Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus update, Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: September 5, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Subject: Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus update, Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has received notification from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness of a second case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a horse in Ottawa. Additionally, a fatal human EEE case in Ottawa has been reported to OPH; however, final...

Temporary pause on COVID-19 vaccine availability in Ontario

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 29, 2024
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Temporary pause on COVID-19 vaccine availability in Ontario

Dear Colleagues,

The Province has alerted Ottawa Public Health (OPH), that due to a Health Canada regulatory withdrawal process, XBB COVID-19 vaccines will not be available in Ontario between the market withdrawal on September 1, 2024, until receipt of the new formulation. 

This means that there will be no access...

Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Ottawa horse

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 21, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Subject: Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Ottawa horse

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has received veterinarian notification of an eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) positive horse in Ottawa. No human cases of EEE have been reported. This public health alert is to remind of the risk of EEE to humans, which may remain elevated into the middle of...

Mpox vaccine availability & eligibility

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 21, 2024
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Trevor Arnason, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Mpox vaccine availability & eligibility

Dear Colleagues,  

You may be receiving questions from patients re: mpox vaccination given the recent declaration of the mpox outbreak in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. It is important to note that there are currently two types of the...

West Nile virus increased activity in Ottawa

To: All Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 16, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Subject: West Nile virus increased activity in Ottawa

The risk of human West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Ottawa is higher this season than in many previous years. Mosquito surveillance is finding positive results for WNV throughout Ottawa and a second human case of WNV has been reported in an Ottawa resident.

This serves as a reminder to keep WNV in...