By Canadian Press

B.C. hospital admissions break record as respiratory illness season nears peak

Jan 10, 2024 | 3:04 PM

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s health minister says hospitals are dealing with a record number of in-patients as the province’s respiratory illness season nears its peak.

Health Minister Adrian Dix told a briefing that 10,435 people were in hospital as of Tuesday night, the most the province has ever seen, and many have respiratory illnesses.

Dix says it’s a “particularly challenging time” for the health system.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told the briefing that cases of Influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus are high across B.C. and are expected to peak in the next week or so.

She says COVID-19 cases are also showing signs of increasing in recent weeks with 219 people in hospital and 26 people in intensive care.

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However, Henry says the respiratory illness season appears to be returning to patterns similar to periods before the COVID-19 pandemic.

She says influenza has contributed to the deaths of three children in B.C. in recent weeks and has seen outbreaks in at least two dozen long-term care facilities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2024.

The Canadian Press