Health officials declare outbreak of rare but deadly disease among unhoused people on Vancouver Island
A rare but deadly disease is spreading rapidly among unhoused people on Vancouver Island, prompting the regional health authority to declare an outbreak.
Eight cases of Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) have been confirmed in Victoria, Nanaimo and Parksville since late 2021, according to health officials.
Of the eight cases, one has been fatal, and the disease has spread most rapidly in the past two months, Island Health says.
"This outbreak has been occurring in people experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, or supportive housing and who use substances, including drugs that are inhaled," an Island Health spokesperson said Tuesday
"Hib can cause serious and life-threatening infections including meningitis, an infection of the lining that covers the brain. Hib can also cause septicemia, an infection of the blood. Permanent complications of infection include brain damage and deafness."
Despite having "influenza" in its name, Hib is not the same as the common flu. Most people exposed to the bacteria will not get sick from it, especially those who are vaccinated as children, the health authority says.
"Prior to this year, rates of Hib have been extremely low for the past decade (between 0-1 cases per year) due to excellent control through the universal childhood vaccination program," according to Island Health.
Those who have been infected on Vancouver Island range in age from their mid-20s to their 70s, with the average age of 48 years old, according to health officials.
The health authority says risk to the general public is low. People at risk of contracting the disease are encouraged to get vaccinated and officials are now offering vaccines to at-risk people where cases have been confirmed.
"Immunization is provided through Island Health outreach nursing, and some primary care and social service partners in the urban centres who work with people experiencing homelessness/unstable housing or use services for this population," Island Health says.
Drug-users are advised to avoid sharing drug paraphernalia or cigarettes with others. Frequent hand washing, sanitizing and wound care are also recommended to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.