News

Free 9-week group-based CBT program for people who are expecting or have a child under 18 months

Starting in September, Ottawa Public Health will offer free 9-week, group-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) programs in English. These groups are for people who are expecting or have a child (birth or adoption) under 18 months of age and who have been feeling one or more of the following: depressed, sad, anxious, worried, angry, or overwhelmed.

Healthy Growth and Development Public Health Nurses were trained by a psychiatrist specializing in CBT to deliver Group Cognitive Behavioral...

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Immunization Updates from Ottawa Public Health

Ottawa Public Health has issued recent Public Health Alerts relating to product replacements for DTaP-IPV-Hib, changes to vaccine recommendations for oral poliovirus vaccine and changes in the publicly funded immunization programs for pneumococcal disease. The key information below is provided  for your practice.

• Pentacel® replacing Pediacel® for DTaP-IPV-Hib immunization in Ontario
• Oral poliovirus (OPV) vaccination given on or after April 1st, 2016 not valid for polio immunization
• Pneumococcal...

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Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Ottawa horse

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 21, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Subject: Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Ottawa horse

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has received veterinarian notification of an eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) positive horse in Ottawa. No human cases of EEE have been reported. This public health alert is to remind of the risk of EEE to humans, which may remain elevated into the middle of...

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Mpox vaccine availability & eligibility

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 21, 2024
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Trevor Arnason, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Mpox vaccine availability & eligibility

Dear Colleagues,  

You may be receiving questions from patients re: mpox vaccination given the recent declaration of the mpox outbreak in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. It is important to note that there are currently two types of the...

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West Nile virus increased activity in Ottawa

To: All Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: August 16, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Subject: West Nile virus increased activity in Ottawa

The risk of human West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Ottawa is higher this season than in many previous years. Mosquito surveillance is finding positive results for WNV throughout Ottawa and a second human case of WNV has been reported in an Ottawa resident.

This serves as a reminder to keep WNV in...

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