Public Health Alerts

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Newly Reportable Tick-borne Diseases

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners, Emergency Departments, Walk-in Clinics, Travel Clinics
Date: 27 July 2023
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health
We are writing to inform you that the Ontario Ministry of Health recently made anaplasmosis (human granulocytic anaplasmosis), babesiosis, and Powassan virus disease reportable. 
Anaplasma phagocytophilum (a tick-borne intracellular bacteria), Babesia microti (a tick-borne intracellular protozoan parasite), and Powassan virus

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