News

Measles update – new resources available

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: March 20, 2024
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Due to an increase in measles activity globally, Canada has begun to see more cases of measles, including in Ontario and Quebec. This Public Health Alert is to provide an update on new resources available.  

Measles Epidemiology

Public Health Ontario (PHO) is now publishing a weekly epidemiological summary of measles in Ontario. As of March 13, 2024, eight confirmed cases of measles...

In-person CME event: Les Journées Montfort - Congrès National en Santé (French only)

Provider 

Presented by Francophone Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Overview 

Les journées Montfort is a national conference bringing together French-speaking doctors and healthcare professionals to discuss topical healthcare issues. The theme for 2024 is: Nurturing well-being, cultivating health.

Date, time and place  

• April 11 and 12, 2024, 7:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. In-person sessions.

Target Audience

• French-speaking doctors and healthcare professionals 

Registration and session information 

Mpox Update

In light of recent outbreak trends, mpox should remain on the clinical differential for those with compatible signs, symptoms, and risk factors regardless of their vaccination history. Testing should be completed for any suspected cases of mpox.

Outbreak Trends

During the 2022 multi-country mpox outbreak, cases of mpox were reported in many non-endemic countries, including Canada, with local transmission occurring through direct and intimate contact. Prior to this outbreak, mpox cases rarely...

Professional Development Opportunities and Resources

New: Vaccine Safety In Ontario infographic

A visual summary of adverse event following immunization (AEFIEs) reported in Ontario following vaccines administered in 2022 (excluding COVID-19 vaccines) and updated Vaccine Safety Surveillance Tool: an interactive tool providing vaccine safety surveillance data in Ontario by trends over time, age and sex, public health unit, type of vaccine and type of adverse event. Public Health Ontario (PHO).

Updated : Vaccine Information for Professionals

The Ministry...

Resources to Test and Treat for Latent Tuberculosis Infection

Latent tuberculosis (TB) infection, or LTBI, can be diagnosed from either a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) result or a positive interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test result. Since the IGRA test is not currently OHIP funded, the TST is the most common test used to diagnose LTBI.

You may have patients at risk of developing TB disease who would benefit from testing and treatment of Latent TB Infection. Increased risk factors for developing TB disease include:

• Residence in, or travel...