Flu blamed for deaths of 6 children across B.C. in recent weeks, doctors told
Doctors have been told six children across British Columbia have died from the flu over the past two weeks, CTV News has learned.
The information was shared Monday at a meeting that involved staff from BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital, as well as other pediatric specialists.
There were at least two toddlers among the children who died. Some were in treatment, while others did not make it make it to BC Children’s Hospital. They came from various parts of the province, including Richmond and West Kelowna.
Recording that many deaths over such a short period of time is unusual for B.C. – normally, one or two children will die from the disease over the course of an entire flu season.
Six-year-old Danielle Cabana, who was a member of the Richmond Raven U7 girls hockey team, died after experiencing complications from the flu at the end of November.
Loved ones described her as “a real firecracker.”
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry warned Monday that Influenza A virus subtype H3N2 “does tend do cause more severe illness across the board, but particularly in young children and in older people.”
CTV News has been trying to learn exactly how many people have been dying from respiratory illnesses, separated by age, but despite repeated requests for the information, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control has not provided any statistics.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Fine dining, at a new high. A Michelin-starred chef will take his cuisine to our upper atmosphere
Six guests are set to ascend aboard Spaceship Neptune to the stratosphere, where they will enjoy an immersive dining experience served up by Danish Michelin-starred chef Rasmus Munk.