Wildrose Opposition accuses Alberta of treating seniors like 'dogs'

EDMONTON - Alberta's Wildrose Opposition says the province is treating seniors like dogs in a kennel by needlessly closing a dementia care centre near Lethbridge....More

Two new oncologists hired to treat cancer patients in southern Alberta

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - Alberta Health Services says it has hired two new medical oncologists to treat cancer patients in southern Alberta starting in September. Dr. Malcolm Bridgen and Dr. Faraj El-Gehani will be based in Lethbridge....More

Saudi Arabia bans smoking in public places, government offices; ban includes popular shishas

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has banned smoking in government offices and most public places, including restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and shopping malls....More

Health Minister Deb Matthews to testify again this week at Ornge hearings

TORONTO - Ontario's embattled Ornge air ambulance service will be in the spotlight again this week when Health Minister Deb Matthews faces another grilling by a legislative committee on Tuesday....More

Day-to-day household tasks increase risk of serious burn injuries

TORONTO - Tatiana Dimion was distracted and in a rush to fry meat on her stove. Perched on a stool, she reached up for some paper towels from a top cabinet and tumbled to the floor, taking down the hot pot of oil from the stove with her....More

C. difficile patient dies at Hamilton hospital battling outbreak

HAMILTON - A patient infected with C. difficile has died at a Hamilton hospital grappling with an outbreak of the intestinal bug, but the bacteria may not have directly caused the death. St....More

Rent going up in Prince Edward Island's publicly owned seniors residences

CHARLOTTETOWN - Some seniors in Prince Edward Island will be paying more for a place to live due to rent increases at public long-term care facilities. As of the end of July, residents in provincially owned manors will pay $80....More

Health minister in hot seat again over Ornge air ambulance service

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews will be in the hot seat today to answer more questions about Ontario's troubled air ambulance service....More

As key flu scientists meet, question looms: When will bird flu studies resume?

Six months after leading influenza scientists announced they would voluntarily halt research into what it takes to make bird flu viruses transmit among mammals, it's still not clear when and how the cease-work order will be lifted....More

AIDS meeting: 'Unacceptable' not to spread proven anti-HIV tools to those who need them most

WASHINGTON - Call it a triple win for fighting the AIDS epidemic: Treating people with HIV early keeps them healthy, cuts their chances of infecting others, and now research shows it's also a good financial investment....More

AGING AMERICA: More people with HIV living past 50, raising questions about health and aging

WASHINGTON - AIDS is greying. By the end of the decade, the government estimates, more than half of Americans living with HIV will be over 50. Even in developing countries, more people with the AIDS virus are surviving to middle age and beyond....More

Health Minister Deb Matthews to testify again this week at Ornge hearings

TORONTO - Ontario's embattled air ambulance service will be in the spotlight again this week as Health Minister Deb Matthews faces another day of grilling by a legislative committee Tuesday about her oversight of Ornge....More

Hamilton Public Health confirms 11 cases of C. difficile at hospital

HAMILTON - An outbreak of C. difficile has been declared at the Charlton Campus of St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton....More

Saudi Arabia bans smoking in public places, government offices; ban includes popular shishas

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has banned smoking in government offices and most public places, including restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and shopping malls....More

Health Minister Deb Matthews to testify again this week at Ornge hearings

TORONTO - Ontario's embattled Ornge air ambulance service will be in the spotlight again this week when Health Minister Deb Matthews faces another grilling by a legislative committee on Tuesday....More

Day-to-day household tasks increase risk of serious burn injuries

TORONTO - Tatiana Dimion was distracted and in a rush to fry meat on her stove. Perched on a stool, she reached up for some paper towels from a top cabinet and tumbled to the floor, taking down the hot pot of oil from the stove with her....More

Ontario cancelling some old red-and-white health cards; promises 3 warnings

TORONTO - The transition from Ontario's old health cards to new ones with photographs could leave some people without coverage in an emergency, especially if they ignored notices to update their card. There are still more than 3....More

Ontario cancelling some old red-and-white health cards; promises 3 warnings

TORONTO - The transition from Ontario's old health cards to new ones with photographs could leave some people without coverage in an emergency, especially if they ignored notices to update their card. There are still more than 3....More

New swine flu virus re-emerges in U.S.; four people infected at county fair

A new flu virus that is occasionally jumping from pigs to people has done it again. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is reporting that the new swine influenza H3N2 virus has infected four people who attended a county fair in Indiana....More

Experts: Tackling female side of AIDS means going far beyond global focus on pregnant woman

WASHINGTON - The AIDS epidemic increasingly is a female one, and women are making the case at the world's largest AIDS meeting that curbing it will require focusing on poverty and violence, not just pregnancy and pills....More

Cook shellfish to avoid illness, says BC Centre for Disease Control

VANCOUVER - The BC Centre for Disease Control is reminding Canadians that eating raw or undercooked bivalve shellfish such as oysters, clams, mussels, scallops and cockles could lead to illness....More

Alberta to bring back on-site food prep in long-term care centres

EDMONTON - Albertans living in long-term care facilities operated by Alberta Health Services will soon enjoy fresher food that better meets their dietary needs and preferences....More

Ottawa reducing health funding by $36 billion over 10 years, premiers say

HALIFAX - A new report suggests that federal health transfers will be reduced by almost $36 billion over 10 years under Ottawa's new payment scheme for the provinces....More

AGING AMERICA: More people with HIV living past 50, raising questions about health and aging

WASHINGTON - AIDS is greying. By the end of the decade, the government estimates, more than half of Americans living with HIV will be over 50. Even in developing countries, more people with the AIDS virus are surviving to middle age and beyond....More

Canadian scientists developing colourful purple wheat to boost health, economy

TORONTO - Consumers and food producers may soon be able to reap the benefits of blue or purple wheat....More

B.C. doctors sign four-year deal with government amid criticism from colleagues

VANCOUVER - Doctors in British Columbia will receive slightly higher fees and see new money go to family practices, specialty services and the recruitment and retention of specialists under a new four-year deal with the province....More

Arguments for and against proposed NYC sugary drink ban voiced at public hearing

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Medical professionals who favour a proposed ban on large-sized sugary drinks likened soda companies to Big Tobacco at a public hearing Tuesday, saying the plan would protect the public, while opponents accused the city of playing Big Brother and wondered what...More

Alberta to give 2nd vaccine against chicken pox to kids aged four and six

EDMONTON - Alberta Health is making a second dose of the chicken pox vaccine available for free to all preschool children starting next month....More

Study begins to see if vaginal ring coated with AIDS drug helps protect African women from HIV

WASHINGTON - A monthlong HIV blocker that women could use for protection without their partners knowing? Major new research is beginning in Africa to see whether a special kind of vaginal ring just might work....More

Site of annual Catholic pilgrimage hit with blue-green algae advisory

LAC STE. ANNE, Alta. - Alberta Health Services has issued a blue-green algae advisory for Lac Ste. Anne, which is the site this week of an annual Catholic pilgrimage....More

Pancreas-in-dish offers means to study one of the deadliest of cancers

TORONTO - Canadian scientists have created a living 3-D "pancreas-in-a-dish" with the hope of unravelling the mysteries of pancreatic cancer, one of the least understood and deadliest of all malignancies....More

'State-of-the-art' sinks source of Toronto hospital's outbreak, study reveals

TORONTO - An investigation aimed at pinpointing the source of a lingering bacterial outbreak in a Toronto hospital turned up an unlikely suspect. The sinks did it....More

Sec'y of State Clinton touts possibility of eliminating HIV-infected births around world

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says it's possible to virtually eliminate HIV-infected births and the U.S. is donating $80 million in new funding to help poor countries reach that goal....More

Parents of babies born with disabling anomalies report they enrich families

TORONTO - A new Canadian study drawing on the experiences of parents paints a dramatically different picture than that in medical literature of the short lives of infants born with the congenital anomalies Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18....More

Ouch! How to take a bite out of summer without getting bitten in the process

TORONTO - Bee stings and bug bites are usually just a harmless summer annoyance, but experts warn they can also be dangerous and cause serious reactions for some....More

Leading US researcher: Slashing HIV's spread possible with today's science and a lot of work

WASHINGTON - The leading U.S. AIDS researcher says science has provided the tools needed to slash new infections even without a vaccine — if countries will put them in place. Dr....More

Gun control a non-starter on the presidential campaign trail, despite Aurora

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, were back on the campaign trail Monday after suspending their campaigns in the wake of the latest American mass shooting, which claimed 12 victims....More

B.C. AIDS doctors join international chorus targeting the 'war on drugs'

VANCOUVER - Two prominent Canadian doctors have joined an international campaign calling on world leaders to stop the spread of AIDS by ending the so called war on drugs....More

At turning point, International AIDS Conference opens with aim to stem HIV's spread

WASHINGTON - Researchers, doctors and patients attending the world's largest AIDS conference are urging the world's governments not to cut back on the fight against the epidemic when it is at a turning point....More

AIDS can be beaten but 'not free,' conference told; US donates $150 million for poor countries

WASHINGTON - Science now has the tools to slash the spread of HIV even without a vaccine — and the U.S. is donating an extra $150 million to help poor countries put them in place, the Obama administration told the world's largest AIDS conference Monday....More

Leading scientists revive hope of eventual AIDS cure, issuing a research road map to get there

WASHINGTON - For years it seemed hopeless. Now the hunt for a cure for AIDS is back on....More

Chief medical officer of health must testify in wind turbine case: judge rules

TORONTO - A judge has ordered Ontario's chief medical officer of health to testify in a case relating to the health effects of wind turbines....More

CFIA Alert: Undeclared Milk in certain Crispy Just Baked Punjabi Cookies

OTTAWA - A recall has been issued for Crispy Just Baked Punjabi Cookies because they contain milk that's not declared on the label....More

Should all kids get cholesterol tests? Doctors can't agree on widespread screening guidelines

CHICAGO - Should all U.S. children get tested for high cholesterol? Doctors are still debating that question months after a government-appointed panel recommended widespread screening that would lead to prescribing medicine for some kids....More

DNA not being used in new database for missing persons and unidentified remains

A national database to help identify missing persons and unidentified remains is more than a year away, but families and experts say that DNA is the missing piece of the puzzle that the initiative needs....More

Should all kids get cholesterol tests? Doctors can't agree on widespread screening guidelines

CHICAGO - Should all U.S. children get tested for high cholesterol? Doctors are still debating that question months after a government-appointed panel recommended widespread screening that would lead to prescribing medicine for some kids....More

B.C. AIDS doctors join international chorus targeting the 'war on drugs'

VANCOUVER - Two prominent Canadian doctors have joined an international campaign calling on world leaders to stop the spread of AIDS by ending the so called war on drugs....More

At turning point, International AIDS Conference opens with aim to stem HIV's spread

WASHINGTON - Researchers, doctors and patients attending the world's largest AIDS conference are urging the world's governments not to cut back on the fight against the epidemic when it is at a turning point....More

For youth on the street, first-time drug users often become addicts, study finds

VANCOUVER - A new study by researchers in British Columbia has found that the vast majority of youth on the streets of Vancouver who try injection drugs for the first time become regular users. The study by researchers at the B.C....More

CDC: Whooping cough rising at alarming rate in US; this could prove the worst year since 1959

ATLANTA - The U.S. appears headed for its worst year for whooping cough in more than five decades, with the number of cases rising at an epidemic rate that experts say may reflect a problem with the effectiveness of the vaccine....More

CDC survey shows 1 in 13 pregnant women drink alcohol, and a significant number went on binges

ATLANTA - A government survey shows 1 in 13 pregnant women drink alcohol and some even go on binges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says drinking — especially binge drinking — can damage fetal brain development....More

B.C. health clinic slapped for private billing vows to continue legal challenge

VANCOUVER - The president of a health clinic in British Columbia is vowing to continue his legal fight to allow the public to access private care, in the face of a ruling this week that ordered two facilities to stop illegally billing patients....More

Alberta Health issues warning to not swim in lake in southern Alberta

MILK RIVER, Alta. - Alberta Health Services is advising the public not to swim or wade in the Milk River at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park due to elevated levels of fecal coliform currently present in river water....More

Alberta baby's whooping cough death renews health calls for vaccinations

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - The grieving family of a baby girl who died after contracting whooping cough came forward Thursday to try to prevent a similar death....More

'Natural' Vine Essence product recalled, exceeded lead limits

TORONTO - Health Canada says an unauthorized product called Vine Essence is being recalled because testing shows it contains lead that exceeds acceptable levels....More

Leading scientists revive hope of eventual AIDS cure, issuing a research road map to get there

WASHINGTON - For years it seemed hopeless. Now the hunt for a cure for AIDS is back on....More

HIV progress: More treatment, fewer infections, new progress in poor countries, UN reports

WASHINGTON - A push to get more AIDS treatment to the world's poorest, hardest-hit countries is paying off as deaths inch down — and new infections are dropping a bit, too, the United Nations reported Wednesday....More

Health advisory issued for Alberta lake due to high levels of fecal matter

STONY PLAIN, Alta. - Alberta Health Services has issued a warning to people advising them not to swim or wade in Hasse Lake due to elevated levels of fecal coliform....More

Ex-CEO Chris Mazza says government never told him Ornge was off course

TORONTO - The man at the centre of the Ornge scandal says he doesn't know what went wrong with the troubled air ambulance service, but the government never told him he was veering off course....More

Death rate among Inuit kids soars over rest of Canada; suicide the main driver

TORONTO - A new study paints a bleak picture of life — and death — among children and teenagers living in the Inuit Nunangat, the four Arctic regions that make up the Inuit homelands....More

Australian wins millions in lawsuit against distributor of birth defect-causing Thalidomide

SYDNEY - An Australian woman born without arms and legs after her pregnant mother took the anti-morning sickness drug Thalidomide has reached a multimillion dollar settlement with the medicine's British distributor, her lawyer told a court Wednesday....More

Audit finds 2 private BC health clinics extra billing patients; ordered to stop

VANCOUVER - Two private health clinics in Vancouver have been found to be illegally billing patients for services covered by the public system and have been ordered to stop or face court action. The order from the B.C....More

Ahead of AIDS conference, UN cites progress in treating HIV in poor countries, but more to do

WASHINGTON - A record 8 million people with HIV in poor countries were receiving potentially life-saving treatment last year and new infections among children are dropping steadily, the United Nations said Wednesday, in an encouraging report on the AIDS epidemic....More

New Zealand company recalls meat products after listeria outbreak at hospital kills 2

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A New Zealand meat company has recalled several of its products after tests showed a possible link to a listeria outbreak that left two patients dead at a hospital in the island nation....More

FDA approves Gilead Science's Truvada as first drug to reduce risk of sexually acquired HIV

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection, a milestone in the 30-year battle against the virus that causes AIDS....More

Double lung transplant recipient Helene Campbell going home to Ottawa

TORONTO - Double lung transplant recipient Helene Campbell is on her way back home to Ottawa. In a Twitter posting, Campbell declares "the rumours are true" and she is homeward bound....More

Popular MS drug may not prevent disability from progressing in patients

VANCOUVER - Researchers in Vancouver suggest a widely used treatment for the most common form of multiple sclerosis may not prevent the progression of disability....More

FDA approves Vivus' anti-obesity pill associated with significant weight loss in patients

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a new weight loss drug from Vivus Inc. that many doctors consider the most effective therapy in a new generation of anti-obesity pills designed to help patients safely shed pounds....More

Early results spur hope for drug to stabilize Alzheimer's; a much bigger study will end soon

For the first time, researchers are reporting that a treatment might help stabilize Alzheimer's disease for as much as three years, although the evidence is weak and in only four patients. The drug is Gammagard, made by Baxter International Inc....More

Double-lung transplant recipient Helene Campbell gets a big welcome home

OTTAWA - She's writing a book, wants to continue learning Spanish and plans to once again dance with Ellen DeGeneres. But for now, celebrity organ-donation ambassador Helene Campbell is just happy to be home, surrounded by family and friends....More

Ousted Ornge CEO Chris Mazza star witness at Ornge committee hearing

TORONTO - Ousted Ornge CEO Chris Mazza will be in the hot seat today. Mazza is slated to appear before a legislative committee that's looking into Ontario's troubled air ambulance service....More

Australian wins millions in lawsuit against distributor of birth defect-causing Thalidomide

SYDNEY - An Australian woman born without arms and legs after her pregnant mother took the anti-morning sickness drug Thalidomide has reached a multimillion dollar settlement with the medicine's British distributor, her lawyer told a court Wednesday....More

Hospital bound kids in Toronto don't have to miss out on prom night

TORONTO - Courtney Gibson is sitting down, eyes closed, features totally relaxed. Her makeup artist rests one hand on her velvety looking cheek. The other brushes her stylishly full brows into perfect form....More

US approves Gilead Science's Truvada as first drug to reduce risk of sexually acquired HIV

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the first drug shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection, the latest milestone in the 30-year battle against the virus that causes AIDS....More

Tips to protect your eyes during the summer months

Five tips to guard kids from eye damage or injury during the summer months: 1. Have your child wear sunglasses whenever outdoors. 2. Have your child wear a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap when outdoors. 3....More

Sports-related eye injuries not uncommon in summer sports but easily preventable

TORONTO - Carter Nattrass was hit in the eye with a pop fly ball during a baseball practice when he was nine years old. He and his family never imagined it would be more than a black eye....More

Latest prostate cancer advice: Doc group says PSA test an option for men expected to live long

WASHINGTON - There's more advice on the contentious issue of prostate cancer screening: A leading group of cancer specialists says the decision hinges in part on a man's life expectancy....More

HEALTHBEAT: NY's trans fat ban made healthier fast food the default, rather than just a choice

WASHINGTON - Turns out it's possible to make a fast-food lunch a bit healthier even without skipping the fries....More

FDA approves Gilead Science's Truvada as first drug to reduce risk of sexually acquired HIV

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection, a milestone in the 30-year battle against the virus that causes AIDS....More

Double lung transplant recipient Helene Campbell going home to Ottawa

TORONTO - Double lung transplant recipient Helene Campbell is on her way back home to Ottawa. In a Twitter posting, Campbell declares "the rumours are true" and she is homeward bound....More

Some Alberta government services back online two days after fire at Shaw

EDMONTON - Some Alberta government services that were affected by a fire and explosion at a Calgary building are back online....More

Saskatchewan MP uses military march as motivator for healthier lifestyle

OTTAWA - With his Prairie farming background and less-than-active lifestyle, Randy Hoback never had much interest in the rigour and physical discipline of a career in the Canadian military....More

New Brunswick resumes organ donation program after documentation problems found

FREDERICTON - Organ donations in New Brunswick have resumed after they were briefly suspended following a Health Canada inspection that found problems with documentation....More

Health advisory for Edmonton over smoky haze from northern forest fires

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services has issued a precautionary smoke advisory for Edmonton due to a lingering haze from forest fires burning hundreds of kilometres away....More

GTA under smog advisory; air quality could reach harmful levels in 24 hours

TORONTO - The Ministry of the Environment has placed the Greater Toronto Area under a smog advisory. The advisory covering Toronto, Halton-Peel, and York-Durham will remain in effect until further notice....More

Colo. cantaloupe growers promoting safety as melons return after deadly outbreak

GLENDALE, Colo. - Nearly a year after the deadliest foodborne illness outbreak in more than two decades in the U.S., Colorado cantaloupes are back in supermarkets....More

Hospital bound kids in Toronto don't have to miss out on prom night

TORONTO - Courtney Gibson is sitting down, eyes closed, features totally relaxed. Her makeup artist rests one hand on her velvety looking cheek. The other brushes her stylishly full brows into perfect form....More

Sports-related eye injuries not uncommon in summer sports but easily preventable

TORONTO - Carter Nattrass was hit in the eye with a pop fly ball during a baseball practice when he was nine years old. He and his family never imagined it would be more than a black eye....More

Acute doctor shortage brings threat of closure to two Saskatchewan ERs

WYNYARD, Sask. - Emergency rooms in two Saskatchewan communities need a little life support if they're going to stay open beyond the end of August....More

Too few patients call an ambulance after suffering a stroke: study

TORONTO - Many people who suffer a stroke are still waiting too long to seek care and too few are turning to the best first option when they do, a new study suggests....More

Too few patients call an ambulance after suffering a stroke: study

TORONTO - Many people who suffer a stroke are still waiting too long to seek care and too few are turning to the best first option when they do, a new study suggests....More

Saskatchewan Party gov't changes to public pool rules affecting safety:NDP

SASKATOON - Saskatchewan's NDP says the government's changes to regulations of public pools may be putting people at risk....More

Saskatchewan injects more cash into children's hospital; approves early design

SASKATOON - The Saskatchewan government is giving a new children's hospital a $15.5-million booster shot. The cash brings the province's share in the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan to $215....More

Health Canada warns parents to keep laundry pods away from children

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning parents to keep laundry detergent packs away from small kids after receiving reports of children injesting the colourful miniature pods....More

Call for pipeline safety review in Alberta grows to include 50 groups

EDMONTON - Calls for an independent review into pipeline safety in Alberta are growing, with some saying it's even more urgent now that a U.S. investigation has sharply criticized a Calgary company's efforts to clean up a major oil spill....More

Saskatchewan MP uses military march as motivator for healthier lifestyle

OTTAWA - With his Prairie farming background and less-than-active lifestyle, Randy Hoback never had much interest in the rigour and physical discipline of a career in the Canadian military....More

National strategy on prescription drug abuse long overdue: experts

When it comes to fighting prescription drug abuse in the country, government officials, health-care providers and law enforcement officers agree that without a national strategy their efforts are doomed to fail....More

Man, 26, electrocuted while working on boom lift in rural Saskatchewan

STOCKHOLM, Sask. - A 26-year-old man was electrocuted while working on a boom lift in rural Saskatchewan. Mounties say the man was trying to help a 17-year-old male who was in the boom lift at a location west of Esterhazy early Tuesday evening....More

Health Canada tips on safe handling of fruits, vegetables

OTTAWA - It's important to eat a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, but the fresh produce must be handled safely to reduce the risk of food-borne illness, says Health Canada....More

Contamination at drug plant could affect global supplies of bladder cancer drug

TORONTO - A ongoing contamination problem at Sanofi Pasteur's Toronto facility may affect global supplies of the bladder cancer drug ImmuCyst, Health Canada said Wednesday....More

Clark announces $80 million redevelopment plan for Kamloops hospital

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Premier Christy Clark has made the latest in a series of hospital redevelopment announcements, this one involving Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops....More

After years of flops, key results on 3 drugs against Alzheimer's disease are expected soon

We're about to find out if there will be a way anytime soon to slow the course of Alzheimer's disease. Results are due within a month or so from key studies of two drugs that aim to clear the sticky plaque gumming up patients' brains....More

Acute doctor shortage brings threat of closure to two Saskatchewan ERs

WYNYARD, Sask. - Emergency rooms in two Saskatchewan communities need a little life support if they're going to stay open beyond the end of August....More

Call for pipeline safety review in Alberta grows to include 50 groups

EDMONTON - Calls for an independent review into pipeline safety in Alberta are growing, with some saying it's even more urgent now that a U.S. investigation has sharply criticized a Calgary company's efforts to clean up a major oil spill....More

Ottawa to study possible health effects generated by wind turbines

TORONTO - Opponents of wind farms are hailing Health Canada's decision to study the possible links between noise from the giant turbines and adverse health effects reported by people living near them....More

No criminal charges in death of man who waited 33 hours in Winnipeg hospital ER

WINNIPEG - No one will be charged in the death of Brian Sinclair, a double-amputee who languished for 33 hours in a hospital emergency room with a treatable bladder infection....More

Mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus caught in Saskatoon traps

SASKATOON - The superintendent of urban forestry for the City of Saskatoon says two mosquitoes capable of carrying the West Nile virus have been caught in two separate traps....More

Important northern highway choked off by smoke from Alberta wildfire

EDMONTON - A busy and vital highway that connects southern and northern Canada has been closed indefinitely because of an out-of-control wildfire in Alberta's very dry northern region. The 1....More

Health Canada advises cribs more than 10 years old should not be used for babies

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising parents and caregivers that cribs more than 10 years old should not be used because they are more likely to have broken, worn, loose or missing parts, or to be missing warnings or instructions....More

Group wants Alberta to end 'health-care monopoly',allow private health insurance

CALGARY - Alberta's ban on private insurance for medically necessary services is being challenged by a group that says the law ensures a "virtual monopoly" for the government....More

Four cases of E. coli found in Fredericton area, health officials say

FREDERICTON - Public health officials are investigating the source of four confirmed cases of a potential deadly strain of E. coli in the Fredericton area. In a statement, New Brunswick's acting chief medical officer of health says the E....More

Aging US seniors to face hard time finding mental health care; report urges geriatric training

WASHINGTON - Getting older does not just mean a risk for physical ailments like heart disease and creaky knees: A new report finds as many as 1 in 5 American seniors has a mental health or substance abuse problem....More

Officials say another 23 dead bison carcasses found in Northwest Territories

FORT PROVIDENCE, N.W.T. - Twenty-three more bison carcasses have been found near Fort Providence in the Northwest Territories....More

New Brunswick chief medical officer warns of health risks posed by algae blooms

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health is advising the public to be aware of the potential health risks posed by algae blooms. Dr....More

Important northern highway choked off by smoke from Alberta wildfire

EDMONTON - A busy and vital highway that connects southern and northern Canada has been closed because of an out-of-control wildfire in Alberta's very dry northern region....More

HEALTHBEAT: AIDS turning point? Experts to meet this month amid optimism for HIV prevention

WASHINGTON - An AIDS-free generation: It seems an audacious goal, considering how the HIV epidemic still is raging around the world....More

Doctors to talk about taking fee fight with Ontario government to court

TORONTO - A group representing Ontario's doctors is taking its fee fight with the governing Liberals to the courts. The Ontario Medical Association is speaking today about the court case, which it hopes will reverse the government's unilateral fee cuts....More

Being uncircumcised - not foreskin tightness - key risk for urinary infection

TORONTO - Urinary tract infections are far more common in uncircumcised boys than in their circumcised counterparts, but whether their foreskin is tight or more retractable makes no difference in how prone they are to becoming infected, a study suggests....More

Important northern highway choked off by smoke from Alberta wildfire

EDMONTON - A busy and vital highway that connects southern and northern Canada has been closed indefinitely because of an out-of-control wildfire in Alberta's very dry northern region. The 1....More

Four cases of E. coli found in Fredericton area, health officials say

FREDERICTON - Public health officials are investigating the source of four confirmed cases of a potential deadly strain of E. coli in the Fredericton area. In a statement, New Brunswick's acting chief medical officer of health says the E....More

Illness that closed P.E.I. hospital unit to visitors has mostly run its course

CHARLOTTETOWN - P.E.I.'s largest hospital says it believes a gastrointestinal illness that closed a unit to visitors this week has mostly run its course. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown says only one patient in Unit 3 remained ill as of Friday....More

C. difficile outbreak at London hospital; 5 patients affected, 3 still in hospital

LONDON, Ont. - Hospital officials in London, Ont., are dealing with an outbreak of C. difficile. Victoria Hospital says of the five patients who displayed symptoms, two have been discharged and three remain in the unit where the outbreak occurred....More

Alberta health officials remind people to take care after hantavirus surfaces

RED DEER, Alta. - A case of hantavirus in central Alberta has health officials reminding people to be careful when cleaning up after mice. There are no details about the person who contracted the virus....More

Canada's top soldier says troops ready and eager for new overseas missions

CALGARY - When it comes to future missions for the Canadian Forces, Canada's top soldier has to battle to keep his eager troops satisfied with staying out of major combat zones for now....More

Police need strategy to deal with Alzheimer's patients in domestic calls: group

TORONTO - All it took was one brief argument with her husband over lottery tickets for Deb Mulligan's life to change forever. She recalls the day four years ago when she told him she was worried his purchases were turning into an addiction....More

Health officials, advocates call on Abbotsford, B.C., to end needle exchange ban

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Once a week, Jamie MacDonald walks down a quiet alley in this sprawling community in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, finds a familiar black SUV and picks up a package of clean needles, alcohol swabs and other supplies for injecting heroin....More

Stampede bastion of deep-fried everything faces invasion by healthy alternatives

CALGARY - What in tarnation? Something alarming is invading the Calgary Stampede midway — known to some as Heart Attack Alley....More

HEALTHBEAT: AIDS turning point? Experts to meet this month amid optimism for HIV prevention

WASHINGTON - An AIDS-free generation: It seems an audacious goal, considering how the HIV epidemic still is raging around the world....More

Alberta health-care worker charged with sex assaults against disabled patient

EDMONTON - Edmonton police have charged a health-care worker with sexually assaulting two patients. Investigators say the alleged assaults happened over the past two years at a long-term care home on the city's south side....More

Alberta expanding primary care with little statistical info: auditor general

EDMONTON - Alberta's auditor general says the government is preparing for a multibillion-dollar expansion of primary health-care services without knowing if they work....More

Quebec City hotel partners with clinic to offer 'medical tourism package'

QUEBEC - The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac hotel has partnered with a private radiology clinic in Quebec City to offer a "medical tourism package," claiming this is the first of its kind in Canada....More

New C. diff drug approved; deemed 'promising' for persistent cases

TORONTO - Doctors struggling to cure patients with C. difficile diarrhea have a new weapon in their armoury. A new antibiotic specifically developed to treat C....More

Health officials watch for West Nile in Saskatchewan as mosquito season begins

REGINA - Saskatchewan health officials are reminding people to take precautions against the West Nile virus. Mosquitoes are out in full force in the province....More

Fewer patients sick, but restrictions remain in place at Charlottetown hospital

CHARLOTTETOWN - Health officials say fewer patients at a Charlottetown hospital are suffering from a gastrointestinal illness that closed their unit to visitors earlier this week....More

Diabetes drug triggers neuron growth, potential to regenerate brain cells: study

TORONTO - A drug commonly used to control Type 2 diabetes can help trigger stem cells to produce new brain cells, providing hope of a potential means to treat brain injuries and even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, researchers say....More

Chief oncologist quits at Prince George cancer centre just months before opening

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - The lead oncologist has resigned at the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North, in Prince George, B.C. Dr....More

West Nile virus reported in mosquito pools in southwestern Ontario

WINDSOR, Ont. - Public health officials in Windsor are reporting finding mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. Medical Officer of Health Dr....More

Police say drowning of 16-month-old Montreal girl is likely accidental

MONTREAL - The toddler had only been left alone for scant seconds but the next time her mother saw her she was floating lifeless in the family swimming pool....More

Ousted Ornge CEO Chris Mazza wants to set 'record straight': lawyer

TORONTO - A lawyer representing ousted Ornge chief executive Chris Mazza says his client wants to clarify his involvement in the troubled air ambulance service....More

Macular degeneration treatment doesn't increase cardiovascular risk: study

TORONTO - Toronto researchers have found that two drugs used to treat age-related macular degeneration do not increase the risk of cardiovascular events in people being treated for the eye condition....More

Illness shuts down unit at Charlottetown hospital to visitors

CHARLOTTETOWN - P.E.I.'s largest hospital has closed one of its units to visitors after an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness....More

Alberta pharmacists get expanded powers, including prescription renewals

EDMONTON - Pharmacists in Alberta can now renew or alter prescriptions, give injections and authorize medication in a medical emergency....More

Alberta health-care worker charged with sex assaults against disabled patient

EDMONTON - Edmonton police have charged a health-care worker with sexually assaulting two patients. Investigators say the alleged assaults happened over the past two years at a long-term care home on the city's south side....More

Alberta expanding primary care with little statistical info: auditor general

EDMONTON - Alberta's auditor general says the government is preparing for a multibillion-dollar expansion of primary health-care services without knowing if they work....More

Restrictions lifted at Nova Scotia hospital after illness symptoms subside

GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. - A Nova Scotia hospital is open to the public again after a gastrointestinal illness prompted visitor restrictions....More

New $8.5 million breast health centre to open in New Brunswick in late 2014

MONCTON, N.B. - The New Brunswick government is spending $8.5 million to construct a breast care centre in Moncton. Health Minister Madeleine Dube says the two-storey addition to the Dr. Georges L....More

Feds forced into last-minute scramble on refugee health coverage changes

OTTAWA - The Conservatives were forced to amend their policy on cutting off benefits for refugee claimants just forty-eight hours before it came into effect....More

Federal government to pay $150 million to settle pay equity case with nurses

OTTAWA - A group of nurses and their union say the federal government has agreed to pay them more than $150 million in a pay-equity settlement that dates back to 1978....More

Don't sweat it: Botox, acupuncture among treatments for excessive perspiration

TORONTO - Whether it's stifling, humid conditions, vigorous exercise or plain old stress that's the trigger, trickles or torrents of sweat streaming from the body will undoubtedly follow....More

CDC: Methadone accounts for third of painkiller overdose deaths, but number may have peaked

ATLANTA - Health officials say methadone is involved in nearly one-third of deaths from prescription painkillers. But overdose deaths from methadone appear to have peaked....More

CDC study: Methadone overdose deaths fell; some rare good news regarding painkiller trend

ATLANTA - Overdose deaths from powerful painkillers have been surging at an alarming rate in the U.S., but here's a sliver of good news: The number blamed on methadone appears to have peaked....More

BC restores coverage for medical supplies for those on income or disability aid

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is restoring coverage for certain medical supplies for people on income and disability assistance....More

Funeral scheduled for woman killed in Elliot Lake mall roof collapse

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. - A woman who died in the Elliot Lake, Ont., mall roof collapse will be buried next week....More

B.C. village vying for doctors offers house as incentive for new recruit

NAKUSP, B.C. - The threat of a closed emergency room and fierce competition for doctors has led the village of Nakusp, B.C., to buy a house so a physician facing 10 job offers can live there with his family....More

Tougher anti-smoking rules in Ottawa kick in, ban lighting up on public patios

OTTAWA - Smokers in Ottawa will have to think twice before lighting up in parks and on public patios — the city's new anti-smoking rules kick in today....More

Olympic and recreational athletes need enough food, water to boost performance

TORONTO - Improving athletic performance for endurance athletes and weekend warriors alike can be as simple as drinking enough fluids and eating the proper food at regular intervals, says a registered dietitian who specializes in providing sport nutrition advice....More

Early full-term babies may face later academic woes; more time in womb is better, study says

CHICAGO - Even for infants born full-term, a little more time in the womb may matter. The extra time results in more brain development, and a study suggests perhaps better scores on academic tests, too....More

Addressing mental health issues key when treating obesity, experts say

TORONTO - When Kevin Healey walked into his doctor's office five years ago, the minor injury he was seeking treatment for was the least of his physical ailments....More

Restrictions lifted at Nova Scotia hospital after illness symptoms subside

GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. - A Nova Scotia hospital is open to the public again after a gastrointestinal illness prompted visitor restrictions....More

Don't sweat it: Botox, acupuncture among treatments for excessive perspiration

TORONTO - Whether it's stifling, humid conditions, vigorous exercise or plain old stress that's the trigger, trickles or torrents of sweat streaming from the body will undoubtedly follow....More

Advisory issued for Alberta lake due to blue-green algae; no swimming, drinking

ATHABASCA, Alta. - Alberta Health has issued an advisory for a northern lake due to blue-green algae. Residents who live on or near Baptiste Lake, or visitors to the lake, are warned to not drink the water, nor let pets drink the water....More

40 people sickened at Winnipeg high school grad; health officials investigating

WINNIPEG - Health officials are trying to figure out why more than 40 people who attended a Winnipeg high school graduation became ill. The students of River East Collegiate had their banquet at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on Tuesday....More

Prince Edward Island to regulate use of tanning beds for people under 18

CHARLOTTETOWN - The government of Prince Edward Island is set to regulate tanning for people under 18. The provincial government issued guidelines in December, saying they were looking for 100 per cent compliance....More

Lotte brand Choco Pie recalled because of possible undeclared almonds

OTTAWA - Lotte brand Choco Pies are being recalled because they may contain almond that is not declared on the label. The affected product is sold in 168 gram packages (UPC 8 801062 161881) and in 336 gram packages (UPC 8 801062 160709 or 8 801062 16825)....More

Funeral scheduled for woman killed in Elliot Lake mall roof collapse

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. - A woman who died in the Elliot Lake, Ont., mall roof collapse will be buried next week....More

B.C. village vying for doctors offers house as incentive for new recruit

NAKUSP, B.C. - The threat of a closed emergency room and fierce competition for doctors has led the village of Nakusp, B.C., to buy a house so a physician facing 10 job offers can live there with his family....More

Olympic and recreational athletes need enough food, water to boost performance

TORONTO - Improving athletic performance for endurance athletes and weekend warriors alike can be as simple as drinking enough fluids and eating the proper food at regular intervals, says a registered dietitian who specializes in providing sport nutrition advice....More

Early full-term babies may face later academic woes; more time in womb is better, study says

CHICAGO - Even for infants born full-term, a little more time in the womb may matter. The extra time results in more brain development, and a study suggests perhaps better scores on academic tests, too....More