News

Rebranding for 2025: Physicians' Update Becomes Public Health Update

As we begin 2025, we are pleased to announce that Physicians’ Update will now be known as Public Health Update—a change that better aligns with the content and focus of the information we provide to you.

This rebranding reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering timely, relevant public health information tailored to support physicians and nurse practitioners (NPs). Our aim is to help you stay informed about the latest public health developments in Ottawa.

New editions of the Public Health Update

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Virtual, February 7: Colloque francophone de médecine Bal de Neige 2025 (in French only)

Provider

Symposium organized by the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine's Francophone Affairs in partnership with Médecins francophones du Canada, an organization accredited by the Collège des médecins du Québec.

• Assessing loss of autonomy in the elderly, Dr. Geneviève Lemay
• COPD in 2025: what's new? Dr. Catherine Charron
• Exercise: the best medicine, Dr. Steve Truong and Dr. Marie-Ève Bérubé
• Managing respiratory and cardiac emergencies in the office, Dr. Yanick Massé
• Borderline personality...

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Newly Reportable Disease: Candida auris (C. auris)

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: January 30, 2025
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues, 

We are writing to inform you that on January 1, 2025, Ontario’s Ministry of Health designated Candida auris (C. auris) a Disease of Public Health Significance. Per Ontario Regulation 569 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, health care providers are required to report all suspect or confirmed cases of C. auris clinical infection to Ottawa Public Health...

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IPAC lapse with risk of blood-borne infection at personal service settings

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: January 28, 2025
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: IPAC lapse with risk of blood-borne infection at personal service settings

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is alerting you to the possibility that that you may be approached by patients for counselling and testing related to an infection prevention and control (IPAC) lapse from two Gorgeous Brows and Lashes personal service setting locations: 

• Gorgeous Brows and Lashes, 3900...

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Updated treatment recommendations for N. gonorrhoeae

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: January 27, 2025
From: Dr. Michelle Foote, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,

Please see the attached memo (available only in English) from the Ministry of Health regarding updated treatment recommendations for N. gonorrhoeae.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has provided updated interim guidance on the treatment of N. gonorrhoeae infections, due to changing patterns of antibiotic resistance. The preferred treatment for...

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