Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is closely monitoring the ongoing measles outbreak in Quebec. As of this month, there have been 764 cases of measles in Quebec since April 3, 2011, making it the largest outbreak of measles in North America since 2002. About 11 per cent of these cases required hospital care. OPH is in close communications with the Direction de santé publique de l’Outaouais and as of today, no cases have been reported in the Outaouais region. As well, there are no reported cases of measles in Ottawa and OPH is taking measures to prevent an outbreak in this city. OPH is encouraging residents to: · Ensure you and your children have up-to-date MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine coverage. The publicly-funded MMR vaccine is required for all children attending licensed child care or school in Ontario, with some exceptions. Visit ottawa.ca/health for more information about immunization requirements for school registration.· Update your child’s immunization record online at ottawa.ca/health or by calling OPH at 613-580-6744, ext. 24108. You should contact OPH each time your child receives a vaccination to update their immunization record. Present outbreaks of measles are occurring in children and young adults who have not had the recommended number of doses of the vaccine. Immunization is the safest and most effective way to prevent measles and its serious complications. Measles is a very contagious disease which is easily spread by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms start with a high fever, runny nose, red eyes and a cough. A red rash starts on the face and head and then spreads to the body. Those who are sick can infect others during the four days before and the four days after the rash appears. Measles can cause complications such as an ear infection, brain infection, pneumonia and even death. About the measles vaccineRoutine childhood immunization consists of two doses of measles vaccine. This is provided as the MMR vaccine which also protects against mumps and rubella. The first dose of the vaccine is given on or after the first birthday. The second dose is now routinely given at 4 to 6 years of age. The MMR vaccine is publicly funded and provided by physicians in the community. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are also recommended for young adults (18 to 25 years old), post secondary students, Health Care workers and those who plan to travel internationally. Most people born before 1970 have immunity because of exposure to the disease during childhood. Other adults born in 1970 or later should have at least one dose of the vaccine. Check your immunization records to make sure that your family, especially your children are protected against measles. If you have questions about whether or not your family is protected, call your family doctor or paediatrician, or OPH. For more information on Ottawa Public Health immunization services, please visit ottawa.ca/health You can also connect with OPH on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth) for the latest public health information. read more..
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Immunization Records-Measles Outbreak-Measles Vaccine
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Public Opinion Research-Community Engagement-Public Consultation-Advocacy Strategy
 |
This report outlines a proposal for a Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa, designed to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoke (SHS) and to reduce tobacco use. The proposed strategy includes a significant increase in programming for people who want to quit; new smoke-free regulations to protect people from SHS and a public awareness, community engagement and advocacy strategy designed to make Ottawa a healthier city for all. OPH is recommending to the Ottawa Board of Health (BOH), the Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) and City Council that existing smoke-free regulations be amended, beginning this year, to prohibit smoking on: · All municipal properties, including parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields, fruit and vegetable markets and outdoor areas around City facilities; and · Outdoor restaurant and bar patios and terraces. These initiatives have been developed after extensive public consultation and research and do not require additional funding to enforce or to deliver enhanced services. OPH’s consultations and public opinion research indicate that Ottawa residents strongly support creating more smoke-free spaces. If the recommendations in this report are adopted by Council, Ottawa will join a growing number of municipalities that have made such places smoke-free. SHS is a known health hazard and studies have found that it can be as toxic outdoors as indoors (1-12). Sadly, every year 1,000 smokers and non-smokers in Ottawa die prematurely of tobacco related illness (13). Smoking and SHS has a financial cost as well, including $2 billion in direct health care costs to the Ontario economy (14). For Ottawa residents, hospitalization costs alone due to smoking-related illnesses are almost $40 million per year (13). The purpose of the proposed regulatory amendments is to reduce public exposure to SHS and the resulting risk of tobacco related chronic illness. The proposed amendments are part of an overall OPH strategy to protect children and non-smokers from SHS exposure, reduce smoking rates, increase tobacco cessation attempts, reduce tobacco use initiation, and improve health outcomes such as reducing heart attacks, respiratory illness and cancer. The regulations would complement community engagement activities that will advance smoke-free policies in settings such as hospitals and post-secondary campuses, doorways, hotels, motels and bed and breakfast establishments, spectator events, multiple unit dwellings, and outdoor worksites such as construction sites. A phased-in approach for enforcement of the regulatory amendments is recommended. Beginning with awareness raising and warnings, fines would not be levied until three months after the amendments take effect. It is anticipated that there would be a high degree of voluntary compliance and, as a result enforcement is recommended to be predominantly complaint-driven and would not require additional by-law staff or other resources. Enforcement would be accompanied by a parallel strategy that includes a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the regulatory changes and to increase awareness of the health risks of tobacco smoke and the dangers of water-pipe use.Full Report here read more..