With the arrival of summer, Chatham-Kent’s Public Health Unit is keeping a close eye on a number of seasonal issues to help keep local residents safe.
According to a report to the Board of Health, the Healthy Environments team has begun monthly sampling of water at six public beaches and two recirculating splash pads.
Samples are sent to the public health laboratory for bacterial analysis of water quality with updates posted on the CK Public Health website. Splash pad water sample results are shared with the site operators and any necessary direction given on how to correct potential issues.
Meantime, mosquito trapping efforts across Chatham-Kent have begun as part of the vector borne disease control program. Mosquitoes are actively collected from 10 trap sites weekly until mid-September, testing for West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Public Health staff also recently carried out active tick dragging to inform Lyme disease control efforts. Staff visited possible black legged tick habitats/areas of concern and dragged for ticks using cloth. Collected ticks were identified, and black legged ticks sent to a lab to be tested for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
