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SWPH Board votes against voluntary merger
Posted on Friday, April 26, 2024 09:58 AM
Board of Health explored a three-way merger with Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit as part of Ontario’s Strengthening Public Health Strategy
The Southwestern Public Health Board of Health has voted against voluntarily merging with Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit after completing a comprehensive feasibility assessment into a proposed three-way merger.
The three health units began exploring potential alignment options in connection with Ontario’s
SWPH investigating illnesses at a high school staff event in St. Thomas
Posted on Friday, April 19, 2024 02:18 PM
Southwestern Public Health has been working closely with Thames Valley District School Board to investigate a group of illnesses from a catered staff event at Parkside Collegiate Institute on April 8th. Approximately half of the nearly 100 faculty who attended developed gastrointestinal symptoms shortly after the event took place. No severe illnesses were identified, and students were not present at the event.
Food samples from the caterer found no evidence of bacterial contamination, such as...
Dog bite incident in St. Thomas on April 12th
Posted on Friday, April 12, 2024 04:19 PM
Southwestern Public Health has been notified of a dog biting incident.
The incident took place on April 12, 2024, at the intersection of Glenwood Street and Oakmont Street in St. Thomas, ON, between 7:48 - 8:00AM.
The victim was walking on the sidewalk of Glenwood Street and was bit when two dogs and their owner passed by. One dog is described as a medium sized husky and the other, a black and white dog with blue eyes.
Public health seeks information about these dogs in order to assess for risk of...
8 Blacklegged ticks submitted to SWPH since March 1
Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2024 02:56 PM
Southwestern Public Health is reminding residents to be aware of ticks after a sharp rise in Blacklegged tick, or Deer tick, submissions to the health unit since March 1.
Over the span of two weeks, 8 ticks submitted for identification to the health unit were Blacklegged ticks which can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. In comparison, only 1 Blacklegged tick was submitted to public health the entire month of March in 2023.
“We tend to think of ticks as a warm-weather pest, yet ticks...
Prevention is key when it comes to measles
Posted on Friday, March 08, 2024 09:55 AM
Rise in measles cases in Canada prompts timely reminder to residents of measures to prevent measles
Amid a rise in measles cases in Canada, Southwestern Public Health is reminding local residents of measures to prevent the spread of the highly infectious viral infection.
“The majority of current cases in Canada are linked to international travel. However, some regions have reported cases that are not linked to travel, which is concerning,” says Dr. Ninh Tran, Medical Officer of Health at...
Dog bite incident in St. Thomas
Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 02:56 PM
Southwestern Public Health is seeking help to identify two dogs involved in a bite incident in St. Thomas this week.
The incident took place on February 27 2024 on Lockes Avenue in St. Thomas, ON, near Confederation Drive between 3:40 and 3:50PM.
The victim was walking east on Lockes Avenue and was bit when two dogs and their owner passed in the opposite direction. The two dogs are described as a yellow or white medium-sized curly-haired dog that resembled a Golden Doodle, and a brown...