News Releases

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in Uxbridge

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region Health Department has received notification that adult mosquitoes in Uxbridge have tested positive for West Nile virus.

The positive batch of mosquitoes were collected from one of the Health Department’s mosquito trap sites located in Uxbridge. Durham Region Health Department sets mosquito traps across the region and submits mosquitoes for laboratory testing every week between June and September. This is the 13th mosquito batch in Durham Region to test positive for...

Durham Region Weekly Beach Report

Whitby, Ontario – Throughout the summer, Durham Region Health Department conducts weekly bacteriological water tests to determine if beaches are safe for swimming. The Public Health Ontario Laboratory in Peterborough tests the water samples.

Test results for the week of August 21 indicate that one public beach is posted as unsafe for swimming. Beaches are posted as unsafe for swimming when elevated levels of E. coli exceed the provincial standard of 200 E. coli per 100 ml of water.

The Health...

Curbside Giveaway Day coming September 16!

Whitby, Ontario – Residents in the Town of Ajax, Township of Brock, Municipality of Clarington, City of Pickering, Township of Scugog, Township of Uxbridge and Town of Whitby are invited to take part in the Region’s new fall Curbside Giveaway Day on September 16.

Curbside Giveaway Day is a pilot project event organized in co-operation with the local area municipalities, where residents can place unwanted items in good condition—clearly marked as free—on their curb for anyone to pick up. At the...

Durham Greener Homes Program receives national recognition

Whitby, Ontario – The Durham Greener Homes Program has received national recognition through a recent video released by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).The video highlights the program and its innovative, third-party financing model that makes energy efficient home upgrades more accessible and affordable for homeowners. Check out the video at GreenMunicipalFund.ca.

The Durham Greener Homes Program is a first-of-its-kind home energy upgrade program in Canada and supports Durham...

Prioritize connections to improve your health

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department is encouraging residents to prioritize meaningful connections to support their physical and mental health.

“Research shows that the power of connection is important to our well-being. Connection can take many forms: connection to yourself, connection to family and friends, and connection to your community,” says Keith Rew, public health nurse. “We know that the past few years have contributed to feelings of isolation and loneliness. The task of...