The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is sharing important updates from the Office of the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health.
New Reportable DOPHS
In response to reports of emerging tick-borne diseases and an increase in blacklegged tick populations across Ontario, amendments to Ontario regulations include the addition of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and powassan virus as Diseases of Public Health Significance (DoPHS). The effective date for these amendments is July 1st, 2023, whereby probable and confirmed cases of these new DoPHS are to be reported to the local Medical Officer of Health by the next working day.
Implications for Practice
These tick-borne diseases are rare. Windsor Essex County has been deemed a high-risk area for ticks. It is important to consider vector-borne illness as part of differential diagnosis when patients present with a non-specific febrile illness of unknown origin, particularly during spring and summer months when ticks are most active. If you suspect a vector-borne illness, please order an appropriate test and refer to your infectious disease specialist as necessary.
If you have any questions regarding the attached information, please contact our Infectious Disease Prevention Department at 519-258-2146, ext. 1420 or visit www.wechu.org.