Wishes for the New Year

Dad running behind a child helping her to learn to ride her bike.

The Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr Shanker Nesathurai, extends warm New Year greetings to the vibrant young population within the community. With approximately 27,000 exceptional young people calling Chatham-Kent home, he recognizes the invaluable energy and excitement they bring to our families and society. As we embark on a new year filled with hope and opportunities, Dr Nesathurai acknowledges … Read More

National Addictions Awareness Week 2023

National Addictions Awareness Week 2023 Graphic Banner

It is National Addictions Awareness Week and this year the theme is Inspiration, Innovation, and Inclusion. Our goal for this week, along with every other week, is to raise awareness about substance use in our community. Substance use affects all walks of life with far reaching impacts for individuals, families and communities. Shifting Our Views on Substance Use For thousands … Read More

What is Seasonal Respiratory Surveillance?

The 2023/24 respiratory season is upon us, which means it is the perfect time to launch the Seasonal Respiratory Surveillance Bulletin. This bulletin is an interactive report highlighting local and provincial trends in COVID-19 and influenza activity. Surveillance programs provide health systems and communities with improved situational awareness and information that helps us prepare and respond to increasing levels of … Read More

Uninspected Tattoo Shop Advisory

Uninspected Tattoo Shop Advisory

CK Public Health has become aware of an uninspected tattoo shop and is issuing an advisory notice to individuals who have received services at the following location: Tattoos by Cienna 211 Park Street Chatham ON N7M 3S1 Clients who have received a tattoo service at the above noted location are potentially at risk of contracting a bloodborne infection, including HIV, … Read More

Community Foodborne Illness Outbreak Summary

When a foodborne illness outbreak is detected, CK Public Health conducts an investigation in order to: IDENTIFY the source of the illness CONTROL the source to prevent additional illnesses RECOMMEND solutions to prevent a similar outbreak Following a recent outbreak, CK Public Health conducted a thorough assessment to identify and control the source of illness. An outbreak summary was then … Read More

Bivalent Vaccines – What they are and why you need one

Curious about what “Bivalent Vaccines” are? You’re not the only one! Although a common term in the biomedical field, we are yet to hear about bivalent vaccine availability for COVID-19. Until now, that is! Bivalent vaccines target two different coronavirus strains; the original COVID-19 strain, as well as the Omicron variant (more specifically, the BA.1 subvariant) Similar to the flu, … Read More

Which way to the beach?

Young boy standing on a beach with his arms spread out.

  One of the best parts about living in Chatham-Kent is access to amazing local beaches. Let us help you enjoy them safely this summer. As the temperatures warm up so to will CK Public Health’s beach water E.Coli monitoring program. Beginning June 13, 2022 sampling will occur at all beaches located throughout Chatham-Kent over the course of the summer. … Read More

Don’t let West Nile Virus take a bite out of your fun this summer!

A man scratching a mosquito bite and a woman spraying bug spray.

The warm weather is here, freezies have made their highly anticipated return and kids can be seen running through sprinklers. Ahhh, summer is back! As you get your tank tops and flip flops out of winter storage, CK Public Health will be busy setting up mosquito traps around Chatham-Kent as part of our annual West Nile Virus surveillance program. While … Read More

World No Tobacco Day 2022

This year, the World Health Organization is acknowledging the impact tobacco production has on the environment and throughout its life cycle, how tobacco pollutes the planet and damages the health of people. Tobacco harms the environment Tobacco growing, manufacturing and use poison our water, soil, beaches and city streets with chemicals, toxic waste, cigarette butts, including microplastics, and e-cigarette waste. … Read More

What’s the Deal with the 3rd Dose?

With so many vaccinated and unvaccinated people being infected by COVID-19 lately, you’ve probably questioned the need for a 3rd dose or “booster” shot, at all. If you’re likely going to get the virus anyways, why go through the hassle of attending a clinic and getting another poke in the arm? Well, this is what we know, for sure: Two … Read More

Canada’s 1st Ever Safe Sleep Week

Baby sleeping soundly in empty crib.

Last week we celebrated Canada’s first ever “Safe Sleep Week”. We wanted to recap the week with 8 great tips that will help to reduce the risk of accidental deaths and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in infants. To practice safe sleep with your infant, ensure that you are doing the following: • Breastfeed your baby* — this has been … Read More

Navigating Changing Public Health Measures with Kindness.

Photo of a road with the word recovery on it with text saying everyone is moving towards recovery at their own pace for their own reasons. Please be kind.

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift, it is important to remember that everyone will be walking towards recovery at their own pace, for their own reasons. Let’s be kind and considerate to others as they navigate what feels right to them. As with everything related to the pandemic, things change quickly, often due to more information becoming available. People’s feelings … Read More