News

Seasonal Influenza and Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Administration in Long-term Care and Retirement Homes

Individuals 65 years of age and older and those living in group settings are among the populations who are at heightened risk of contracting influenza and who are more likely to experience severe outcomes due to weakened immune systems and underlying chronic health conditions. The influenza vaccine serves as the most effective defense against the virus by decreasing the risk of serious infection and flu-related complications that can require hospitalization, while helping to prevent health care...

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Updated Ottawa Public Health Hepatitis C Case Management

In response to the availability of reflex HCV RNA testing in Ontario, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has updated its protocol for managing reports of positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) test results. 

Screening for HCV typically begins with HCV serology, testing the blood for the presence of HCV antibodies that indicate an individual has been exposed to the virus. Confirmatory testing is completed with HCV RNA testing, which detects presence of the virus in the blood and indicates...

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Annual Assessment of Student Immunization Records 2024

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: November 26, 2024
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Annual Assessment of Student Immunization Records

Dear Colleagues,

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is starting the annual process of assessing childhood 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...

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Important Update: RSV Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Beyfortus® Supply

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: November 20, 2024
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Important Update: RSV Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Beyfortus® Supply

Dear Colleagues, 

This message follows on the communication sent by Ottawa Public Health (OPH) on November 4, 2024, regarding the supply of monoclonal antibody (mAb) Beyfortus® used for Ontario’s Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention program for infants and high-risk children.

OPH has received...

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Mycoplasma pneumoniae update

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: November 18, 2024
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) would like to share information, provided by Public Health Ontario (PHO) to public health units, regarding Mycoplasma pneumoniae and an increase in M. pneumoniae activity currently being seen in Ontario. 

M. pneumoniae is not a designated Disease of Public Health Significance (‘reportable disease’) and therefore there is no provincial...

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