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

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.