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Month: November 2025

Washington resident dies of complications from bird flu strain never before reported in humansColourized transmission electron micrograph of avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles (yellow), grown in canine kidney epithelial cells (blue). Photo: CDC and NIAID.
Topic: avian fluView all posts for the topic: avian flu

Washington resident dies of complications from bird flu strain never before reported in humans

Published November 21, 2025

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Published by: CNN
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By Katherine Dillinger, Jen Christensen

A Washington resident died of complications from an infection with a bird flu strain never before reported in humans, the state Department of Health said on Friday.

The patient was an older adult with underlying health conditions who had been hospitalized and undergoing treatment for infection with H5N5 avian influenza.

It’s the first reported case of bird flu in a human in the US in nine months and only the second reported human death from the virus in the United States, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the risk to the general public from the virus remains low.

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Topic: United KingdomView all posts for the topic: United Kingdom

Delay in COVID-19 lockdowns in U.K. resulted in some 23,000 more deaths: public inquiry

Published November 20, 2025

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Published by: CBC News / Reuters
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Former British prime minister Boris Johnson oversaw a “toxic,” “chaotic” and dithering response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a delay in locking the country down resulting in about 23,000 more deaths, a report by a public inquiry concluded on Thursday.

Britain recorded more than 230,000 deaths from COVID, a similar death rate to the United States and Italy but higher than elsewhere in western Europe, and it is still recovering from the economic consequences.

An inquiry, which Johnson ordered in May 2021, delivered a blistering assessment of his government’s response to the pandemic, criticizing his indecisive leadership, lambasting his Downing Street office for breaking their own rules and castigating his top adviser, Dominic Cummings.

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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Measles outbreak in Arizona and Utah could spell the end for U.S. elimination status

Published November 19, 2025

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Published by: NBC News
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By Aria Bendix, Erika Edwards

A measles outbreak in Arizona and Utah shows no sign of slowing, putting the United States dangerously close to losing its elimination status for the vaccine-preventable disease.

With holiday travel and gatherings approaching, doctors worry that transmission could escalate. If measles continues to spread through Jan. 20, that will mark a year of sustained transmission in the United States. At that point, the disease would no longer be considered eliminated and it would instead revert to being endemic, or constantly present.

The backward step seems highly likely.

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Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Alberta doctors call for regular access to vaccines in children’s hospitals to combat low immunization rates

Published November 17, 2025

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Published by: CBC News
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By Jennifer Lee

Some Alberta pediatricians say making childhood immunizations routinely available in pediatric hospitals could help improve slumping vaccination rates in the province.

But the Alberta government is closing the door on that idea, saying children’s hospitals are under significant pressure, and it’s taking other steps to improve access.

Dr. Sam Wong, president of the section of pediatrics with the Alberta Medical Association, said he and his colleagues have been advocating for this change for several years.

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Topic: avian fluView all posts for the topic: avian flu

1st US human bird flu case in 9 months confirmed with strain only seen in animals before

Published November 14, 2025

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Published by: ABC News
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By Mary Kekatos

A Washington state resident has tested positive for bird flu, marking the first human case confirmed in the U.S. in nine months.

The patient, who is an older adult with underlying health conditions, developed symptoms including high fever, confusion and respiratory distress and was hospitalized in early November, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Testing confirmed the patient has H5N5, a strain of bird flu that has previously been reported in animals but never before in humans, according to the Washington State Department of Health. However, officials say the risk to the public is low.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Here are CHEO’s new visitor guidelines as flu season begins

Published November 14, 2025

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Elizabeth Payne

CHEO is reinstating public health measures for visitors to the hospital as viral season begins.

Beginning Monday (Nov. 17), visitors will be asked to wear masks while in all waiting areas and during clinical interactions. CHEO will also begin limiting visitors. There will be a limit of one caregiver for patients attending appointments, and no visitors under the age of 12 — including siblings — will be allowed.

The precautions are being taken to help reduce the spread of viruses and protect those who visit the hospital and its community locations, spokesperson Karl Oczkowski said.

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Topic: TorontoView all posts for the topic: Toronto

Mask mandate returns to UHN facilities ahead of respiratory virus season

Published November 14, 2025

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Published by: TorontoToday
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University Health Network (UHN) has announced a new requirement for staff, patients and visitors to wear a mask when inside its facilities.

Masks must be worn in all UHN facilities, including Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre as of Tuesday, Nov. 18.

All staff, patients and visitors will be expected to wear a mask in physician offices, waiting rooms for clinics, the emergency department and other outpatient clinical areas. Patients and staff must also wear a mask when delivering or receiving direct care, or when staff are closely interacting with patients in inpatient, outpatient and emergency clinical areas.

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With an absent CDC and mismatched ‘subclade K’ flu strain, experts face upcoming season with uncertaintyColourized transmission electron micrograph of influenza A virus particles (red and gold), isolated from a patient sample and then propagated in cell culture. Blue background. This image features the H3N2 influenza strain. Photo: NIAID.
Topic: influenzaView all posts for the topic: influenza

With an absent CDC and mismatched ‘subclade K’ flu strain, experts face upcoming season with uncertainty

Published November 12, 2025

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Published by: CIDRAP
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By Stephanie Soucheray

Earlier this month, a group of Canadian researchers published early influenza data for the 2025-26 season, issuing a warning: There has been an observed mismatch with the seasonal influenza vaccine strain and what is emerging as the dominant flu strain this season, H3N2 subclade K.

Based on early reports from Japan and the United Kingdom, the Canadian researchers wanted to publish these data to encourage enhanced surveillance in North America this season, especially given the tumultuous situation in the United States.

“This is not the time to be flying blind into the respiratory virus season,” Danuta Skowronski, MD, the epidemiology lead for influenza and emerging respiratory pathogens at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, told CIDRAP News. Skowronski was senior author of the paper, which was published in the Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada.

Continue readingWith an absent CDC and mismatched ‘subclade K’ flu strain, experts face upcoming season with uncertainty
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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Canada loses measles elimination status — as does the entire Americas region

Published November 10, 2025

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Published by: STAT
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By Helen Branswell

Canada has formally lost its measles elimination status, the country’s public health agency announced Monday, meaning all of the Americas have lost that status as well.

The decision, which was widely expected, comes after a meeting last week where an expert committee of the Pan American Health Organization determined that a large measles outbreak that began in Canada in October 2024 was still ongoing, more than 12 months after it started.

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The CSA’s revised standard on respirators should help us all breathe easierPhoto of a doctor (right) who is examining a patient (left). The doctor is wearing a white respirator, and she has long dark hair.
Topic: universal maskingView all posts for the topic: universal masking

The CSA’s revised standard on respirators should help us all breathe easier

Published November 10, 2025

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Published by: The Conversation
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By Dick Zoutman, Julia M. Wright, Mark Ungrin, Ryan Tennant

The CSA Group — a not-for-profit standards organization — released for review a new draft standard on the “Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators” (CSA Z94.4:25) for workplaces, specifically including health care. This new standard is designed to ensure much better protection for health-care workers and for everyone seeking health care.

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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Canada officially loses its measles elimination status

Published November 10, 2025

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Published by: The Globe and Mail
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By Alanna Smith, Kristy Kirkup

Canada has been stripped of its measles elimination status after failing to interrupt transmission within one year of an outbreak that continues to spread in parts of the country.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said Monday it was notified by The Pan American Health Organization, a regional arm of the World Health Organization, that Canada lost its designation – an accomplishment it held for 27 years.

“While transmission has slowed recently, the outbreak has persisted for over 12 months, primarily within under-vaccinated communities,” the statement said.

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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles

Canada loses its measles elimination status

Published November 10, 2025

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Published by: Radio-Canada
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By Mélanie Meloche-Holubowski

The Pan American Health Organization has informed the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that Canada no longer has the status of a country that has eliminated measles, due to an outbreak that has been ongoing for more than one year.

This status indicates that there is no continuous transmission of the disease for 12 months or more in a given geographical area.

“Despite considerable efforts by Canada, the country has lost its status. Measles is now considered to be endemic in this country,” PAHO director Dr. Jason Barbosa told a news conference.

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Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

CUPE Alberta launches online campaign against province’s COVID-19 vaccine fee

Published November 7, 2025

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Published by: CTV News
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By Stephen Hunt

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Alberta has launched an online campaign against the province’s $100 fee for Albertans who want to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

A new website calls on the province to “axe the vax tax.”

The website calls the fee unfair, reckless and dangerous, and allows Albertans to write a letter to Premier Danielle Smith, Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi and their local MLAs protesting the province’s decision to charge Albertans $100 for a COVID vaccine this year.

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Topic: Northwest TerritoriesView all posts for the topic: Northwest Territories

Fresh Covid-19 vaccine supply arrives in NWT after earlier shipment spoiled

Published November 7, 2025

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Published by: Cabin Radio
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By Ollie Williams

The NWT’s health authority says a new shipment of Covid-19 vaccines has arrived in the territory after an earlier consignment spoiled.

There had been a shortage of the vaccine in recent days after the previous supply’s cold chain – the mechanism by which vaccines are kept refrigerated prior to use – broke down.

On Friday morning, the health authority said more supplies had arrived and anyone can now request a Covid-19 vaccine at Yellowknife’s Centre Square Mall clinic.

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Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID

Women are three times more likely than men to get severe long COVID: Here’s why

Published November 7, 2025

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Published by: Folio - University of Alberta
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By Gillian Rutherford

Research published today in Cell Reports Medicine reveals key biological differences that may explain why women with long COVID — especially those who develop chronic fatigue syndrome — tend to experience more severe and persistent symptoms than men do.

Post COVID-19 condition, or long COVID, is diagnosed when neurological, respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms develop or continue three months or more after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The likelihood of developing long COVID is three times higher for women than men, but until now the underlying biological mechanisms driving this disparity have remained unknown.

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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

18 poultry farms in B.C. dealing with avian flu outbreak

Published November 6, 2025

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Published by: Global News
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By Amy Judd, Taya Fast

There are now 18 poultry farms in B.C. that are dealing with outbreaks of avian flu.

This includes more than a dozen large poultry farms in Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Langley.

Shawn Hall, director of the B.C. Poultry Industry Emergency Operations Centre, told Global News that it is a concerning time for poultry farmers in the province.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Lack of funding is hobbling Ottawa Public Health: officials

Published November 5, 2025

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Elizabeth Payne

Funding gaps are already making it difficult for Ottawa Public Health to meet growing community needs and invest in health-care prevention, but a public health emergency would make the situation worse, OPH is warning.

Among other things, OPH is unable to comply with Ontario Public Health standards when it comes to inspections and some infectious disease cases and contact management for “lower impact diseases of public health significance.”

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Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Pharmacists decry ‘hurdles’ facing Albertans who want a COVID vaccine

Published November 4, 2025

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Published by: Global News
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By Ken MacGillivray, Skylar Peters

Changes to the Alberta government’s COVID vaccination plan this year mean many Albertans are facing long waitlists and a hefty bill to get their shot.

With the government-run program only offered through public health clinics and many of those clinics experiencing long waits, some Albertans are choosing instead to go to their local pharmacist to get immunized — as they have done in previous years.

Continue readingPharmacists decry ‘hurdles’ facing Albertans who want a COVID vaccine
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