News

Tick Season: Quick Links to Resources for managing Lyme and other tick-borne diseases

It’s tick season and very likely that you will be asked about ticks and Lyme disease in your practice. Ticks can carry pathogens of a host of communicable diseases including Powassan virus disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases are important interventions.

In 2022, 221 cases of Lyme disease reported to Ottawa Public Health met confirmed or probable case definitions.  All of Ottawa continues to be considered an at-risk area: Ontario...

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Professional Development and Resources

1. A new infographic from Immunize Canada provides information on diphtheria, its symptoms, how it is spread, and encourages people to get immunized against this vaccine-preventable disease. The infographic What is diphtheria? is available to be printed and posted in your office.
   
   
2. The plenary session recordings from the Canadian Immunization Conference (CIC) are now available for viewing. These sessions feature speakers from across the country and include discussions on a range of vaccine and...

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Shingles Vaccine Extended Eligibility and Ordering

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Travel Clinics, Walk-in Clinics,Date: June 19, 2023From: Dr. Trevor Arnason (Associate Medical Officer of Health)

Dear Colleagues,

This is a reminder that in October 2020, Ontario’s Publicly Funded Shingles Immunization Program changed from funding the Zostavax® II (Merck Canada Inc.) vaccine to funding the Shingrix®(GSK) vaccine. Shingrix® is administered intramuscularly as a two-dose schedule 2 to 6 months apart.

Eligibility

In Ontario, the Shingrix®...

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Mpox update

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Travel Clinics, Walk-in Clinics, Emergency Departments and CHCsDate: June 8, 2023From: Dr. Trevor Arnason (Associate Medical Officer of Health), Dr. Laura Bourns (Associate Medical Officer of Health, Acting)

Dear Colleagues:

This Public Health Alert summarizes recent updates to mpox relating to risks, epidemiology, and recommendations for vaccination and testing.

The World Health Organization’s mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern was...

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COVID-19 Update

On May 5th, the World Health Organization (WHO) ended the global health emergency declaration for COVID-19 and advised it is time to transition to long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 continues to be an ongoing health issue, as cases of COVID-19, and hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 continue to occur.  In addition, long-term potential and chronic effects such as Long COVID (or Post COVID-19 Condition) remain an ongoing health threat. OPH continues to monitor the...

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