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The information below has been updated for 2025-2026.
High risk groups are recommended to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu as soon as the vaccines are available to them. See below for a list of those considered High Risk.
All others 6 months and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu…
UPDATES:
The information below has been updated for 2025-2026.
Ontario will have two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, Moderna Spikevax and Pfizer-BioNTech
Comirnaty
INFLUENZA VACCINES – Please visit the dedicated health care provider Influenza web page for more information.
RSV VACCINES - Please…
What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infection caused by the coxsackie virus. The infection can occur at any age, but it is most likely to affect young children. It usually occurs in the summer and fall. This infection is not related to the virus that causes…
Septic tanks should be pumped out every three to five years (depending on several factors) to remove the build-up of sludge and to prevent solids from clogging and/or overflowing into the septic field.
Homeowners may become concerned with their onsite sewage treatment system due to the…
Ontario Tanning Bed Legislation-Information for Tanning Bed Operators
Effective May 1, 2014, it is illegal to sell, offer for sale or provide tanning services to anyone under 18 years of age in Ontario. Visit www.ontario.ca/uvrsmart for more information. Below are the most common…
What is Amebiasis?
Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite, called Entamoeba histolytica (ent-a-ME-ba his-to-LI-ti-ka). Amebiasis occurs worldwide. Although, anyone can acquire this illness, it is most common in people who live in developing countries…
What is Anthrax?
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It is primarily a disease of sheep, goats, cattle and swine, but it can also infect humans. Symptoms of the disease usually occur within 7 days after exposure and will vary…
What is Botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum (klos-trih-dee-um bot-u-li-num). There are four kinds of botulism which are food-borne botulism, wound botulism, infant botulism and adult…
What is Brucellosis?
Brucellosis, or Undulant Fever, is a rare infectious disease caused by Brucella bacteria. These bacteria are passed, and cause disease, primarily among animals. Various Brucella bacteria affect sheep, goats, cattle, deer, elk, pigs, dogs, and several other animals.
Humans…
What is Campylobacteriosis?
Campylobacteriosis (cam·py·lo·bac·teer-ee-o-sis) is a disease caused by bacteria called Campylobacter. Campylobacter infect the intestinal tract and sometimes the blood. There are 16 species and six subspecies assigned to the genus Campylobacter, of which the most…
What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. About 90 percent of chickenpox cases occur before the child becomes 12 years of age. There is a vaccine.
What are the symptoms of Chickenpox?
Children with chickenpox will feel flu-like symptoms such as fatigue…
What is Cholera?
Cholera is a diarrheal disease caused by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
How common is Cholera?
Cholera is not a common disease in Canada. In Ontario, an average of one case per year is reported and all cases have…
What is Clostridium difficile (C. diff)?
C. diff is one of the many germs (bacteria) that can be found in stool (a bowel movement). C. diff disease occurs when antibiotics kill your good bowel bacteria and allow the C. diff to grow. When C. diff grows, it produces substances (toxins). These toxins…