Public health specialists concerned with environmental factors affecting human health

Protects the health of the community * inspections of safe water (drinking water, public pools and spas, beach management) * food safety inspections (commercial, retail and institutional food premises) * analysis of health hazards (such as ticks, Lyme disease, mosquitoes and West Nile Virus) * emergency preparedness * weather and air quality alerts

Investigates complaints and responds to inquiries from the public on a variety of environmental health matters including food safety, health hazards, animal bites and rabies, drinking water and infectious diseases

Resources and applications for migrant housing and special events available

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• Animal Bites / Rabies Investigates reports of people bitten or scratched by domestic and wild animals to determine possible exposure to the Rabies virus * reports of bites and/or scratches are required to be reported to the health unit by police, hospital, veterinarian, and others by provincial law * provides post-exposure rabies vaccines to attending doctor for treatment on an as-needed basis
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• Certified Food Handler Training Full day Certified Food Handler courses provided throughout the year and monthly exam challenges * certification is valid for five years and accepted across Ontario
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• Food Safety Conducts regulatory inspections of all food retail, service and institutional food premises to assess compliance with Food Premises Regulation under the Health Protection and Promotion Act * inspections also may be done to investigate consumer complaints/inquiries/suspected and confirmed illness investigations * monitors food recalls for follow-up advisories
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• On Call Services Southwestern Public Health provides 24/7 on-call support for urgent public health situations, including:
  • Follow up of disease of public health significance
  • Animal bite investigations
  • Immediate food safety concerns
  • Enteric and respiratory outbreaks in community and institutional settings
  • Adverse results for drinking water systems
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• Safe Water Monitors community drinking water systems, public beaches, public pools and hot tubs and provides information on water quality testing and potential health effects