Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health

09/11/2025

Seeing a bat outside or inside your home without contact does not mean you’ve been exposed to rabies.

Rabies risk only happens with direct contact with a bat and if you’re bitten or scratched. 🦇
If that happens:
✔️ Isolate the bat in one room by closing the door (if contact is indoors).
✔️ Wash the wound or point of contact right away with soap and water.
✔️ Contact animal control or wildlife services to capture the bat safely. The bat should be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies.
✔️ Seek medical advice and call WDG Public Health for a rabies risk assessment.

For more information, visit wdgpublichealth.ca/rabies.

09/08/2025

September is FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)
Join Child and Youth Mental Health at Dufferin Child and Family Services in Market Square in Guelph on Tuesday, September 9 at 6:00pm, followed by a short walk and the lighting of Market Square in red at 7:30pm.
For more information, visit: https://dcafs.on.ca/fasdawarenessday2025

09/05/2025

⚠️ Important Health Alert Update ⚠️
Continued Risk of Drug Poisonings. 26 additional incidents since August 29

Drug poisonings in Guelph Wellington continue to rise. Likely linked to sedatives in current supply.

🔴 Since August 21, at least 46 drug poisonings (including 2 deaths) have been reported in Guelph and Wellington. This is more than double the same period last year.
🔴 Likely linked to sedatives and veterinary tranquilizers (benzodiazepines, xylazine, medetomidine). These are not opioids, so naloxone may not work, but should still be given as opioids may also be present.
🔴 The drug supply is unpredictable and highly potent, especially substances that look beige or light yellow. Recent poisonings have caused severe sedation, slowed breathing, and slowed heart rate.
🔴 If someone is unresponsive: call 911, give naloxone, check breathing, and encourage steady breaths until help arrives.

For a printable version of this alert, please visit:
https://wdgpublichealth.ca/alerts/important-health-alert-update-continued-risk-drug-poisonings-26-additional-incidents-august

Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy

Reduce your risk
While the Consumption and Treatment Service (CTS) at the Guelph Community Health Centre (GCHC) is now closed, strategies and supports are still available.
🟢 Test your substances: Test strips are available from Sanguen, Wyndham
House and WDG Public Health.. A drug testing machine is also located at Guelph CHC at 176 Wyndham St. N. Get more information on drug testing: https://bit.ly/43EecVi
🟢 Carry naloxone: Naloxone is available and free at WDG Public Health, local pharmacies, the downtown library, and Guelph CHC. It is best to carry more than one kit, as multiple doses may be required. Where to get take-home naloxone kits: https://bit.ly/2BHBijj
🟢 Avoid using substances alone: Call the National Overdose Response Services (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS (6677) if you’re by yourself.
🟢 Start low, go slow: Use only a small amount of any new or unfamiliar substance.
🟢 Share harm reduction information and resources: More information from the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy: https://bit.ly/3ZCe0ov
🟢 Connect to substance use and mental health supports: Reach out to Here 24/7: https://bit.ly/4jzioM4

09/04/2025

Registration is now open for in-person fall pre-natal education sessions at the Orangeville EarlyON centre.

🗓️ Dates: October 7, 14, 21 and 28
⌚ Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
📍 Location: 30 Centre St., Orangeville

Space is limited, so sign up today at https://register.onehsn.com/Dufferin to reserve your spot.

09/03/2025

Join our team! 🍏 We are now recruiting for the following roles:

😷 Public Health Nurse, Infectious Diseases
💸 Procurement & Finance Assistant (Co-op)
🏥 Operations & Facility Support

Visit wdgpublichealth.ca/careers for the full job description, closing date and application instructions.

08/30/2025

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum spoke to CTV News about risk factors with the current drug supply, and the work that goes into raising community awareness.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/video/2025/08/28/illicit-drugs-becoming-more-toxic/

08/29/2025

⚠️ Health Alert ⚠️ At Least 21 Drug Poisonings & One Fatality in the Past Week (August 29, 2025).
Stronger substances may be circulating in the Guelph region since August 21, contributing to a rise in poisonings.
🔴 There have been at least 21 reported cases of substance-related poisonings and one fatality in the Guelph-Wellington area since August 21, 2025.
🔴 Please exercise extreme caution when using unregulated drugs, as the current supply may be more potent and unpredictable than usual.

For a printable version of this alert, please visit: https://wdgpublichealth.ca/alerts/health-alert-least-21-drug-poisonings-one-fatality-past-week-august-29-2025

Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy

Reduce your risk
While the Consumption and Treatment Service (CTS) at the Guelph Community Health Centre (GCHC) is now closed, strategies and supports are still available.
🟢 Test your substances: Test strips are available from Sanguen, Wyndham
House and WDG Public Health.. A drug testing machine is also located at Guelph CHC at 176 Wyndham St. N. Get more information on drug testing: https://bit.ly/43EecVi
🟢 Carry naloxone: Naloxone is available and free at WDG Public Health, local pharmacies, the downtown library, and Guelph CHC. Where to get take-home naloxone kits: https://bit.ly/2BHBijj
🟢 Avoid using substances alone: Call the National Overdose Response Services (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS (6677) if you’re by yourself.
🟢 Start low, go slow: Use only a small amount of any new or unfamiliar substance.
🟢 Share harm reduction information and resources: More information from the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy: https://bit.ly/3ZCe0ov
🟢 Connect to substance use and mental health supports: Reach out to Here 24/7: https://bit.ly/4jzioM4

08/28/2025

FYI: If you are planning to attend today's Drug Poisoning Awareness Day event in downtown Guelph, it will be moving indoors due to the rain. Join us from 12-1 p.m. at Royal City Mission (50 Quebec Street).

🌧️ Due to the rain, today’s Drug Poisoning Awareness Day event will be moving indoors to Royal City Mission (50 Quebec Street).

📍 See you there from 12–1 p.m.

Please help spread the word! 💜

08/27/2025

Join us tomorrow in Orangeville.

Join us tomorrow for the Dufferin-Caledon Drug Strategy Committee's (DCDSC's) annual Overdose Awareness Day event—a health fair featuring guest speakers with lived experience. Naloxone training and kits will be available.

📅 Tomorrow — Thursday, August 28, 2025
⏰ 4–6 p.m.
📍 St. Mark's Anglican Church | 5 First Ave, Orangeville

Entry is FREE—drop in when you can. Light refreshments will be served.

Follow the Dufferin Overdose Awareness Committee for updates!

08/27/2025

Public Health offices will be closed on Monday, September 1 for the Labour Day holiday. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday, September 2. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3VkAkQF.

08/26/2025

Did you find a bat in your home? ⚠️ Do NOT touch it. If possible, leave the bat alone and create an exit by opening a window or door.

If the bat is in an attic, you can encourage it to leave by creating a disturbance (bright lights, loud music, or ultrasonic devices). Keep the disturbance in place until you seal any entry points to prevent re-entry. You may also contact pest control experts to humanely capture and release the bat.

If there’s even a small chance someone in your household had physical contact with the bat:
✔️ Isolate the bat in one room by closing the door.
✔️ Wash the wound or point of contact right away with soap and water.
✔️ Contact animal control or wildlife services to capture the bat safely. The bat should be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies.
✔️ Seek medical advice and call WDG Public Health for a rabies risk assessment.

For more information and local contacts, visit wdgpublichealth.ca/Rabies