News

Boil Water Advisory for Areas of St. Thomas

UPDATE: This boil water advisory ended on September 6, 2024 at 4:29PMSouthwestern Public Health has issued a boil water advisory to areas in the City of St. Thomas, specifically Station Street, St. Catherine Street (north of Curtis Street), Mondamin Street (north of Curtis Street), Hiawatha Street (north of Owaissa Street), Owaissa Street, Antrim Street, Beverley Street, Eagle Street, Omemee Street, Meda Street, Kains Street (east of Hiawatha Street to Station Street), Curtis Street (east to St....

Dog bite incident in Eden on Sept. 2

Southwestern Public Health is seeking assistance to identify a dog involved in a bite incident that occurred in Eden on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, at around 3:45 p.m. at Eden Cemetery.

The person involved had two large dogs, similar in appearance to German Shepherds, with brown and grey coats. The individual is described as a woman in her late 30s to early 40s with brown hair. She was wearing a ball cap and driving a white Dodge pickup truck.
  
Public Health wants to confirm the vaccination status of...

Bird in Ingersoll tests positive for West Nile virus

A dead bird in Ingersoll has tested positive for West Nile virus. Dead birds are collected and tested as part of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative surveillance program and positive results are reported to Public Health Ontario. Neither Southwestern Public Health nor Public Health Ontario collect dead birds directly for West Nile virus testing. 

Birds can get the virus from the bite of an infected mosquito. 

"The identification of a bird that has West Nile virus is a reminder to protect...

Woodstock mosquito trap tests positive for West Nile virus

Southwestern Public Health has confirmed that a mosquito trap located in Woodstock, Ontario has tested positive for West Nile virus.

Mosquito traps are set up across Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas to monitor and test for the presence of West Nile virus in the region. The virus was detected as part of routine testing. 

Public health recommends removing standing water around your property to reduce mosquito breeding environments.

West Nile virus is established within the...

Bat tests positive for rabies in St. Thomas

• In general, the risk of rabies is extremely low
• Do not handle or interact with wildlife at any time
• Find helpful advice online at www.swpublichealth.ca/rabies 

A bat located in the City of St. Thomas has tested positive for rabies. Public health responded to an inspection where the bat was found and sent it for rabies testing for surveillance purposes. No known exposures to the bat were identified. 

Rabies is a viral disease that is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. It affects an...

Aylmer mosquito trap tests positive for West Nile Virus

Southwestern Public Health confirms local mosquito trap has tested positive for West Nile virus

Southwestern Public Health has confirmed that a mosquito trap located in Aylmer, Ontario has tested positive for West Nile virus. This is the first mosquito trap to produce a positive test in the Southwestern Public Health region in 2024.

Mosquito traps are set up across Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas to monitor and test for the presence of West Nile virus in the region. The...