A health crisis refers to a significant and often sudden disruption in the health status of a population or community, which can arise from various factors such as disease outbreaks, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters, or systemic health system failures. During a health crisis, there is typically a rapid increase in health care demands that may overwhelm the available resources and infrastructure. This situation can lead to severe consequences for individuals and communities, including increased morbidity and mortality, economic hardship, and social instability. Responding to a health crisis often involves public health interventions, mobilization of health care services, and coordination among government agencies, organizations, and communities to mitigate the effects and restore health and safety.
A teenager in British Columbia is currently battling a severe health crisis, as healthcare professionals treat Canada’s first suspected human case of avian influenza. Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry remarked…