie Pasitney, whose parents own the farm, said they aren’t interested in moving the…

Several tobacco control organizations are renewing their calls on the federal government to put a ban on flavoured vaping products as a new Parliament begins and a new health minister settles into their role. That comes as data over recent years has shown half of Canadian young adults have tried vaping, and after previous health minister…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has written a letter to the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency asking that ostriches at a B.C. farm be spared from a planned cull. Kennedy, the U.S. secretary for health and human services, posted a letter on social media dated Friday and addressed to Paul MacKinnon, saying there would…

The number of confirmed cases of measles in Canada this year has surpassed 2,000 and infectious disease specialists say while the surge will eventually end, continued spread is expected into the summer. Recent numbers from the provinces show big jumps, with Ontario and Alberta seeing the highest case counts so far. Ontario reported a total…

Excess body weight can raise the risk of certain cancers, leading researchers to wonder whether blockbuster drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Zepbound could play a role in cancer prevention. Now, a study of 170,000 patient records suggests there’s a slightly lower risk of obesity-related cancers in U.S. adults with diabetes who took these popular medications compared to those who took…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Moderna said on Wednesday it has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its flu and COVID-19 combination vaccine candidate to wait for efficacy data from a late-stage trial of its influenza shot, which is due later this year. The delay was largely expected after Moderna said earlier this month…

About one in three Canadians needing a new hip or knee are waiting longer than they should, but instead of turning to private clinics, researchers say a more centralized referral system could help fix the backlog. A study published Tuesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) found that organizing referrals and surgeries through a coordinated, team-based…

Annual COVID-19 shots for healthy younger adults and children in the U.S. will no longer be routinely approved under a major new vaccine policy shift unveiled Tuesday by the Trump administration. Top officials for the Food and Drug Administration laid out new requirements for yearly updates to COVID shots, saying they’d continue to use a…

Former United States president Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Biden sought medical attention last week after experiencing urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate, his office said in a statement on May 18. After further testing, an…

A global study from UNICEF suggests many Canadian kids are unhappy, with social struggles such as bullying and difficulty making friends among the sources of their anguish. UNICEF’s 19th Report Card suggests one in five youth in Canada face frequent bullying, one in five are lonely and one in four struggle to make friends. It blames bullying in particular for a drop in life satisfaction…

A medically brain-dead pregnant woman in the U.S. state of Georgia is being kept alive on a ventilator until her baby can be born because removing the patient’s life support would constitute an illegal abortion based on state laws. Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old mother and nurse, has been in a vegetative state since February. However,…

As Canadians flock outdoors for hiking, gardening and sunshine this spring, an unwelcome guest is making its seasonal return: ticks. Thanks to warming winters and milder temperatures, ticks are thriving in more parts of the country than ever before — bringing a growing risk of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Black-legged ticks, the species responsible…

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a new effort to lower prescription drug prices for Americans that targets foreign nations — both for the lower prices they pay and the potential to import cheaper drugs from those countries. Yet the federal government and policy experts say any potential impacts from the executive order signed this…

Whether you’re enjoying sushi, feeding your baby rice cereal or indulging in a rice pudding, it’s easy to see why rice is one of the most popular staples around the world. But emerging research shows this beloved grain may be contaminated with arsenic — a toxic element linked to serious health risks, including brain developmental…

As a deadly bird flu outbreak sweeps through wild and domestic bird populations globally, researchers have identified an alarming trend that could bring the virus closer to humans: a significant increase in infections among pet cats and other feline species. While avian influenza — commonly known as bird flu — has long been a concern…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted May 15, 2025 2:14 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The partner of a man who received a medically assisted death after developing a severe bedsore in a Quebec hospital says medical staff didn’t listen to her. Sylvie Brosseau spoke outside the Montreal courtroom where a coroner…

There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded. An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Wednesday. That’s down 27 per cent from the 110,000 in 2023. The CDC has…

The family operating the British Columbia ostrich farm where 400 birds have been ordered culled say about 40 supporters have arrived on scene in anticipation of a possible showdown with federal authorities. In the meantime, the Regional District of Central Kootenay says it has received an operational certificate from the provincial Environment Ministry for its…

Living near a golf course might come with an unexpected health concern: a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The study, published May 8 in JAMA Network Open, found a potential link between living near golf courses, where pesticides are commonly used, and higher rates of the neurodegenerative condition. It found…

The United States is advising travellers aged 60 and up to hold off on getting the chikungunya vaccine while it looks into reports of possible side effects, including heart problems, neurological issues and even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a notice on May…

People taking Eli Lilly’s obesity drug, Zepbound, lost nearly 50 per cent more weight than those using rival Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy in the first head-to-head study of the blockbuster medications. Clinical trial participants who took tirzepatide, the drug sold as Zepbound, lost an average of 50 pounds over 72 weeks, while those who took semaglutide,…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted May 12, 2025 3:07 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Montreal public health officials are calling for better access to tuberculosis care after a sharp rise in the number of cases reported last year. The regional health authority reported 203 new cases in 2024,…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Some radon gas detectors sold on Amazon may not accurately measure gas levels, potentially putting users at risk, Health Canada has warned. On Wednesday, Health Canada issued a recall for radon gas detectors sold online, including the Boyd Gresham ‘Toolhome’ Radon Detector and the Funny Kitchen Home…

The number of confirmed cases of measles in Alberta is soaring, from 193 confirmed cases on May 1 to 313 cases on May 8 — a period of just one week. Nearly two-thirds of cases are in the southern part of the province, which includes Lethbridge, Taber and Medicine Hat. And the real number of…

Marc Parravano has donated blood 146 times. He remembers regularly going to the blood collection centre with his mother when he was a kid and followed in her footsteps after he turned 17 and was able to donate himself. “I get a sense of accomplishment and reward because I’m helping others,” Parravano, now 40, said…

Canada has held measles elimination status for nearly 30 years — but that could be gone by the fall. If the current outbreaks keep growing the way they have been, Canada could lose that status by October 2025, according to a recent risk update from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). “It is a…

Popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are helping millions worldwide shed unwanted pounds, but it appears they’ve also been eating away at WeightWatcher’s profits. WW International, formerly known as WeightWatchers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday in a bid to protect itself and cut debt after hugely popular obesity drugs capsized its…

By Nicole Ireland The Canadian Press Posted May 5, 2025 7:25 am Updated May 5, 2025 7:26 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size A new study says visits to emergency departments for asthma spiked during a first wave of unprecedented wildfire smoke in 2023, but patient numbers returned to…

As weight-loss injectables like Ozempic skyrocket in popularity, a new offshoot trend is starting to take hold: microdosing. Instead of following the standard dosing guidelines, some people are experimenting with smaller amounts of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. The reasons vary — from trying to stretch out expensive prescriptions to avoiding the side…

Warning: This story contains sensitive subject matter. Discretion is advised. The wife of a man who sought assisted death following a disastrous emergency room stay in Quebec is accusing the healthcare system of negligence. On Monday, Sylvie Brosseau spoke publicly as a coroner’s inquiry began into the death of her longtime partner, Normand Meunier, who…

Tim Friede has been bitten by snakes hundreds of times — often on purpose. Now scientists are studying his blood in hopes of creating a better treatment for snake bites. Friede has long had a fascination with reptiles and other venomous creatures. He used to milk scorpions’ and spiders’ venom as a hobby and kept dozens of snakes at his Wisconsin home. Hoping to protect himself…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Health Canada says a burn risk has led the agency to recall a pressure cooker lid that has resulted in more than 100 injuries in the United States. The recall notice posted Thursday says the pressure cooker lid on several models of Ninja Foodi Tendercrisp multi-cookers can…

JAMP Pharma Corp., a Quebec pharmaceutical maker, is recalling one lot of JAMP-Pregabalin pain medicine because bottles labelled to contain 50-milligram capsules may contain 150-milligram capsules instead. Health Canada announced the recall in an unusual Saturday evening statement. The announcement said the company’s mix-up could lead to patients taking a much larger dose of the…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Health Canada is warning the public after one lot of Seasonique birth control pills was recalled across the country due to a packaging error that left two pills missing — a defect that could increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. The health agency issued the recall on…

More U.S. children have died this flu season than at any time since the swine flu pandemic 15 years ago, according to a federal report released Friday. The 216 pediatric deaths reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eclipse the 207 reported last year. It’s the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 global flu…

The U.S. health department, under the guidance of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., says it intends to add the requirement of a placebo testing phase in vaccine trials to provide more transparency about medical products, but experts warn the process could threaten immunization access and create public mistrust in the efficacy and validity of…

Exposure to a bacterial toxin in childhood may be playing a key role in the global rise of early onset of colorectal cancer, according to a new study. The study, published April 23 in Nature, found that a toxin called colibactin, produced by certain strains of E. coli that live in the colon and rectum,…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Health Canada is issuing a recall for thousands of pieces of children’s jewelry sold on Amazon over lead content found in them, the agency said in a recall notice. The first recall involves Dckazz Stitch and Scrump Best Friends Necklace. The metallic blue and pink pendant necklaces are sold…

One of Quebec’s largest hospitals cancelled surgeries on Wednesday after it lost power the night before during one of a series of violent storms that swept through the province. Officials at Montreal’s Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital — its rapidly aging infrastructure in serious need of major renovations — were forced to cancel 30 surgeries and transfer one…

A judge has ruled that Pierre Ny St-Amand, 53, was not criminally responsible for the 2023 bus attack on a Laval, Que., daycare that killed two small children and injured six others. Superior Court Justice Éric Downs concluded Ny St-Amand was experiencing psychosis and could not discern right from wrong. He has been ordered detained…

United States health officials say they will urge foodmakers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors in the nation’s food supply, but stopped short of promising a formal ban and offered few specifics on how they intended to achieve the sweeping change. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference Tuesday that the agency…

Medical researchers and lawyers say our rocky relationship with the United States creates an urgent need to protect a critical Canadian resource: patient health information that can be used to train artificial intelligence. “Our health data is the most valuable health data set in the world,” said Natalie Raffoul, an intellectual property lawyer in Ottawa….

The Trump administration is reportedly exploring ways to reverse America’s declining birthrate by offering incentives for larger families, potentially including a $5,000 “baby bonus” for new mothers. That’s according to a report published Monday by the New York Times, saying that U.S. President Donald Trump is looking to address the country’s falling birth rate; it…

By Bill Graveland The Canadian Press Posted April 24, 2025 1:06 pm Updated April 24, 2025 7:51 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size A commercial kitchen company in Calgary pleaded guilty Thursday to four bylaw offences after a massive E. coli outbreak at daycares led to hundreds of children…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted April 24, 2025 1:24 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Quebec government has just tabled its proposal to family doctors as part of the negotiations to renew the 2015-2023 Framework Agreement. The offer published on the Treasury Board website stipulates that the…

It was a role Breanne Irving always knew she wanted to take on. “For me the ‘kids’ thing has never been an ‘I’m not sure’ — it’s always been a definitive ‘heck yes,’” Irving said. But the Calgary woman’s path to motherhood is proving to be more difficult than anticipated. The 36-year-old palliative care doctor…

Carolynn Dubé remembers the pressure she shouldered at the beginning of her in vitro fertilization journey, especially as she braced herself to administer the required medications. “You’re standing there at your bathroom counter and you’re thinking, I can’t screw this up,” said Dubé, the executive director of Fertility Matters based out of Moncton, N.B. IVF medications…

While health care hasn’t taken centre stage in the 2025 federal election, candidates recently brought it back into focus, unveiling platforms that spotlight key health issues — from the need for more family doctors to better access to mental health support. The Liberal platform, released by the party’s leader, Mark Carney, on Saturday, touches on…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted April 22, 2025 2:35 pm Updated April 22, 2025 2:36 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Quebec’s Health Department has declared an end to the measles outbreak in the province. A spokeswoman said Tuesday the department determined the outbreak was over after no…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted April 20, 2025 10:11 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning consumers across multiple provinces that two brands of frozen pastries have been recalled due to salmonella concerns. The federal authority says Sweet Cream brand and D….

The black concrete walls outside Saskatoon’s only safe consumption site show the wake left by the city’s drug crisis. The names of those who’ve died, most from drug poisoning, are scrawled on the Prairie Harm Reduction building. Kim Randall, the director of support services, points to the name of a woman who went by Baby…

Some acetaminophen and melatonin tablets are being recalled in Canada due to labelling errors. On Tuesday, Health Canada issued alerts for one lot of Laboratoire Riva Inc.’s acetaminophen 500 milligram caplet and six lots of Life Brand’s Timed Release Melatonin 10 mg tablet. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size If the Easter Bunny is planning to drop off a wooden bunny toy this year, you might want to check the label first — Health Canada has issued a recall over a lead hazard. Health Canada issued the recall Wednesday, warning consumers to immediately stop using the…

Five years after COVID-19 triggered national lockdowns, economic uncertainty and killed millions, the World Health Organization’s member countries agreed on a draft “pandemic treaty” that sets guidelines for how the international community might confront the next global health crisis. After the world’s largely disastrous response to the coronavirus, countries tasked the WHO with overseeing a pandemic treaty in 2021; negotiations…

Babies and young children might be breathing in harmful chemicals while they sleep, according to new research from the University of Toronto. Two studies, published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, found that common children’s mattresses release toxic substances like phthalates and flame retardants — chemicals linked to hormone disruption, asthma, lower IQ…

Autism diagnoses are on the rise in the United States, with new federal data showing one in 31 eight-year-olds were identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022 — the highest rate ever recorded in the country. A report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that autism diagnoses have…

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted April 14, 2025 2:33 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is promising to shore up Canada’s struggling health care system by hiring 35,000 nurses by 2030. Appearing Monday at an election event in Toronto, Singh also promised to ensure…

For the first time in nearly two decades, Canada has updated its national clinical guideline for childhood and adolescent obesity — and this time, the focus isn’t on numbers on a scale. Instead, the new approach recommends focusing on quality of life and mental health, and even includes medications like GLP-1s for kids 12 and…

The United States will identify the cause of autism by September, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Thursday, setting a deadline for an answer that has eluded scientists for decades. Autism diagnoses in the United States have increased significantly since 2000, intensifying public concern. By 2020, the U.S. autism rate in…

The measles outbreak in West Texas didn’t happen just by chance. The easily preventable disease, declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, ripped through communities sprawling across more than 20 Texas counties in part because health departments were starved of the funding needed to run vaccine programs, officials say. “We haven’t had a strong immunization…

More than 6,500 Fisher-Price toys have been recalled in Canada due to a potential choking hazard. On Thursday, Health Canada issued a recall for two products: the Fisher-Price Brunch and Go Stroller Toy and the Fisher-Price 3-in-1 SnugaPuppy Activity Center. The concern is that parts of these toys may break off and pose a risk…

Ferenc Jakab needed heart surgery, and a robot was called into action. The 60-year-old Ontario resident had been monitoring a heart murmur for over 20 years, checking in with his doctor every couple of years. At a recent visit, the news shifted: it was time for surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Jakab was…

As United States Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urges Americans to get the measles vaccine, he’s also casting doubt on it — claiming its protection fades “very quickly.” But experts say that’s simply not true, pointing out that the vaccine can provide protection for decades, if not a lifetime. During a…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Amid the ongoing political instability south of the border, Quebec’s College of Physicians says more and more doctors in the United States are showing interest in practicing in Quebec. “The Collège des médecins du Québec has noted an increase in the number of American physicians applying for…

Want to know what’s worth as much as a six-figure pay rise? A pet. New research shows that owning a dog or cat could provide the same emotional boost as earning an additional $120,000 CAD annually. The study, published March 31 in the journal Social Indicators Research, shed light on the impact pets have on…

Canada should seize the opportunity to turn the U.S. brain drain of doctors and scientists into its own “brain gain,” the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) says. In a statement posted Thursday, CMA president Dr. Joss Reimer said that many American medical professionals, feeling undervalued due to mass layoffs and cuts to health programs and research…

A Canadian researcher has won a 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for discovering the GLP-1 hormone used in diabetes and obesity medications — including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro — that have changed the lives of millions of people around the world. Dr. Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist and a clinician-scientist at the University of Toronto…

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention soon to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. Kennedy also said he’s assembling a task force to focus on the issue. Also on Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is reviewing “new scientific information”…

As measles cases continue to rise in Canada, particularly in Ontario, one U.S. state is taking notice of the surge and warning its residents about travel. Last week, the New York State Department of Health issued a travel advisory ahead of the state’s spring break, stating that measles is highly contagious and “can easily cross…

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, commonly used for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss, may also offer significant protection against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, according to new research. Two major studies published Monday in JAMA Neurology found that GLP-1 medications are linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline in people with Type 2…

As measles cases surge worldwide, experts are raising alarms about a lesser-known danger: immune amnesia. The highly contagious virus doesn’t just cause a rash and fever — it can also wipe out the immune system’s memory, leaving survivors vulnerable to infections they’ve fought off before, like the flu, a cold, or even diseases they’ve been…

Dr. Karyn Ginsberg has spent more than 25 years practising pediatrics in the United States, but in recent months, she warns the political landscape is fueling a “brain drain” of doctors who are choosing to retire or considering a move to Canada — an option she’s exploring. Ginsberg grew up in Toronto, completed high school and…

A vaccine to fight dementia? It turns out there may already be one – shots that prevent painful shingles also appear to protect aging brains. A new study found shingles vaccination cut older adults’ risk of developing dementia over the next seven years by 20 per cent. The research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature,…