Epidemiological Investigations

• What is an epidemiological investigation?
• Why is public health contacting me?
• How will public health contact me?
• How to know if the call or message is really from public health
• How to check if the call or message is real
• Français

What is an epidemiological investigation?

An epidemiological investigation helps public health understand how a disease spreads. 

Public health asks questions to know who might have been exposed and how to stop the disease from spreading. 

The information you give is private and kept in a secure system. 

For more information about the rules for retaining and collecting confidential information (french only) 

Why is public health contacting me?

If a disease is spreading around you, public health may contact you to: 

• Give you important information  
• Tell you what to do to protect yourself and others 

How will public health contact me?

If you or your child may have been exposed to a disease that is under investigation, public health may reach you in two ways: 

• By phone call 
• By text message (SMS) 

We will never ask you for your Social Insurance Number or for money. We will never ask you to pay for a service. 

Your phone number is shared with public health by places like: 

• Schools 
• Daycares 
• Workplaces 
• Hospitals 

How to know if the call or message is really from public health?

Text message coming from 438‑814‑0538 
 

Phone call 

You may also receive a call from public health. 
The call may come from different numbers or a hidden number. 
We may leave you a voicemail. 

Personalized text message 

If public health tried to call you but did not reach you, we may send a short, personalized text message from different numbers. 

How to check if the call or message is real?

You can: 

• Ask the person calling you to send you an email from an address ending in @ssss.gouv.qc.ca 
• Call Montréal Public Health at 514‑528‑2400 to ask if an investigation is happening 

Français

Enquêtes épidémiologiques