News

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: September 16, 2025
From: Dr. Emil Prikryl, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Increased Incidence of Anaplasmosis in Ontario, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

A recent report of a death in an Ottawa resident caused by anaplasmosis serves as a reminder that we remain very much in the season for tick-borne diseases such as

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Midwives
Date: September 15, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Information on Ontario’s RSV prevention programs

Dear Colleagues,

The below communication provides information on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention programs the 2025-2026 RSV season for:

1. high-risk older adults, and
2. infants and high-risk children

Please note: The RSV product order forms will be available at

To: Ottawa Physicians
Date: September 2, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Discontinuation of Provincial COVID-19 Test Results Viewer

Dear Colleagues,

Please see below a memo from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health regarding the discontinuation of the provincial COVID-19 Test Results Viewer.

To: Ottawa Physicians
Date: August 29, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Market Withdrawal of COVID-19 KP.

• Public Health Alerts

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: Aug 27, 2025
From: Dr. Robin Taylor, Associate Medical Officer of Health

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, as the first human case of WNV has been reported in an Ottawa resident for the 2025 season.

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners 
Date: August 20, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Updated PHO AEFI Reporting Form

Dear Colleagues,

In Ontario, Public Health Ontario (PHO) leads the provincial surveillance of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs).

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).

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.

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.

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.