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Record number of COVID-19 cases in B.C. over weekend – Kamloops This Week

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There have been 1,120 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. in the past 72 hours, along with six more deaths.

On Friday, B.C. recorded 352 new cases. On Saturday, there were 389 new cases. On Sunday, there were 379 new cases — all daily highs for the province. The weekend total is also a record for B.C.

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The six deaths were among five people in Vancouver Coastal Health and one person in Fraser Health, all of whom were residents in long-term care homes.

Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Réka Gustafson said the latest numbers are concerning, but noted in the months since the pandemic began, it’s known what is needed to stay safe — testing and contact tracing being the two main tools.

Of the 1,120 new cases, 830 are in Fraser Health, 234 are in Vancouver Coastal Health, 36 are in Interior Health, 10 are in Northern Health and nine are in Island Health.

There are 2,945 active cases of COVID-19 — which is also a record — of whom 90 are in hospital. Of those 90 people, 19 are in intensive care. While there are 93 active COVID-19 cases in Interior Health, there are no hospitalizations.

There are 6,448 people in B.C. being monitored for COVID-19.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 15,501 cases of COVID-19 in the province, 777 of which have been in Interior Health. In the Kamloops Health Service Area, which includes outlying areas of Logan Lake, Savona, Little Fort, Barriere, Anglemont, Chase and Westwold, there have been 82 cases to the end of September.

There have been three new outbreaks in long-term care facilities in B.C., increasing active outbreaks to 28. There are no new community outbreaks to report from the weekend.

Gustafson advised that as the weather continues to get colder and people spend more time indoors, there will be surges in cases, so it’s important to keep groups small.

She advised to work with contact tracers and said all older individuals and otherwise vulnerable people should avoid crowds and limit the number of social contacts.

Asked about the risk of contracting COVID-19 on transit, Gustafson said it isn’t a major source of transmission, noting there are good safety protocols in place for BC Transit, which has a face mask mandate.

She said contact tracers look into where a person with COVID-19 has been in the past two weeks and most people have been able top pinpoint where they were infected.

Gustafson added that most infections are occurring in private residences where there may not be COVID-19 protocols in place. She said businesses and voting places have not been major sources of virus spread.

Asked why the health ministry is not providing more detailed information of where cases are occurring in specific health regions, Gustafson said government is “working hard to provide more and more granular information.

“COVID-19 is transmitted in known chains of transmission and outbreaks and the more information you have about your community, the more empowered you are to take precautions as needed,” Gustafson said.

To date, the government has only been specifying new cases by health authority, citing privacy concerns. More recently, case counts by health region within health authorities have been made available. but those numbers are only updated monthly.

Asked why B.C. has not adopted the federal government’s COVID-19 app, Gustafson said officials have reviewed the app with contact tracers and it was deemed to not have additional value to the existing contact tracing in place in the province.

She said the app, in its current state, can inform someone he or she was exposed to COVID-19, but is not able to tell people when that contact occurred, how intense the exposure was or what to do about it. She said people need more details about said exposure to know whether there is a risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

Gustafson said there are basic steps, such as monitoring one’s health and isolating when sick, people need to take regardless of whether they’ve been exposed.

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Toronto reports 2 more measles cases. Use our tool to check the spread in Canada – Toronto Star

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Canada has seen a concerning rise in measles cases in the first months of 2024.

By the third week of March, the country had already recorded more than three times the number of cases as all of last year. Canada had just 12 cases of measles in 2023, up from three in 2022.

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Cancer Awareness Month – Métis Nation of Alberta

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Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on: Apr 18, 2024

April is Cancer Awareness Month

As we recognize Cancer Awareness Month, we stand together to raise awareness, support those affected, advocate for prevention, early detection, and continued research towards a cure. Cancer is the leading cause of death for Métis women and the second leading cause of death for Métis men. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation Within Alberta is working hard to ensure that available supports for Métis Citizens battling cancer are culturally appropriate, comprehensive, and accessible by Métis Albertans at all stages of their cancer journey.

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Receiving a cancer diagnosis, whether for yourself or a loved one, can feel overwhelming, leaving you unsure of where to turn for support. In June, our government will be launching the Cancer Supports and Navigation Program which will further support Métis Albertans and their families experiencing cancer by connecting them to OMG-specific cancer resources, external resources, and providing navigation support through the health care system. This program will also include Métis-specific peer support groups for those affected by cancer.

With funding from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) we have also developed the Métis Cancer Care Course to ensure that Métis Albertans have access to culturally safe and appropriate cancer services. This course is available to cancer care professionals across the country and provides an overview of who Métis people are, our culture, our approaches to health and wellbeing, our experiences with cancer care, and our cancer journey.

Together, we can make a difference in the fight against cancer and ensure equitable access to culturally safe and appropriate care for all Métis Albertans. Please click on the links below to learn more about the supports available for Métis Albertans, including our Compassionate Care: Cancer Transportation program.

I wish you all good health and happiness!

Bobbi Paul-Alook
Secretary of Health & Seniors

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Type 2 diabetes is not one-size-fits-all: Subtypes affect complications and treatment options – The Conversation

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You may have heard of Ozempic, the “miracle drug” for weight loss, but did you know that it was actually designed as a new treatment to manage diabetes? In Canada, diabetes affects approximately 10 per cent of the general population. Of those cases, 90 per cent have Type 2 diabetes.

This metabolic disorder is characterized by persistent high blood sugar levels, which can be accompanied by secondary health challenges, including a higher risk of stroke and kidney disease.

Locks and keys

In Type 2 diabetes, the body struggles to maintain blood sugar levels in an acceptable range. Every cell in the body needs sugar as an energy source, but too much sugar can be toxic to cells. This equilibrium needs to be tightly controlled and is regulated by a lock and key system.

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In the body’s attempt to manage blood sugar levels and ensure that cells receive the right amount of energy, the pancreatic hormone, insulin, functions like a key. Cells cover themselves with locks that respond perfectly to insulin keys to facilitate the entry of sugar into cells.

Unfortunately, this lock and key system doesn’t always perform as expected. The body can encounter difficulties producing an adequate number of insulin keys, and/or the locks can become stubborn and unresponsive to insulin.

All forms of diabetes share the challenge of high blood sugar levels; however, diabetes is not a singular condition; it exists as a spectrum. Although diabetes is broadly categorized into two main types, Type 1 and Type 2, each presents a diversity of subtypes, especially Type 2 diabetes.

These subtypes carry their own characteristics and risks, and do not respond uniformly to the same treatments.

To better serve people living with Type 2 diabetes, and to move away from a “one size fits all” approach, it is beneficial to understand which subtype of Type 2 diabetes a person lives with. When someone needs a blood transfusion, the medical team needs to know the patient’s blood type. It should be the same for diabetes so a tailored and effective game plan can be implemented.

This article explores four unique subtypes of Type 2 diabetes, shedding light on their causes, complications and some of their specific treatment avenues.

Severe insulin-deficient diabetes: We’re missing keys!

In severe insulin-deficient diabetes, beta cells limit production of the keys that unlock cells to allow entry of sugar from the blood.
(Lili Grieco-St-Pierre, Jennifer Bruin/Created with BioRender.com)

Insulin is produced by beta cells, which are found in the pancreas. In the severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD) subtype, the key factories — the beta cells — are on strike. Ultimately, there are fewer keys in the body to unlock the cells and allow entry of sugar from the blood.

SIDD primarily affects younger, leaner individuals, and unfortunately, increases the risk of eye disease and blindness, among other complications. Why the beta cells go on strike remains largely unknown, but since there is an insulin deficiency, treatment often involves insulin injections.

Severe insulin-resistant diabetes: But it’s always locked!

A diagram of three closed locks and lots of keys

In severe insulin-resistant diabetes, the locks start ignoring the keys, triggering the beta cells to produce even more keys to compensate.
(Lili Grieco-St-Pierre, Jennifer Bruin/Created with BioRender.com)

In the severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD) subtype, the locks are overstimulated and start ignoring the keys. As a result, the beta cells produce even more keys to compensate. This can be measured as high levels of insulin in the blood, also known as hyperinsulinemia.

This resistance to insulin is particularly prominent in individuals with higher body weight. Patients with SIRD have an increased risk of complications such as fatty liver disease. There are many treatment avenues for these patients but no consensus about the optimal approach; patients often require high doses of insulin.

Mild obesity-related diabetes: The locks are sticky!

Illustration of a lock and key

In mild obesity-related diabetes, the locks are ‘sticky,’ making it difficult for the keys to open the locks.
(Lili Grieco-St-Pierre, Jennifer Bruin/Created with BioRender.com)

Mild obesity-related (MOD) diabetes represents a nuanced aspect of Type 2 diabetes, often observed in individuals with higher body weight. Unlike more severe subtypes, MOD is characterized by a more measured response to insulin. The locks are “sticky,” so it is challenging for the key to click in place and open the lock. While MOD is connected to body weight, the comparatively less severe nature of MOD distinguishes it from other diabetes subtypes.

To minimize complications, treatment should include maintaining a healthy diet, managing body weight, and incorporating as much aerobic exercise as possible. This is where drugs like Ozempic can be prescribed to control the evolution of the disease, in part by managing body weight.

Mild age-related diabetes: I’m tired of controlling blood sugar!

Illustration of a lock and a beta cell

In people with mild age-related diabetes, both the locks and the beta cells that produce keys are tired, resulting in fewer keys and stubborn locks.
(Lili Grieco-St-Pierre, Jennifer Bruin/Created with BioRender.com)

Mild age-related diabetes (MARD) happens more often in older people and typically starts later in life. With time, the key factory is not as productive, and the locks become stubborn. People with MARD find it tricky to manage their blood sugar, but it usually doesn’t lead to severe complications.

Among the different subtypes of diabetes, MARD is the most common.

Unique locks, varied keys

While efforts have been made to classify diabetes subtypes, new subtypes are still being identified, making proper clinical assessment and treatment plans challenging.

In Canada, unique cases of Type 2 diabetes were identified in Indigenous children from Northern Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario by Dr. Heather Dean and colleagues in the 1980s and 90s. Despite initial skepticism from the scientific community, which typically associated Type 2 diabetes with adults rather than children, clinical teams persisted in identifying this as a distinct subtype of Type 2 diabetes, called childhood-onset Type 2 diabetes.




Read more:
Indigenous community research partnerships can help address health inequities


Childhood-onset Type 2 diabetes is on the rise across Canada, but disproportionately affects Indigenous youth. It is undoubtedly linked to the intergenerational trauma associated with colonization in these communities. While many factors are likely involved, recent studies have discovered that exposure of a fetus to Type 2 diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk that the baby will develop diabetes later in life.

Acknowledging this distinct subtype of Type 2 diabetes in First Nations communities has led to the implementation of a community-based health action plan aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples. It is hoped that partnered research between communities and researchers will continue to help us understand childhood-onset Type 2 diabetes and how to effectively prevent and treat it.

A mosaic of conditions

Illustration of different subtypes of Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a mosaic of conditions, each with its own characteristics.
(Lili Grieco-St-Pierre, Jennifer Bruin/Created with BioRender.com)

Type 2 diabetes is not uniform; it’s a mosaic of conditions, each with its own characteristics. Since diabetes presents so uniquely in every patient, even categorizing into subtypes does not guarantee how the disease will evolve. However, understanding these subtypes is a good starting point to help doctors create personalized plans for people living with the condition.

While Indigenous communities, lower-income households and individuals living with obesity already face a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than the general population, tailored solutions may offer hope for better management. This emphasizes the urgent need for more precise assessments of diabetes subtypes to help customize therapeutic strategies and management strategies. This will improve care for all patients, including those from vulnerable and understudied populations.

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