All Health stories

Canadian cows aren’t sick with bird flu — yet

If you feel stressed about your job, remember that dairy farmers are hoping that their cows don’t have a disease that’s named after a different animal.

Driving the news: After dozens of cows in the U.S. tested positive for H5N1 — a dangerous form of bird flu — lactating dairy cows coming from the U.S. must now test negative for the virus. Last year, Canada imported 5,845 dairy cattle from the U.S.

Using mRNA to personalize skin cancer vaccines

The problem: Melanoma affects 132,000 people every year globally. While surgery and radiation can treat the disease, especially if it’s caught early, cancer cells can linger.

Getting more cancer tests with faster scans

Prostate cancer is among the most common forms of the disease, with an estimated 25,900 new cases in Canada last year. It is highly treatable if caught early, but a diagnosis requires a three-stage MRI, with the last stage involving an injection of contrast dye to make the scan easier to read.

Dr. Chatbot is taking patients

Think about the last time you had ChatGPT write something for you and consider this: Would you be comfortable with that bot giving a teen mental health advice?

Med school admissions get a makeover

For many students, getting into med school feels like winning the lottery. And soon, for some of them, it will literally be like winning the lottery. 

What happened: Queen’s University will introduce a unique lottery system this fall as part of its medical school application process as it looks to spur admissions for students from diverse backgrounds. The lottery will be used to choose who reaches the first interview stage. 

Bird flu makes its way to mammals

Birds have already given us food, inspiration for band names, and countless sports mascots. Unfortunately, they might also be giving us a nasty virus.

Driving the news: A recent outbreak of bird flu in U.S. cattle has now spread to a human, with at least one person in Texas testing positive for the virus. It’s the latest worrying development in an outbreak that has infected millions of animals around the world.

AI finds cancers that doctors missed

When it comes to medical diagnoses, it’s always good to get a second opinion. Getting a third from an artificially intelligent healthcare tool might not be a bad idea, either.

What happened: An AI tool called Mia caught multiple small cancers missed by doctors in a test of 10,000 women’s mammograms performed by Britain’s National Health Service (NHS).

Public healthcare vs. private nurses

Newfoundland and Labrador’s health authority has launched a pilot to cut back on one of its most expensive indulgences: Out-of-province travel nurses from private staffing firms. 

Driving the news: Union staff nurses at public health institutions can now take on extra work as temporary fill-ins in rural areas. While the nurses can only do this during their days off, they are rewarded with an overwhelming sense of goodwill… and an extra $25 an hour.

AstraZeneca scoops up Canadian cancer drug maker

One of Canada’s top biotech prospects has been called up to the big leagues. 

What happened: British pharma giant AstraZeneca is acquiring a promising Canadian biotech firm, Hamilton-based Fusion Pharmaceuticals, in a deal worth up to $3.26 billion

Canada’s got a measles problem

File this story under “diseases you thought you could stop worrying about”: Experts are worried that a recent surge in measles cases could soon get worse as kids return from the March break holidays. 

Driving the news: New modelling projections from researchers at Simon Fraser University show that Canada has a high chance of experiencing a significant measles outbreak, potentially infecting thousands.