News
Health Unit Update regarding Lyme Prevention
Fight the Bite of Blacklegged Ticks and Mosquitoes That Can Spread Illness
Cover up, clean up, and check up to reduce the risk of Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus.
PORT HOPE, ON (August 10, 2022) – The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) encourages residents to watch for blacklegged ticks that may cause Lyme Disease and mosquitoes that can spread the West Nile virus.
Blacklegged ticks and mosquitoes are categorized as ‘vectors’, which are living organisms (often bloodsucking insects) that transmit diseases to humans. During late summer and fall, and until conditions get colder, blacklegged ticks and mosquitoes continue to be active, meaning it is important to take precautions.
“When it comes to preventing blacklegged ticks and mosquitoes, it’s just plain, old-fashioned common sense that does the trick,” says Richard Ovcharovich, a Manager of Health Protection with the HKPR District Health Unit.
His fellow Health Protection Manager, Bernie Mayer, agrees. “There’s never a good time or reason to be bitten by a mosquito or blacklegged tick, especially during the peak summer season,” adds Mayer. “Cover up, clean up, and check up is the best advice to reduce your risk.”
How to Cover Up
When outside, use insect repellent containing DEET on your skin and clothing to ward off blacklegged ticks and mosquitoes. If the weather permits, wear protective clothing outside such as long-sleeved shirts, jackets, long pants, hats and socks. Wearing light-coloured clothing may be better, as mosquitoes tend to be attracted to darker colours and blacklegged ticks are easier to see on the lighter material.
How to Clean Up
To keep blacklegged ticks away, cut grass short and trim bushes and branches to let in sunlight. Blacklegged ticks prefer wooded and natural areas to live, as they can settle on tall grasses, branches and bushes, and then attach themselves to passing persons and animals. Once attached, a tick will feed on the host’s blood. The longer a blacklegged tick feeds, the greater risk there is it can spread Lyme Disease to a person if the tick is infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme.
For mosquitoes, installing or repairing screens on windows and doors will keep them outside. Keeping grass and vegetation short is also recommended. Removing any standing water around a property that mosquitoes need to lay their eggs is also advised. This should also include cleaning eavestroughs and blocked downspouts that could hold water and become a mosquito breeding ground.
How to Check Up
Before going inside, people should do a thorough check of themselves and their pets for any blacklegged ticks. If a tick is found, remove it as soon as possible. There are many tick removal products available, so be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions. If using finely tipped tweezers, grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull it slowly, straight out. Immediately after, wash the bite area with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitizer.
About Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease is a serious illness that, left untreated, can lead to recurring arthritis, neurological problems, numbness, or paralysis. Lyme can be successfully treated with antibiotics, and the earlier this treatment starts, the greater the chance of a successful recovery. If a blacklegged tick has been attached for more than 24 hours or is engorged (meaning it has been feeding for some time), seek medical attention. You should also see a doctor if you experience symptoms of Lyme disease, such as skin rash, fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, and muscle/joint pain. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can vary from person to person after being bitten by a tick.
From January to mid-July 2022, the HKPR District Health Unit reports nine human cases of Lyme Disease in its region (Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes). This compares to 44 Lyme cases in 2021 and 30 Lyme cases reported in 2020.
About West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus is mainly spread by mosquitoes, so the best defence is to fight the bite. Four out of five people do not show any West Nile Virus symptoms. Others may see symptoms two to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Approximately one in 150 people will suffer serious symptoms. Individuals who think they have West Nile should see their health care provider. Since 2020, there have been no human cases of West Nile Virus reported in the HKPR District Health Unit region.
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Highlighting the Work of Health Inspectors
Highlighting the Work of Public Health Inspectors: ‘Your Health is their Business’
HKPR District Health Unit promotes important work done by inspectors to protect public health.
PORT HOPE, ON (August 2, 2022) – As part of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspector’s national awareness campaign, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) is highlighting the work of its 16 Public Health Inspectors (PHI) in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
The role of a Public Health Inspector (PHI) is diverse and proactive in preventing potential illness and injury. Whether inspecting that food is safe to eat, checking that water is safe to drink and use, ensuring environmental hazards do not pose a health risk, supporting case and contract tracing for different diseases, or educating and enforcing the changing restrictions during COVID-19, the daily work of Public Health Inspectors is varied but often goes unnoticed.
“Simply put, your health is their business,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health with the HKPR District Health Unit. “In a constantly changing environment, Public Health Inspectors are the first-line of defense against many different diseases and ailments that can affect people’s health.”
Dr. Bocking acknowledges the work of Public Health Inspectors often flies under the radar because any outbreaks or illnesses that could have occurred are proactively prevented by Public Health Inspectors. “Prevention and promotion are the name of the game, and Public Health Inspectors do their jobs expertly and effectively,” she notes. “They do this in many different ways, whether reducing the risk of foodborne illness, promoting food handler skills, checking that small water drinking systems work properly, helping rural residents keep their well water safe, following up on animal bite incidents to prevent rabies, and ensuring it’s safe to get a haircut, manicure, pedicure or tattoo.”
HKPR District Health Unit Public Health Inspectors:
- Respond to approximately 600 animal bite incidents each year. PHIs conduct animal bite investigations and ensure vaccine is available to people who may have been exposed to rabies.
- Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, inspected 1,137 low-, medium- and high-risk restaurants and food premises in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes to ensure they followed safe food practices and all food regulations.
- Conduct regular inspections on personal care settings (like beauty/body art establishments, salons and tattoo studios) and recreational water facilities (including 98 public pools, 15 public whirlpools and nearly 50 area beaches). Recent Health Unit inspection records and results for these settings, including food premises, are available online.
- Were redeployed during COVID-19 to assist with the pandemic response. In 2021, inspectors fielded hundreds of calls about changing COVID-19 regulations and also investigated dozens of complaints leading to 34 charges for various COVID-19 infractions.
- Carry out inspections on 650 small drinking water systems in HKPR District Health Unit area that serve restaurants, marinas, golf courses, churches, seasonal trailer parks, summer camps and other facilities.
Protecting public health means going to great extents – and places – as Public Health Inspectors also conduct regular checks of child-care facilities, nursing homes, rest and retirement homes, group homes, migrant farm worker accommodations, funeral homes, tanning salons, shelters and children’s recreational camps.
Health Inspectors will also monitor for ‘vector-borne’ diseases, like West Nile virus and Lyme Disease in the area, offering prevention tips to help people avoid mosquitoes and ticks that can spread these illnesses. And in the event of disasters, environmental risks and health hazards, PHIs are also ready to respond and assist with recovery.
For media inquiries, contact:
Bernie Mayer, Manager of Health Protection, HKPR District Health Unit, 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1243,
or Richard Ovcharovich, Manager of Health Protection, HKPR District Health Unit, 1-866-888-4577, ext. 2222.
First Case of Monkeypox in our Region
Finding of Positive Rabid Bat Prompts Warning from Health Unit
Case of local family being exposed to rabid bat brings call to be vigilant and ‘bat proof’ your home
PORT HOPE, ON (July 27, 2022) – Area residents are being urged to take precautions against rabies in the wake of an incident in which members of a local family were exposed to a rabid bat in their home.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) says the affected family members were provided post-exposure vaccine for rabies and are recovering well in the aftermath. The incident took place recently at the family’s home, where a bat that had entered the dwelling possibly exposed the occupants to rabies. The bat was captured, sent for testing and subsequently found to be positive for rabies.
The family-owned pets are also getting follow-up with a veterinarian on possible rabies exposure for the animals.
The incident, which took place in the HKPR District Health Unit region (City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County and Northumberland County) is a reminder for people to take care around bats and ensure their pets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccination, says Richard Ovcharovich, Environmental Health Manager with the HKPR District Health Unit. “Contact with any wild animal, including bats, should be avoided if at all possible. That message applies to people and pets,” he says. “It’s never worth the risk, especially when rabies is involved.”
Rabies is transmitted when there is contact with the saliva of an infected animal through a bite, lick, or scratch. As in this incident, a post-exposure vaccine is available for humans in the event of contact with a rabid animal. If left untreated, rabies is almost always a fatal disease caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans.
Bats in the home can be a nuisance and potential hazard to you and your family, Ovcharovich notes. Bats are also capable of transmitting rabies to humans and other animals. Although most animal bites are readily apparent, bites inflicted by bats can be harder to notice, especially if it involves an infant, child, or those with cognitive impairments.
When it comes to bats, the Health Unit offers these tips:
- If you suspect you may have been bitten or had contact with a bat, immediately report this to your family doctor and the HKPR District Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5006.
- If you are bitten or scratched by a bat that is discovered in your home, leave the room, close the door and contact a professional pest control company or wildlife removal company. Do not touch a bat with your bare hands. If there was no human contact (bite or scratch), open a window and allow the bat to get out.
- If you have bats living on your property and want to remove them, contact a professional pest control company or wildlife removal company.
- If you discover a bat outdoors that is injured, acting strange or dead, do not touch it.
- As bats can transmit the rabies virus to dogs and cats, ensure your pets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.
- Bat-proof the home. If bats are found in the home, seek advice from an animal control or wildlife conservation authority. If doing it yourself, carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry into your living quarters, then take steps to seal them. For instance, caulk any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch, ensure all doors to the outside close tightly, and use window screens, chimney caps, and draft-guards beneath doors to attics.
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Sedgwick Bridge Closure and Detour Update
For Immediate Release
Minden, ON.
Thursday July 21, 2022
10:00 AM
Release #22-26
SUBJECT: Sedgwick Bridge Closure and Detour Update
Effective Monday July 18, 2022 at 8:00 am.
The Township of Minden Hills is advising residents of the closure of the Sedgwick Road
Bridge in order to complete the replacement phase of the Sedgwick Bridge
Rehabilitation project.
A detour will be in place during the construction phase which is expected to be
completed in early November. The detour will follow the Haliburton County Rail Trail
from Gelert Road to Cemetery Rd and on to Sedgwick Road. Please see map below for
detour route.
Please watch for detour signs and expect construction vehicles to be in the area.
Additionally, canoes, kayaks, etc. will not be able to pass under the bridge during
construction for safety reasons. Residents using Drag River for such activities should
watch for signage and be prepared for a short portage around the construction zone.
News from Hydro One
Hydro One prepares to respond to power outages in southern and central Ontario as potentially damaging summer storm develops
-Severe winds forecasted with the potential for isolated tornadoes-
TORONTO, July 20, 2022 - Hydro One crews, damage assessors and support staff are preparing to respond to power outages as a potentially damaging summer storm is forecasted for southern and central Ontario later today.
"We're monitoring the weather and using our outage prediction tool to get our crews in position and ready to get the lights back on as quickly and safely as possible for our customers," said David Lebeter, Chief Operating Officer, Hydro One. "As we gear up for this storm, customers should prepare for potential power outages and know the easy ways to contact us for the latest restoration information."
Hydro One has a number of innovative outage tools available for customers to report power outages and easily access updates when and how they want. Customers can report their outage texting 92887 (WATTS), through the company's outage map and app, or by calling 1-800-434-1235.
If outages occur, an estimated time of restoration will be determined for each outage once damage has been assessed by our crews. Hydro One's outage tools are updated every 10 minutes as information comes in from crews on the ground.
Emergency preparedness kit
Hydro Ones encourages customers to be prepared in case of an extended power outage with an emergency kit. Here's what to include:
- Water and food that won't spoil for all family members, including pets
- A manual can opener
- Windup or battery-powered flashlight and radio
- Extra batteries
- Cash
- First aid kit and medical items
- Blankets
- Emergency numbers including Hydro One's emergency line, 1-800-434-1235
- Fully charged cellphone or have at least one corded phone at home; a cordless phone will not work in a power outage
Keep your emergency kit in a backpack and make sure everyone in your home knows where to find it.
Stay safe during a power outage
Stay clear of any fallen power lines. If you spot a fallen line, keep at least 10 metres back, even if it does not appear to be live. Report it to the police and call Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.
If you plan to use a generator, remember to keep it in a dry area outdoors and away from any open windows, doors or vents.
Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)
Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $30.4 billion in assets as at December 31, 2021, and annual revenues in 2021 of approximately $7.2 billion.
Our team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2021, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services.
We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association.
Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.
For further information: Hydro One Media Relations 24 hours a day at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868