Pertussis: Ongoing increase in cases and reminders

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: September 23, 2024
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Pertussis: Ongoing increase in cases and reminders

Since the spring, there has been an increase in the number of pertussis cases reported in Quebec, Ontario, and other jurisdictions. In 2024 (as of September 16), 126 cases of confirmed or probable pertussis in Ottawa residents have been reported to Ottawa Public Health (OPH), compared to six cases in 2023. The...

Legionellosis in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Walk-in Clinics, Emergency
Date: September 18, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Subject: Legionellosis in Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has received reports of cases in Ottawa of Legionnaires’ disease caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 with onsets of illness in August and September 2024 at an incidence rate above expected. OPH is investigating if there is a common source of the infections. When...

Ontario’s 2024-2025 Infant and High-Risk Children RSV Prevention Program

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: September 17, 2024
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Ontario’s 2024-2025 Infant and High-risk Children RSV Prevention Program

Dear Colleagues,

Ontario has announced a new provincial Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination program for infants and high-risk children starting this 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. Attached is a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario, Dr. Kieran Moore, outlining...

Delay in Processing Vaccine Orders due to a Provincial System Disruption

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: September 10, 2024
From:  Dr. Trevor Arnason, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Delay in Processing Vaccine Orders due to a Provincial System Disruption

Dear Colleagues, 

Today, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has been notified of an unexpected province-wide service interruption affecting the system to review vaccine inventory and process vaccine orders. While the Province is working to restore this system as soon as possible, it has caused local...

Case of human rabies in Ontario

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: September 6, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Case of human rabies in Ontario

Dear Colleagues, 

Please see the letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Health regarding a case of human rabies in Ontario. 

A recent Public Health Alert gives details on reporting animal bites and animal contacts in Ottawa: Duty to report animal bites and animal contacts. This Public Health Alert includes a provincial algorithm for bat...