News

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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RSV: Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Beyfortus® Supply and Distribution

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: November 4, 2024
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,

At this time, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has received a limited supply of monoclonal antibody (mAb) Beyfortus®, the product used for Ontario’s RSV prevention program for infants and high-risk children. OPH is distributing doses to local primary care providers, as per Provincial direction. OPH will continue to provide updates if there are significant changes...

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Professional Development and Resources

1. The following resources for 2024-2025 Influenza Season are shared by Public Health Ontario (PHO)
   • Vaccines for the 2024-25 Influenza Season
   • Antiviral Medications for the 2024-25 Seasonal Influenza
   • Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool
     
     
2. HIV Education Series for Primary Care Clinicians: Enhance your HIV knowledge and skills. HIV Education and Learning (HEaL) series to strengthen ability to assess, diagnose, and manage patients at risk or lving with HIV. Each session is eligible for Mainpro+1 credit/hour (pending...

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OPH Launches New Dashboard For Infectious Disease Surveillance Data

OPH now offers readily available surveillance data on reportable infectious diseases of public health significance among Ottawa residents through the new, interactive data visualization tool: the Diseases of Public Health Significance Dashboard.

Diseases of public health significance are reportable to local public health in accordance with O. Reg. 135/18: DESIGNATION OF DISEASES and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. These diseases include: 

• routine vaccine-preventable (such as...

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