The Grey Bruce Health Unit is warning that people who had services provided by an Owen Sound chiropodist earlier this year may have been infected with hepatitis B.
Public Health Manager Bob Hart says an inspection conducted earlier this month by health unit staff of Arsenault Foot Services, located at 945 3rd Ave. E Unit 4C, revealed deficiencies with sterilization practices.
"What we found was that, although the clinic was undertaking sterilization procedures, the staff were not adhering to the best practice standards set out by the provincial infectious diseases advisory committee," says Hart.
He says they're specifically worried about hepatitis B.
"We know that there was a case of hepatitis B that potentially attended that clinic so what we're looking for is just to see within a certain time frame based on when that person was at the clinic whether there might have been some exposure," says Hart.
He adds the operator also provided chiropody services at a satellite clinic at 672 Main St. in Sauble Beach, as well as other non-clinical settings, including in-home.
Anyone who received chiropody services at the Owen Sound or Sauble Beach Arsenault Foot Services clinics, or other non-clinical settings including in-home, during the period of May 25 to June 8 are strongly urged to consult a health care practitioner about the possible need to have testing for hepatitis B.
Hart says Arsenault Foot Services has voluntarily suspended services.