B.C. Centre for Disease Control

05/31/2026

Bright colours, sweet flavours, viral trends… Commercial to***co products are designed to pull young people in — and keep them hooked. The earlier people start, the greater the risk. Artemis, a young Indigenous person, talks about their experience with commercial to***co products, including when they started using them, and advice they would give to other young people who might be thinking about trying smoking or va**ng.

On World No (Commercial) To***co Day, we raise awareness of the health risks and challenge the appeal of ni****ne products, while supporting people who are trying to quit. If you’re thinking of quitting or cutting back, you have options. Visit quitnow.ca or talkto***co.ca to learn more about the personalized support available in BC.

***coDay

05/28/2026

May 31 is World No (Commercial) To***co Day, a chance to talk about the health risks of smoking ci******es and va**ng — which are even greater for young people. Ni****ne products are very addictive, and things like marketing, product design, and flavouring can make them more appealing. BCCDC’s Chase Simms spoke to Indigenous youth about their experience with commercial to***co products, how they were drawn in to start using them, and advice they would give to other young people who might be tempted to smoke or v**e.

If you're thinking of quitting or cutting back, there are tools that can help. Visit quitnow.ca or talkto***co.ca to learn more about free options available in BC.

05/28/2026

PLEASE SHARE: A Drug Poisoning/Overdose Advisory has been issued for Nanaimo.
- Check out Island Health’s Harm Reduction Services page at https://ow.ly/FgyS50PLkLF to find information on overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services and more.
- For harm reduction services and information, including naloxone programs, visit Toward the Heart at https://ow.ly/Nlzv50PLkLO
- If you’re using alone, try the Lifeguard App at https://ow.ly/183a50PLkLN or the Brave App at https://ow.ly/rbxN50PLkLG, or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677
- For Indigenous-specific information, visit the First Nations Health Authority’s Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction pages at https://ow.ly/ktA450PLkNW

05/27/2026

Getting tested for HIV is a normal part of taking care of your health. Use the clinic finder on SmartSexResource.com to find a clinic where you can get tested. Some non-profit or publicly-funded clinics even allow you to test using a fake name.

GetCheckedOnline is another option in some communities in BC. It is an online service that allows you to get tested for s*xually transmitted and bloodborne infections without seeing a health care provider.

Learn more about HIV testing at https://smarts*xresource.com/

05/20/2026

Check out this important campaign from Pacific Public Health Foundation and health authorities about how alcohol shows up in our daily routines and how that influences our choices.

Did you know that a moderate amount of alcohol can decrease sleep quality? Drinking less or not drinking can save you money, improve your mental health and lower your risk of developing health conditions. Learn more https://seealcoholdifferently.ca/

05/15/2026

Thank you to all the nurses working at BCCDC!

05/13/2026

If you're diving into spring cleaning over the long weekend, be aware of ! Transmitted by some rodents (deer mice in particular in the IH region, pictured), it's a potentially serious infection. There are different hantaviruses around the world, but in B.C. and North America, we see the Sin Nombre Virus. The Sin Nombre Virus cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

Risks can be highest when cleaning a shed, attic or cabin that has not been used in a while, or when working in areas where mice live, such as barns. 🧹

You can get infected with hantavirus when hantaviruses from old rodent droppings and urine are stirred up into the air and then inhaled.

How can hantavirus be prevented?
🔹 Ventilate: having good ventilation is key to reducing the number of airborne hantaviruses in small spaces.
🔹 Gear up: Wearing a mask—N100, P100, R100 or N95—will help filter out airborne particles including hantavirus. Rubber gloves will protect your hands, and goggles will protect your eyes. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water after removing your gloves.
🔹Clean safely: avoid stirring up dust as much as possible by using a damp cloth or mop to clean dusty corners, rather than vacuuming or sweeping (which can put particles into the air).
🔹If you come across rodent droppings or nests, wet the area with a general-purpose disinfectant, household detergent, or a mixture of bleach and water (one part bleach to 10 parts water). Let the area soak for five minutes prior to cleaning with a damp cloth or paper towel.
🔹Make sure to throw out the paper towel in a sealed plastic garbage bag. Double bag the contents and place in the garbage, as appropriate to local bylaws.
🔹Stay up-to-date on any advisories or guidelines issued by IH or your local health authority.

Learn more: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/stories/cleaning-shed-attic-cabin-or-barn-protect-against-hantavirus

📷B.C. Centre for Disease Control

05/13/2026

05/07/2026

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is actively monitoring hantavirus cases on a cruise ship in the Atlantic ocean and working closely with international partners, including the World Health Organization.

In Canada, PHAC reduces health risks for travellers by regularly inspecting incoming passenger transportation including cruise ships, to ensure strong sanitation, pest control and safe onboard conditions.

Hantavirus infections are rare. People can become sick by inhaling virus particles from infected rodents, particularly during activities such as cleaning infested enclosed spaces. Person to person transmission of hantavirus is rare but has been documented in some strains of hantavirus found in South America.

While it can cause serious illness, the risk of getting hantavirus in Canada and internationally remains low.

To reduce the risk of hantavirus, stay away from rodents, and safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodents.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/llei50YVaur

05/06/2026

Curious about the HPV vaccine and if you are eligible to get it for free?

The vaccine is recommended and free for people who are:
➡️ 27 to 45 years of age (inclusive) who are:
▪️Men who identify as gay or bis*xual or have s*x with men
▪️Two-Spirit, transgender and/or non-binary
▪️Living with HIV
➡️Who were treated for abnormal changes to the cervix after a colposcopy (a procedure to examine the cervix and va**na) on or after July 31, 2025

Learn more at https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccine