Posted on Monday, August 18, 2025 04:03 PM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 18, 2025
From: Dr. Michelle Foote, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Rabies Vaccine and Immunoglobulin Supply
Dear Colleagues,
Ontario is experiencing a shortage of rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulins (RabIg). Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is working closely with the Ministry of Health to prioritize supply for high-risk exposures and ensure that health care professionals have access to rabies vaccines and RabIg.
Appropriate...
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2025 02:00 PM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 14, 2025
From: Dr. Michelle Foote, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Confirmed case of measles in Ottawa
Dear Colleagues,
A case of measles has been reported to Ottawa Public Health with potential exposures to the virus for others in the community. Secondary cases from these exposures could occur any time until 21 days following each exposure.
OPH is following up individually with all identified contacts and has issued a Public Service...
Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 02:30 PM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 12, 2025
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: West Nile virus confirmed in Ottawa area mosquitoes
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 results for WNV from Ottawa area mosquito traps for the 2025 season.
The main vectors of WNV, Culex pipiens mosquitoes,...
Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 09:26 AM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: July 29, 2025
From: Dr. Michelle Foote, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Syphilis testing update and screening recommendations
Public Health Ontario Laboratory (PHOL) has updated its testing approach for syphilis lesion specimens. This alert provides an overview of the new testing protocol, current epidemiologic trends, and screening recommendations.
Changes to syphilis testing for lesion specimens
Effective July 7, 2025, PHOL has...
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 09:09 AM
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: July 16, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Pentacel Vaccine: Important Reminders
Dear Colleagues,
Since the program transition for DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccination from Pediacel® to Pentacel® in July 2024, the manufacturer, Sanofi, has received pharmacovigilance reports of mixing errors with Pentacel®. To address this, Sanofi has developed a resource for health care providers and pharmacies to review
Memo from Sanofi: