Infectious Diseases
The Health Unit prevents and manages the spread of disease in many ways. We investigate outbreaks, monitor vector-borne diseases (like Lyme disease and West Nile virus), educate the public on infectious diseases, and conduct infectious disease surveillance and reporting. We also work closely with healthcare providers, hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, childcare centres, schools, and many other service providers in our community.
Refer to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7, Part IV Communicable Diseases, sections 25 to 29 for information about who is responsible to report diseases to the local Medical Officer of Health. This includes, but is not limited to, school principals, hospital administrators, healthcare providers, institution* superintendents, and laboratory operators.
*See section 21: Definitions, Part IV Communicable Diseases for the meaning of “institution”.
Please note that not all diseases listed on this page require reporting to the local Medical Officer of Health. See each page for specific reporting requirements.
Understanding the Spread of Infection is an important component of preventing the spread of diseases. You can also learn how to protect yourself and others from respiratory viruses.
For more information on diseases and infections, including how to protect yourself and prevent them from spreading, select a letter:
See also Diseases of Public Health Significance and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
B
C
- Campylobacter (Campylobacteriosis)
- Candida auris
- Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE)
- Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae)
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Chlamydia
- Cholera
- C. Difficile (Clostridioides Difficile, Clostridium Difficile or C. Diff)
- Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Virus)
- Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Infection)
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019, SARS-CoV-2)
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
- Croup (Laryngo-Tracheo-Bronchitis)
- Cryptosporidium (Cryptosporidiosis)
- Cyclospora (Cyclosporiasis)
D
E
- Ear Infection (Otitis Media)
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
- Echinococcus Multilocularis Infection
- Encephalitis
- E. coli (Escherichia coli) Infection
- Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) - Producing Bacteria
F
- Fifth Disease (Slapped Cheek Disease, Erythema Infectiosum, Human Parvovirus B19)
- Flu (Influenza)
- Food Poisoning
G
- Gastroenteritis (Vomiting and Diarrhea)
- Giardia (Beaver Fever, Giardiasis)
- Gonorrhea
- Group A Streptococcal Disease, Invasive (iGAS)
- Group B Strep (Group B Streptococcal Disease)
H
- Haemophilus Influenzae
- Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
- Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)
- Hemorrhagic Fevers (Including Ebola Virus Disease, Marburg Virus Disease, and Other Viral Causes)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
I
J
K
L
M
- Measles
- Meningitis
- Meningococcal Disease, Invasive
- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Mononucleosis (Mono)
- Mpox (Monkeypox)
- Mumps
- Mycoplasma Pneumonia
N
O
P
- Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)
- Paratyphoid Fever
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
- Pinworms
- Plague
- Pneumococcal Disease, Invasive (Streptococcus Pneumoniae)
- Polio (Poliomyelitis)
- Powassan Virus
- Psittacosis/Ornithosis
Q
R
- Rabies
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Ringworms
- Roseola (Sixth Disease, Roseola Infantum, Human Herpesvirus 6)
- Rotavirus
- Rubella (German Measles) and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CR)
S
- Salmonella (Salmonellosis)
- Scabies (Sarcoptic Itch, Sarcoptic Acariasis)
- Scarlet Fever
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Shigella (Shigellosis)
- Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
- Sinus Infections (Sinusitis)
- Smallpox
- Sore Throat (Acute Pharyngitis)
- Strep Throat
- Swimmer's Itch
- Syphilis
T
- Tetanus
- Thrush (Candidiasis)
- Toxoplasmosis
- Trichinella (Trichinellosis)
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Tularemia
- Typhoid Fever
U
V
- Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
- Verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), Including Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
W
X
Y
Z
Contact our Communicable Disease Control (CDC) program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229, or by email to cdc@healthunit.ca or our Sexual Health Clinic at ext. 5289, or by email at clinic@healthunit.ca for more information.
Last updated: December 2024