News

SWPH Seeks Dog Involved in Tillsonburg Biting Incident

Southwestern Public Health wants to identify a dog that bit a woman on Tuesday May 30 at approximately 9 am. The victim is a woman who was running at the junction of Rolph, Victoria and Concession Streets in Tillsonburg. As the woman ran by the dog, the dog startled and bit the runner. The dog was a medium sized yellow dog being walked on a leash, by a woman. Identifying the dog and learning its vaccination status allows the victim and their health care provider to determine next steps related...

Bird from SWPH Region Tests Positive for West Nile Virus

May 31, 2023

Bird from Southwestern Public Health Region Tests Positive for West Nile Virus Protect yourself from infected mosquitoes by using bug spray with DEET and cleaning up breeding sites

Public Health Ontario has reported that the first bird to test positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Ontario this year was found in the region served by Southwestern Public Health.

Birds testing positive for WNV are an indicator of the presence of WNV in the environment as birds can get the virus from the...

Dog bite incident in Port Stanley

Southwestern Public Health is seeking help to identify a dog that bit someone in Port Stanley in early May.

The incident took place at Little Creek Park (109 Old Field Line) between 11AM and 1PM on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

The dog is described as a Dachshund and was small, with a solid brown coat, short hair, with no spots or patches. The owner had two Dachshund dogs while at the park. One of the dogs escaped its leash and bit the victim.

Identifying the dog and confirming its vaccination status allows...

Southwestern Public Health pauses COVID-19 data dashboard

More than 190,000 annual visits to COVID-19 dashboard underscores desire for local data; will transition to respiratory virus report this fall

Since 2020, Southwestern Public Health has published a COVID-19 data dashboard to inform residents of local cases, hospitalizations, outbreaks, intensive care admissions, and deaths resulting from COVID-19. More than 190,000 unique visitors visited the dashboard annually.

Recent changes to provincial data collection and limited testing eligibility have...

Vulnerable residents invited to SWPH Clinics for Spring Booster

News

April 12, 2023

Southwestern Public Health offering spring Covid-19 boosters to those most vulnerable to Covid-19 infection

High-risk groups welcome at health unit vaccination clinics if it has been at least six months (168 days) since their last dose.

Following recommendations from Health Canada and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Southwestern Public Health invites those most vulnerable to severe Covid-19 infection for a spring booster.

“We’re still in a pandemic and Covid-19...

SWPH Warns Community of Rising Cases of Pertussis

Media Release

March 8, 2023

Southwestern Public Health warns community of rising cases of pertussis in the region

Parents advised to be alert to symptoms of the illness which is particularly dangerous in children under one.

Southwestern Public Health is urging parents and guardians to keep themselves and their children up to date with the pertussis vaccine after a recent dramatic rise in cases in the region.

“Our region has seen 82 confirmed cases of pertussis between January 1, 2022 and February 28...