An increase in HIV cases has been identified in the Dryden area in the last two weeks of August. So far, the primary noted risk factors are injection drug use, sharing of needles/drug preparation equipment, recent incarceration, heterosexual sex, and men who have sex with men. Please consider Testing for Read more…
The infectious syphilis outbreak in the Northwestern Health Unit catchment area is ongoing. The majority of cases continue to be in Kenora but other cases have been identified in other communities including Sioux Lookout Please consider Testing for syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections for those who are at risk. Read more…
Epidemiology Since May there have been reports of cases diagnosed with disseminated gonorrhea including sepsis and joint involvement in the Kenora and Sioux Lookout area. Overall gonorrhea (all cases) rates for the Kenora area have not increased but it is noted that gonorrhea rates did increase in the Dryden area Read more…
There is currently a shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (1gm packing size) in Canada. There is no active shortage reported for the 3.5g product. Since there is no recommended safe alternative medication to be used prophylactically for newborns instead of erythromycin, please use the attached algorithms for screening and response Read more…
There have been some new documents released regarding influenza and respiratory outbreak testing. Please see below for further information. COVID-19 Influenza Q&A re: patients > 65 years or age The Ministry of Health has developed a Q&A document for Health Care Providers to help guide influenza vaccine conversations with patients Read more…
Please note the following information and guidance: COVID-19 Screening tool for schools The screening tool for students and children in daycare has significantly changed to be less sensitive. Depending on the type and number of symptoms, some children can be monitored for only 24 hours and then return to school/daycare Read more…
Please be advised that any babies born from March to July 2020 may have missed their infant hearing screens due to COVID-19 service disruptions. If you have any patients that have missed their screens please call us or ask the parents to call us at 1-877-553-7122. Please contact me if Read more…
What is happening? The Ministry of Health’s publicly funded vaccine for herpes zoster will be changing to a 2-dose Shingrix series when the 1-dose Zostavax supply expires and runs out in October 2020. Eligibility for publicly funded product remains at age 65-70. Those who turned or will turn 71 in Read more…
The COVID Alert App is a way for the public to know if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19. Once downloaded to a mobile device, it uses Bluetooth to detect how close you are to other people with the app. If someone tests positive, they are given a unique code to Read more…
