If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, or if you have had possible contact with a bat, immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention. All bites, scratches and contacts with a bat must be reported to Public Health.

A bite from an infected animal is the most common way rabies is spread. It can also spread when infected saliva comes into contact with a scratch, open wound or your mouth, nose or eyes. Rabies is a potentially fatal virus and requires immediate treatment if you are exposed to it. Visit our rabies page for more information. 

Bed bugs are small, biting insects that multiply quickly and travel easily. Bed bugs do not cause disease or illness. Bed bugs can be prevented and controlled. The sooner you respond, the more successful you will be at controlling bed bugs.

For information on bed bugs, prevention, identification and actions to take if you have bed bugs, visit the American National Pest Management Association's All Things Bed Bug website.

Getting rid of a bed bug infestation usually requires the use of pesticides. Only professionals should apply pesticides for bed bugs. Visit the Structural Pest Management Association to find a licensed pest control company near you.

Discovering that you or your child has head lice can be upsetting. However, head lice do not cause disease or illness and are not a health concern. Adult lice are gray or beige in colour, 2-4 mm long and have six legs. Lice lay eggs called nits. Nits stick to the hair shaft and are often found behind the ears and at the back of the neck.

You can prevent the spread of head lice if you:

• Avoid hair-to-hair contact with people
• Tie back long hair
• Do not share clothing
• Do not share combs, brushes or towels

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for information on head lice treatment.

Contact your child's teacher, school principal or child care provider if you are concerned about head lice in a classroom or daycare setting. Each organization has its own policy for managing head lice. Public Health does not regulate these policies.

Mosquitoes can carry a variety of diseases that can cause mild to severe illness. In Waterloo Region, the primary mosquito-spread disease of concern is West Nile virus.

Visit our West Nile virus page for more information, including mosquito prevention tips.

Rodents can spread diseases such as salmonellosis, hantavirus and typhoid fever. Rodents can contaminate food with their urine, droppings, saliva and fur. They can also cause damage to property by biting through materials, like soft metals, cinder block, plastic and wood.

For more information, including prevention and control options, visit Health Canada's rats and mice page.

In the case of a serious infestation, contact a licensed pest control company.

Ticks can be found almost anywhere in Ontario, and can carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus.

Visit Lyme and other tick-borne diseases for information on these diseases, how to protect yourself from and identify tick bites, and how to remove a tick.

Do not approach or handle live, sick or dead wild birds. Wild birds can carry diseases, including avian flu and West Nile virus. 

Public Health does not pick up or collect dead birds.

If you encounter a sick or dead bird, call the Ontario Regional Centre of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781. More information can be found on the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative website. 

If the dead bird is not being collected by authorities, avoid handling the bird altogether. If you must dispose of the dead bird, follow these tips:

• Use a tool like a small shovel or large tongs or wear disposable plastic or rubber gloves. 
• Alternatively, the dead bird may be placed in a puncture-resistant leak-proof plastic bag by inverting the bag over the hand, then grasping the carcass through the bag and wrapping the bag around the bird without touching the blood, body fluids and feces. 
• Bury the dead bird several feet deep where it will not be disturbed. 
• People handling birds (live or dead) should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water immediately afterward. 
• Always dispose of a dead bird in a way so that no one can handle it again.