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A-Z Health Topics lists public health information that's not found in other areas of our website. You'll find a wide variety of topics here, most of which include links to other websites where you can find even more information.

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Health Topics

A (9) | B (6) | C (13) | D (1) | E (7) | F (2) | G (3) | H (12) | I (6) | L (9) | M (10) | N (2) | P (3) | R (3) | S (6) | T (5) | U (2) | V (2) | W (2) | Y (1) | Z (1)
An alphabetical listing of Health Topics.
Title
Zika virus

Zika virus is caused by a virus which is spread by the Aedes mosquito. The Aedes species of mosquito is not native to Canada.
Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is a disease cause by flavivirus. The virus is spread by mosquito bites that occur in the jungle and tropical areas of South America and Africa.
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Whooping cough is also known as Pertussis, is a highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract.
West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito transmitted virus that can be transferred to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito.
Vitamin D

When your skin is exposed to the sun, it’s able to make vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D to keep your bones, muscles and teeth healthy.
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)

Enterococci are bacteria (germs) that live in people’s gastrointestinal tract (the stomach and intestines).

UV Index

The Ultraviolet Index (UV Index) is a measurement of the intensity of the sun’s rays. The higher the UV index, the more harm done by the sun to your skin, eyes, and immune system.
Urban Chickens

The practice of urban agriculture is not a new concept and has been accepted in other parts of the province to empower local communities to develop sustainable food systems. An example of urban agriculture is the raising of urban chickens (backyard chickens) as a source of fresh eggs.
Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is caused by a bacteria called Salmonella typhi.
Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by TB germs. TB usually attacks the lungs but can affect any part of the body.
Ticks and your Health Ticks are a relative to the spider and are a crawling, non-flying insect. They vary in size and colour. Ticks are very small (1 to 5 mm) when unfed and female ticks get larger and change colour when feeding. Ticks can spread Lyme Disease.
Tetanus (Lockjaw)

Tetanus is often known as “lockjaw”, and is spread by a bacteria. The bacteria lives in dirt, soil and dust. It may also be in human and animal stool (poop) and sometimes in animal saliva (spit).
Tattoos

Tattooing involves making tiny holes in the skin. Infections can be transmitted anytime you break the skin.
Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria (germs), called Treponema pallidum.
Sunscreen

The best way to protect yourself from damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation is to cover up, limit your exposure at key times, seek shade, and cover any unprotected areas of the skin with sunscreen.
Streptococcal Infections - Invasive Group A

Group A Streptococci (GAS) bacteria can cause many different infections that are mostly mild.
Shingles

Shingles (Herpes Zoster) is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It's the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella zoster). The virus does not leave your body after a chickenpox infection and becomes active again causing shingles.
Shigellosis

Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. People who eat food or drink water contaminated with Shigella bacteria can become ill with shigellosis.
Salmonellosis (Salmonella)

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by bacteria, called Salmonella. These germs live mostly in the intestines of animals and birds.
Rubella

Rubella, commonly known as German Measles, is an infection that affects the skin and lymph nodes.

Rethink Your Drink Flavoured water is a cheap, healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages. Here are some recipes and tips to prepare it safely.
Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. In Canada, bats, foxes, skunks, and raccoons are the most common transmitters of the disease.
Polio (Poliomyelitis, acute)

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a vaccine preventable disease. It is a potentially deadly disease caused by the poliovirus. It is very contagious. Canada has been certified “polio-free” since 1994 thanks to our vaccination program.

Pinworms (threadworms)

Pinworms are tiny (5 to 13 millimetres), thread-like, white worms that can live in the colon and rectum of humans. They are very common in children. Pinworms are not dangerous.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Pertussis is also known as whooping cough, and is a highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract.
Novel Coronavirus (2019)

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is monitoring the current outbreak of COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) in China and around the world.

Norovirus (Norwalk-like virus)

Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis). It is an illness that usually includes diarrhea and vomiting. You may have a norovirus sickness many times in your life because there are different types of noroviruses. Norovirus can spread quickly in a facility like a nursing home, retirement homes, daycares schools and cruise ships.
Mumps

Mumps is a viral illness that can spread from one person to another. Most people recover from the infection, but mumps can have serious complications and lead to long-term health problems. Since the widespread use of the mumps vaccine, mumps infection is rare.
MPox (Monkeypox)

MPox (Monkeypox) is a viral disease. The virus enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, nose, or mouth).
Mould

Mould is a common name for any fungus that grows on food or damp materials. It can be black, white or almost any colour. In some cases, you may be able to smell the mould but not see it.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a type of bacterium that's resistant to several antibiotics. In the community MRSA can cause skin and other infections. In a healthcare setting, such as a hospital or nursing home, MRSA can cause severe bloodstream and surgical site infections.
Mental Health Promotion

Mental health is the capacity to feel, think and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life, realize our own potential, deal with challenges, and contribute to society (Mental Health Commission of Canada).

Meningitis

Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, usually bacteria or viruses, but can also be caused by physical injury, cancer, or certain drugs.
Measles

Measles is a virus that’s very contagious. Most people recover from infection, but measles can have serious complications and lead to long-term health problems.

Manicure and Pedicure Safety

Manicures and pedicures are an enjoyable service for many people and can leave hands and feet feeling and looking great. However, these services can lead to bacterial, fungal, and viral infections if proper cleaning and disinfection procedures are not followed.

Mandatory Blood Testing Act

The Mandatory Blood Testing Act reduces the time it takes to get results of certain blood tests.