Public Health Alerts

Eastern equine encephalitis virus in horses in Ottawa region

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Emergency Departments
Date: August 17, 2023
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Subject: Eastern equine encephalitis virus in horses in Ottawa, Leeds, Grenville and Lanark, and Eastern Ontario health units

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) received veterinarian notification of 1 horse in Ottawa, 2 horses in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, and 2 in Eastern Ontario Health Unit with eastern equine...

Read more

Key dates and information for 2023-2024 Universal Influenza Immunization Program roll-out in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Healthcare Providers
Date: September 21, 2023
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) expects to receive its first shipment of influenza vaccines from the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) in the week of September 25th.

OPH is planning to distribute influenza vaccines to community providers the week of October 2nd, 2023 for individuals at high risk...

Read more

Update: COVID-19 Vaccine Fall 2023 Booster

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, Travel Clinics and Walk-in Clinics, and Infection Control
Date: Sept 7, 2023
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,

The Ministry of Health has informed Ottawa Public Health (OPH) that they are monitoring the COVID-19 epidemiology closely to update recommendations on fall COVID-19 boosters. Health Canada is reviewing a new formulation monovalent COVID-19 vaccine that targets XBB sub-variants with approval...

Read more

West Nile virus confirmed in Ottawa area mosquitoes

To:                  Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners, Emergency Departments and Walk-in Clinics, IPAC teams

Date:               August 21, 2023

From:              Dr. Robin Taylor, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health

La version française sera disponible sur notre site web dès que possible.

Dear Colleagues,

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is writing to heighten your awareness of the possibility of illness from West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Ottawa. OPH has received the first positive...

Read more

Cases of mpox in Ottawa

To:       Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Travel Clinics and Walk-in Clinics
Date:    August 18, 2023
From:   Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,
This public health alert is to inform you of a return of mpox activity locally in Ottawa.

OPH has recently received reports of two confirmed cases of mpox (previously known as monkeypox), with presumed local acquisition. Prior to these cases, the last confirmed case of mpox in Ottawa was in October 2022.

Please be aware of the...

Read more