As communicable diseases grow more complex, Peel Public Health is responding with coordinated, compassionate, and innovative care
BRAMPTON, ON (October 16, 2025) – In a recent update to Regional Council, Peel Public Health shared how it continues to respond to increasingly complex communicable disease cases through stronger community partnerships, enhanced operations, and digital innovation to protect residents.
To help residents stay healthier and make it easier to access care, several new measures to prevent and manage infectious diseases have been introduced:
- Community-based programs: we are meeting more residents where they are by offering low-barrier and online options (Getakit.ca) for testing and treating sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. Additionally, we provide home-based therapy for tuberculosis.
- Operational efficiencies: we are streamlining case and contact management for all communicable diseases and increasing sexual health clinic staffing and availability, so our services are more available to residents who increasingly need them.
- Digital solutions: we have developed online self-assessment tools for disease exposures so residents can assess their risk quickly. Electronic Medical Records enable our teams to quickly access and update any resident medical information. Virtual training enhances our team’s ability to support residents as effectively as possible in outbreaks.
“Treatment must be integrated. It’s about seeing the whole person and supporting them at every point in their recovery,” said Judy Buchan, Director of Communicable Disease at Peel Public Health. “Keeping infections under control requires all partners. Community organizations, healthcare partners, and different levels of government must continue working together for innovative solutions.”
In the last year alone, Peel has seen the return of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, a rise in respiratory outbreaks across long-term care and hospital settings, as well as growing disparities in diseases affecting vulnerable populations. So far this year, the department’s Communicable Diseases team managed:
- 6 urgent responses for 8 confirmed measles cases, involving the notification of more than 1400 contacts.
- A 103% rise in pneumonia caused by Streptococcus bacteria, which can lead to meningitis or blood infections.
“Communicable diseases often only draw attention when there is a large outbreak, or it turns into a news story,” said Nancy Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services, Peel Region. “But it’s the steady, everyday work of our public health team that prevents these outbreaks and keeps our community safe.”
Peel’s Communicable Diseases team protects residents by monitoring, detecting, managing, and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. The team provides 24/7 on-call response for urgent communicable disease cases and works closely with external partners to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
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