Current Articles

If you plan to travel south to escape the chilly Canadian winter, bear in mind that many tropical / holiday destinations have a higher risk of some infectious diseases that are less common at home.

Mosquito-borne viruses

Mosquito-borne viruses Chikungunya (CHIKV), Japanese Encephalitis, and Yellow Fever are a concern in many tropical destinations. We now have vaccine protection for all three, since Health Canada recently approved a single-dose vaccine for the prevention of CHIKV in individuals 18 years of age and older ...  Read more

On a good day, winter daycare drop-offs can be challenging. There are boots to tie, snow pants to button, missing mittens to find, and toddlers to negotiate with to get out the front door, all before the sun even rises. Throw a flu into the mix and now it’s a party: child caregivers know that daycare, particularly in the winter, quickly transforms into an infinity pool of viruses that take weeks to taper out.

And let’s just admit it: with children being encouraged to share all day long, they do just that... by passing a virus on to their parents. But fret not! There are defences to leverage when being attacked on all fronts. Vaccinating children can help significantly reduce the spread of seasonal viruses at daycare ...  Read more

When you step outside, enjoy breathing in the fresh fall air – and be aware of germs that indoor spaces can harbour. Respiratory infections tend to be more common in the fall and winter, just as we prepare for seasonal gatherings with family, friends, and coworkers.

Airborne illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough (pertussis), and pneumonia are spread by small droplets that linger in the air and on surfaces when someone with the infection talks, coughs, or sneezes.

Symptoms tend to be mild to moderate, ranging from ...  Read more