Manitoba Health

Communicable Disease and Outbreak Control

Public Health Inspectors assist in the investigation of communicable diseases related to food-borne, water-borne, and vector-borne outbreaks. Communicable disease can spread by food and water or be passed on from person to person while symptoms are active.

It is important that suspected and confirmed communicable diseases be reported to public health. Trained public health personnel will follow up and investigate to prevent the continued spread of food-borne and water-borne diseases in the community. Inspectors also provide health advice and information, such as prevention and intervention strategies, to individuals responsible for or afflicted with an enteric illness.

Food-borne illness complaints regarding public eating establishments are investigated by the Department’s Health Protection Unit. To report a complaint please call your local Public Health Inspector.

Staff from the Health Protection Unit participate in food and waterborne disease outbreak investigations to prevent the spread of the disease in the community and to identify the source of the outbreak. To report a suspected outbreak, please call your local Public Health Inspector.

Petting Zoo Guidelines

Petting Zoos and Open Farms are intended to provide children and students with the joy and experience of close exposures to animals. However, animals can carry diseases that make humans ill and proper precautions must be taken to ensure the health and safety of all visitors is protected – especially children. The purpose of this guideline is to ensure that petting zoos are designed, operated and maintained in a sanitary manner to ensure that it does not pose a risk to Public Health.

• Guidelines for the Operation of Petting Zoos and Open Farms

Links

• Public Health Agency of Canada
  
• Manitoba Health and Healthy Living’s Communicable Disease Control Branch
• Communicable Disease Fact Sheets for the General Public