Health

RCMP say they are investigating after a second ostrich was found dead in suspicious circumstances on a B.C. farm where roughly 400 of the birds have been ordered killed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).Though a kill order for the ostriches is in place, the CFIA has said the cull will be "humane", with "veterinary oversight." In the meantime, the RCMP are monitoring the farm to ensure overall safety.This is the second investigation into an ostrich death at the farm this year, with RCMP already investigating after one of the birds was shot on March 21.The latest investigation was first confirmed by the Canadian Press.RCMP did not provide an update on that earlier investigation, nor did they confirm the circumstances of the most recent death, which farm spokesperson Katie Pasitne...

Kristyne Agabob and Lisa Brooks from the Looking Glass Foundation say that the rate of eating disorders has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, and that Canadians under 35 have the highest risk of developing an eating disorder.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he has talked to Canadian health officials about sparing a flock of ostriches in British Columbia that have been ordered killed due to avian flu fears.In a statement posted to X, Kennedy says that he spoke with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) president Paul MacKinnon on Thursday to discuss the fate of the roughly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich in Edgewood, B.C. where avian flu was detected in two dead birds in December 2024.In a letter to MacKinnon and posted to X, Kennedy reiterates that he is "respectfully requesting" the CFIA "consider not culling the entire flock of ostriches," arguing "we believe there is significant value in studying this population."WATCH | Supporters gather at ostrich farm slated for cull: Protesters join ...

The Current23:49Adulting 101: How Gen Z fell behind on basic life skillsAldhen Garcia, a first-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University, says he has a lot of life skills to learn."I don't know how to change a tire — I don't have a car at all. I don't know how to sew, I don't know how to do a lot of things other than cooking," Garcia told The Current.Garcia also has questions about financial matters, like interest rates, mortgages and paying rent."I think it's so important that children are taught financial literacy. A lot of stuff involves money," he said.Waterloo University's Director of Student Success, Pam Charbonneau, has a message for students like Garcia: you're not alone."What you're experiencing is normal. A lot of your peers are going through the same thing at the same time...

This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.As Canada's measles outbreak continues to grow, the country is at risk of losing its measles elimination status — a bar set by the World Health Organization. "The risk is substantial," said Dr. Sarah Wilson, a public health physician with Public Health Ontario who has been tracking the measles outbreak in that province. Ontario is now reporting more measles cases each week than it once saw over an entire decade, Wilson said. "It is a very different situation than what we experienced in the last decade since measles elimination was achieved," she said.Measles elimination is reached...

Billy Joel has cancelled eight concert dates, including a Toronto show at the Rogers Centre this Saturday, due to a medical condition.The American singer, songwriter and pianist, 75, said in an Instagram post on Tuesday that his tour will be postponed for four months to give him time to recover from surgery and to take part in physical therapy while being supervised by his doctors. Joel is expected to make a full recovery, according to the post.Joel has been rescheduled to perform in Toronto on March 14, 2026 at the Rogers Centre."While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first. I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding," Joel says in the post.The tour itself is set to resume at Acrisure ...

Singer Billy Joel said Friday he was recently diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder. He said it's affected his hearing, vision and balance.The brain disorder can cause problems with walking, bladder control and thinking.In a statement, Joel said he's undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to pause performances while he recovers. Here are some facts about the condition.What is hydrocephalus?Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of fluid within the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is produced in the brain's four hollow ventricles or chambers, protects and cushions the brain and spine and normally gets reabsorbed into the bloodstream.But when the flow of CSF to the outside of the brain is interrupted or blocked, too much builds up.  What happe...

"Do you want to go faster?" Jayne Imeson already knew the answer she was going to get from her six-year-old son, Casey, sitting astride his new steed in a park in Central Saanich, B.C.He nodded with a smile."Always faster — this kid loves his speed," Imeson said.Casey's usual ride is a Fjord horse named Valla, but on Thursday, he became the first official user of the MiraColt horse-riding motion simulator developed for the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association (VTRA). The first-of-its-kind device combines a commercially available riding simulator with an app-based software application designed by CanAssist, an organization part of the University of Victoria, dedicated to helping people with disabilities.The system allows riders to control the speed of their simulated ride through a varie...

Two former employees have filed an application for a class action lawsuit against Interior Health in the B.C. Supreme Court.The lawsuit, filed May 22, alleges the employer was reckless and tried to conceal the full extent of the data breach that resulted in the personal information of thousands of employees being stolen and then sold on the dark web.As a result, it says, those affected didn't have the opportunity to fully protect themselves — and they are still living with the consequences."The effects of this data breach have been life-altering," said Justin Giovanetti, the lawyer representing the two former employees. "Identities have been stolen, used to commit fraud."The lawsuit has yet to be certified, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.CBC News contacted Interior H...

London's largest employer will need to make tough decisions as it continues to grapple with the fallout of years of instability, bloated management and growing need for medical care, a review of the organizational structure of the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has found. The review, done by an outside healthcare consultant at the request of provincially-appointed supervisor David Musyj, paints a bleak picture of the region's largest hospital — an organization that lags behind similar centres in its use of technology, faces a $150 million operating deficit, and has been embroiled in scandal and "massive" leadership turnover in the last decade. "LHSC is currently in a very difficult financial position and faces significant operating challenges every day. While all hospitals in Ontario...