Northeastern Public Health investigates and responds to diseases of public health significance in our community.

If you are concerned that yourself or your child has an infectious disease, seek medical attention. If you have general questions about infectious diseases, contact us at 1-877-442-1212.

  • Group A Streptococcus is a common type of bacteria. People may carry these germs in their throat or on their skin and have no symptoms of illness.
  • It can cause a range of infections. Most infections are usually mild, such as “strep throat” or a skin infection (impetigo).
  • In rare cases, the germ may become “invasive”. This happens when the germs get into parts of the body where germs are not usually found, such as the lungs, blood, tissues, or muscles. These serious infections are called invasive group A streptococcal disease or iGAS.
  • iGAS, the more serious form, can be life-threatening.

 

What is the role of public health?

  • Public health focuses on the health of the whole community. With respect to diseases of public health significance, our role is to investigate reports of infectious diseases that may pose a public health risk to the community.
  • Part of public health’s role is to identify and notify close contacts of an infected person and assess the need for preventive antibiotics. Close contacts are advised to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of GAS infection, including fever, for 30 days and if they develop any symptoms within 30 days, they should seek medical attention.

 

For more information:

  • Measles is an infection that spreads very easily.
  • Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It can survive in the air for up to two hours.
  • Measles can be spread from four days before the rash appears until four days after the onset of the rash.

 

What is public health’s role?

  • Public health focuses on the health of the whole community. With respect to diseases of public health significance, our role is to investigate reports of infectious diseases that may pose a public health risk to the community.
  • Northeastern Public Health (NEPH) investigates any case of measles and identifies exposures where the public may have been exposed to the measles virus.
  • Public health also offers routine immunization services for children and youth who live in the Health Unit area.

 

For more information:

  • Pertussis or whooping cough, is a very serious infection of the lungs and breathing airways.
  • It is caused by a germ called Bordetella pertussis.
  • It spreads very easily.

 

What is public health’s role?

  • Public health focuses on the health of the whole community. With respect to diseases of public health significance, our role is to investigate reports of infectious diseases that may pose a public health risk to the community.
  • Public health follows up with all people who are suspected of or diagnosed with pertussis and their contacts.
  • Public health also offers routine immunization services for children and youth who live in the Health Unit area.

 

For more information:

  • Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by TB germs and usually affects the lungs. In some people, TB can also affect other parts of the body.
  • People with TB germs in their body can have either TB disease or TB infection.
  • Not everyone who has TB germs in their body become sick.

 

What is public health's role?

  • Public health focuses on the health of the whole community. With respect to diseases of public health significance, our role is to investigate reports of infectious diseases that may pose a public health risk to the community.
  • Public health follows up with all people who are suspected of or diagnosed with tuberculosis disease and their contacts.

 

For more information: