If you work at a child care centre in Ontario, part of your role is to report certain illnesses to public health as per the law. This guide will help you know when and how to report, so you can feel confident in protecting everyone in your centre.
These infections must be reported to Southwestern Public Health. Click to expand for details.
Signs & symptoms: Fever, chills, cough, loss of smell/taste, fatigue, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea. Onset 1–14 days.
Contagious period: 48 hours before symptoms until at least 10 days after onset (20 if immunocompromised).
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; touching eyes/mouth/nose after contact with contaminated surfaces.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea (may be bloody); fever; stomach cramps. Onset 10 hrs–6 days.
Contagious period: As long as germ in feces: ~1 week adults, up to 3 weeks children.
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; animals.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea; bloating; greasy stool; fatigue; weight loss. Onset 3–25 days.
Contagious period: While germ present in feces (weeks–months).
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24 hors or 48 hours after anti-diarrheals. Avoid pools 1 week.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Mild in kids; fever, nausea, jaundice. Onset 15–50 days.
Contagious period: 2 weeks before symptoms until 7 days after jaundice.
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, jaundice. Onset 45–180 days.
Contagious period: Weeks before onset to years after; sometimes lifelong.
How it spreads: Blood/body fluids; mother-to-child.
Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude if well.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Sudden fever, cough, aches, tiredness. Onset 1–4 days.
Contagious period: 24 hours before to 7 days after onset.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; contaminated surfaces.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Fever, cough, runny nose, rash. Onset 7–21 days.
Contagious period: 4 days before rash to 4 days after.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Headache, stiff neck, fever, vomiting, confusion, seizures. Infants may show irritability or bulging fontanelle.
Contagious period: Varies by cause.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until cleared by a health care provider.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Fever, swollen salivary glands, aches, headache. Onset 12–25 days.
Contagious period: 7 days before to 5 days after gland swelling.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Rash, swollen glands, mild fever. Onset 14–21 days.
Contagious period: 1 week before rash to 4 days after.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, fever. Onset 12–36 hrs.
Contagious period: While germ present in feces (weeks).
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; animals.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24–48 hrs.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), cramps, fever, vomiting. Onset 1–3 days.
Contagious period: While symptomatic and until germ gone (up to 4 weeks).
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; sexual contact.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Cold-like start; severe coughing fits with “whoop” sound and vomiting. Onset 6–20 days.
Contagious period: Most contagious first 2 weeks. No longer contagious after 5 days of treatment.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva/nasal secretions.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.
Reportable? Yes
Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal cramps, fever. Onset 3–7 days.
Contagious period: While symptoms persist (2–3 weeks); untreated up to 2–3 months.
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; contact with infected animals.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24–48 hrs.
Reportable? Yes
Use this form to report infections:
You can also call us at 1-800-922-0096 ext. 3500.
These infections do not need to be reported to the Health Unit. Click on an infection name to expand for details.
Signs & symptoms: Runny/stuffy nose; sneezing; sore throat; cough; decreased appetite; fever (sometimes). Onset 12 hours–5 days.
Contagious period: 24 hours before symptoms until 5 days after onset.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; touching eyes/mouth/nose after contact with contaminated surfaces.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude if too ill to participate.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Tingling, itching, painful sores around mouth. Onset 2–14 days.
Contagious period: Most contagious with sores; may spread without symptoms.
How it spreads: Saliva; sharing utensils/items.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude if too ill; avoid direct contact.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Cold-like symptoms before rash; “slapped cheek” rash. Onset 4–21 days.
Contagious period: Contagious before rash, not after.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; contact with contaminated surfaces.
Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude if well. Pregnant staff/parents contact health care provider.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Mild fever; mouth ulcers; rash with blisters. Onset 3–6 days.
Contagious period: Most contagious first week; virus in feces weeks.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; fecal-oral.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Red bumps/blisters forming crust. Onset 7–10 days.
Contagious period: From start until 24 hours after antibiotics.
How it spreads: Direct skin contact; contaminated surfaces.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 24 hours after treatment; cover lesions.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Small raised bumps. Onset 2–7 weeks.
Contagious period: While lesions present.
How it spreads: Direct skin contact; contaminated surfaces.
Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude if well. Cover lesions.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Fever, sore throat, fatigue. Onset 30–50 days.
Contagious period: May be contagious for a year+.
How it spreads: Saliva; sharing items.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Onset 12–48 hrs.
Contagious period: Most contagious while sick, up to 3 weeks.
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24–72 hours.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Red, itchy eyes with discharge. Onset 1–3 days.
Contagious period: Until symptoms resolve.
How it spreads: Eye discharge; contaminated objects.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude while untreated/symptomatic.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Often no symptoms; anal itching. Onset 1–2 months.
Contagious period: While eggs present.
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; eggs survive weeks.
Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude; see health care provider.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Runny nose, cough, poor appetite. Onset 2–8 days.
Contagious period: Usually 3–8 days; longer in children.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Red, ring-shaped rash. Onset 4–14 days.
Contagious period: While untreated/uncovered.
How it spreads: Direct contact; contaminated items.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until treatment started.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: High fever then rash. Onset ~9–10 days.
Contagious period: Contagious during fever.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Vomiting; diarrhea; fever. Onset 1–3 days.
Contagious period: 2 days before to 10 days after onset.
How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptoms stop.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Itchy, pimple-like rash (worse at night), between fingers, wrists, elbows, thighs. Onset 2–6 weeks (1–4 days if reinfected).
Contagious period: Until mites and eggs destroyed by treatment.
How it spreads: Prolonged skin-to-skin contact; sharing bedding/clothing.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 24 hours after treatment.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Sore throat, red “strawberry” tongue, sandpaper-like rash. Onset 2–5 days.
Contagious period: Untreated: 2–3 weeks. Treated: contagious until antibiotics started.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva/nasal discharges.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 12 hours after antibiotics and well enough.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Painful blister rash, usually one side of body/face. Onset varies.
Contagious period: While blisters present. Can cause chickenpox in those not immune.
How it spreads: Direct contact with blister fluid.
Recommended exclusion: Keep rash covered; exclude if unwell.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: Sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils. Onset 2–5 days.
Contagious period: Untreated: 2–3 weeks. Treated: no longer contagious after 12 hours.
How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva/nasal secretions.
Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 12 hours after antibiotics and well enough.
Reportable? No
Signs & symptoms: White patches inside mouth.
Contagious period: While symptoms present.
How it spreads: Rarely person-to-person, via oral secretions.
Recommended exclusion: No exclusion required.
Reportable? No
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Southwestern Public Health (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday)
St. Thomas Site
(Administrative office)
1230 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1G9
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410 Buller Street
Woodstock, ON N4S 4N2
Call us toll free: 1-800-922-0096
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