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Smoking + Radon = Dangerous combination

Statistically, 1 in 20 people who have a high concentration of radon gas in their homes will develop lung cancer. However, if you smoke on top of this, your chances of developing lung cancer are 1 in 3. Don’t let the two leading causes of lung cancer stand…

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit provides information on a large number of infectious diseases. Diseases are listed from A-Z  below for your convenience.

Emergency Preparedness

expand_moreMake A Plan



Take time to consider what you will do if you or a family/household member becomes sick and needs care.
If you are responsible for dependents, including young children or elderly relatives, consider putting in place alternative care plans should you…

Regular testing of your private well is important to make sure your water is safe for you and your family to drink. Bacteria such as E. coli can contaminate your well making it unsafe to drink. The risk is higher if you have animals in the area – especially on farms with livestock and other animals…

Like public beaches, pools and other artificial recreational waters are great places to have fun and cool off in the summer. However, they can also be a breeding ground for recreational waterborne illnesses (RWIs), including a wide variety of infections such as gastrointestinal, skin, ear,…

Under the Child Care and Early Years Act, all children attending a licensed child care centre (daycare) must be immunized as required by the local Medical Officer of Health (MOH). The operator of the licensed facility has a legal obligation to make sure that all the children in their care are…

We all deserve safe drinking water. One of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to prevent and reduce water-borne illness related to drinking water. The TBDHU does this in a number of ways, including:


Surveillance and inspection of drinking water systems;
Timely response to drinking…



Mould in the corner of a room.


Mould is a health hazard. It is a type of fungus – or more accurately, a group of different kinds of fungi – that can grow in damp areas in public places and in your home. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to:


Inspect public areas as necessary and…

Adverse Events Following Immunization

An adverse event following immunization (AEFI) is an unwanted or unexpected health outcome that happens after someone receives a vaccine, which may or may not be caused by the vaccine. Although rare, AEFI’s can occur. Potential AEFI side effects and management…

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit provides a variety of resources and services for health-care workers, educators and employers. In this section, you can access useful information about common public health topics such as communicable disease reporting, immunization, general health…

Home. It’s where we should feel most safe – and part of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to help you keep it that way. Possible health hazards in your home such as those listed below are either preventable or can be planned for. Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, all it takes is…

The environment affects our children more than it does adults for various reasons (read on below). The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to inform the public about these risks and provide information on how to reduce them. We want to help you ensure your children – and all children living…

Ammonia is a colourless gas with a very distinct odour. People may readily recognize this smell because it is used in many household cleaners and window cleaning products. High levels of airborne ammonia gas can dissolve in water to cause corrosive ammonium hydroxide. Most people smell ammonia…

Radon is an invisible, odourless radioactive gas that can be found in homes across Canada. It is produced naturally in the ground as uranium breaks down. The resulting gas can seep through cracks in the foundation, pipe openings, sump pits, and other openings into your home. Although it is present…

To ensure the efficacy of vaccines, the cold chain must be maintained according to Ontario's Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines (PDF).
Call 625-8810 or toll-free at 1-888-294-6630, ext. 8810 with questions.

expand_moreVaccine Transport


Temperature log books must be submitted with the…