Public Health Alerts

Improper use of glucose meters and fingerstick devices (lancets) on multiple patients

To: Ottawa Healthcare ProvidersFrom: Dr. Geneviève Cadieux, Associate Medical Officer of HealthDate: November 22, 2018

On July 30, 2018, OPH sent a memo to Ottawa healthcare providers about the improper use of glucose meters designed for single-patient use on multiple patients, and the associated risk of infectious disease transmission. OPH continues to receive reports concerning improper use of glucose meters and/or fingerstick devices.

For the safety of your patients and your practice, please...

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Ontario Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP)

We are writing to highlight two items related to the 2018/2019 Ontario Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP).

Flu activity has started in Ontario. As both high-dose TIV and standard-dose QIV are recommended products for seniors 65 years of age and older, do not delay vaccination for a particular product. Both products protect against the flu and the most important thing is for seniors to be vaccinated.

• Quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (QIV)...

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Increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Healthcare ProvidersFrom: Dr. Geneviève Cadieux, Associate Medical Officer of HealthSubject: Increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Ottawa

The purpose of this message is to alert Ottawa emergency and primary care providers to an increase in the number of pertussis cases reported in Ottawa in the past 2 weeks, and to provide a reminder to consider pertussis on your differential diagnosis of cases of persistent cough. In the presence of compatible symptoms and signs (described...

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Blastomycosis Case, Ottawa ex Northwestern Ontario

To: Emergency Departments, Emergency Physicians, Infectious Disease SpecialistsFrom: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public HealthSubject: Blastomycosis Case, Ottawa ex Northwestern Ontario

Blastomycosis became reportable in Ontario in 2018. A case of blastomycosis in an Ottawa resident has been reported to Ottawa Public Health (OPH). Exposure was likely to have been in the Kenora area of northwestern Ontario. OPH is writing to alert you that this rare disease can...

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Reference guide for the upcoming 2018-2019 influenza season

To: Ottawa Healthcare ProvidersFrom: Dr. Geneviève Cadieux, Associate Medical Officer of HealthSubject: Reference guide for the upcoming 2018-2019 influenza season

For your convenience, we have collated all the key resources for the upcoming 2018-2019 influenza season into this memo. Detailed information is available on our new influenza webpage for healthcare providers: http://www.OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Physicians-Flu

• Ottawa Public Health’s weekly respiratory and...

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