Posted on Monday, December 15, 2025 10:31 AM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: December 15, 2025
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Early influenza season and severe impacts on children
Dear Colleagues,
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is reporting an early and intense start to flu season leading to unprecedented volumes in the Emergency Department and a higher-than-usual number of flu cases and complications for this time of year. In the first two weeks of December, three children...
Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 08:05 AM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: December 4, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Start of Influenza Season Declared in Ottawa
Dear Colleagues:
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is now declaring the start of the 2025-2026 influenza season in Ottawa.
For the week ending November 29, the percent of respiratory lab specimens positive for influenza was 20.5.%. The week prior, the percent of respiratory lab specimens positive for influenza was 8.6%. Influenza...
Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2025 09:26 AM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: October 30, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Annual Assessment of Student Immunization Records
Dear Colleagues,
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has started our annual process of assessing students’ immunization records for compliance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
To attend school in Ontario, students need to be immunized against nine vaccine preventable diseases or have a medical or...
Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2025 09:19 AM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: October 29, 2025
From: Dr. Michelle Foote, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: NEW measles exposures table and update October 29, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has confirmed an additional two measles infections with epidemiological links to the recent cluster of five infections. The risk to the general population remains low.
A new temporary measles exposures table is available to assist individuals regarding exposure to the...
Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2025 11:01 AM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: October 23, 2025
From: Dr. Michelle Foote, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Measles update October 23, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has recently confirmed five measles infections among related individuals. At this time, there is no evidence of transmission in the general community, and the risk to the general population remains low.
Contacts in the community who could be identified and contacted were notified directly of...