Boards of Health are responsible for post-exposure follow-up with Emergency Service Workers (ESW) and justice service workers as per the Ontario Public Health Standards. The Designated Officers Program Helps to support emergency service workers (firefighters, police, and paramedics) as well as justice service workers that may have been exposed to communicable diseases in the line of duty. The program also ensures that all agencies of emergency services have an identified Designated Officer who is available 24/7 to respond and investigate all reported exposures to communicable diseases.
Telephone: 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 , ext. 5229
After Hours: Press '0' for Answering Service
Resources
A Designated Officers Manual for Infection Prevention - Reducing the Risk for Front-Line staff
Ambulance Service Communicable Disease Standards - March 2, 2022
Diseases of Public Health Significance list
Reportable and Non-Reportable Diseases and Exclusion Guidelines
Mandatory Blood Testing Act (MBTA) |
The MBTA, 2006 allows eligible persons, who have been exposed to another person’s blood and bodily fluids to request a blood sample be taken from the person they came in contact with and tested for certain communicable diseases. Who is eligible for MBTA?A person may apply to a Medical Officer of Health (MOH) to have a blood sample of another person analyzed if the applicant came into contact with a bodily substance of the other person in any of the following circumstances:
Prescribed classes The following are prescribed as classes of persons who may make an application under Section 2 of the Act:
What diseases are tested under the MBTA?
Assessing your risk.An exposure requires both an injury (Example: percutaneous needle or other sharp object, a splash of blood or other body fluid onto a mucous membrane or non-intact skin, or human bite that breaks the skin) and contact with blood or body fluid capable of transmitting HBV, HCV and/or HIV. Anyone who believes that they have been exposed to a communicable disease as a result of coming into contact with blood or bodily fluid of another person should initiate first aid and immediately seek medical attention to assess the risk of infection, have baseline and serologic bloodwork ordered, decide whether to initiate prophylaxis and/or other preventative measures (immunization or immune globulin). How to initiate the act?The applicant must submit a Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Form 2 “Application Report” and a ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Form 1 “Physician Report” to the medical officer of health. If you are initiating the act, please call the CDC program who will provide further information. More informationIf you have further questions about the MBTA and blood borne exposures, please call 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 ext. 5229, to speak to a public health nurse. After hours, press ‘0’ for the answering service and ask to speak with the CDC nurse on call.
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Presentations
Presentations available upon request. Please call the Communicable Disease Control Program at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 ext. 5229.
Change of Contact Information
Do you have a new designated officer assigned to your place of work? If so please fill in the Change of Contact Information form; email to cdc@healthunit.ca or fax to 705-482-0670.