Welcoming Dr. Ria Oommen as CW OHT’s Older Adults Primary Care Lead

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Ria Oommen been selected as the new Primary Care Lead for Older Adults, playing a critical role in fostering collaboration amongst community providers for care for older adults, particularly those experiencing frailty. About Dr. Ria Oommen Dr. Ria Oommen is a family physician practicing in Peel and Halton. She completed medical school and family medicine residency training at McMaster University. Her clinical work primarily focuses on providing care for older populations, as a hospitalist at Brampton Civic Hospital (BCH) and attending physician for a Region of […]

 Pool of Mosquitoes in Toronto Test Positive for West Nile Virus

On July 16, 2026, TPH received confirmation that one batch of mosquitoes has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in Toronto. In general, the first positive mosquito pool tends to coincide with the first transmissions of WNV to humans. Human Infection with WNV:• Most common in Toronto from July to end of September and can occur outside this time period.• While approximately 75% of human WNV infections are asymptomatic, most symptomatic patients present with a febrile illness characterized by headache, myalgia, arthralgia, gastrointestinal symptoms or a maculopapular rash.• People > 50 years of age and those who are immunocompromised are at increased risk of WNV neuroinvasive […]

PPH: Candida auris colonization: Updated surveillance and reporting

The Ontario Ministry of Health is enhancing provincial surveillance for Candida auris (C. auris). While C. auris infection is already a disease of public health significance, this update expands surveillance to include C. auris colonization. From July 1 to December 31, 2026, public health units are required to report all cases of C. auris colonization to the Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario. Health system partners are asked to support this effort by voluntarily reporting newly identified colonization cases to their local public health units. Review the Ministry of Health memo for full details: Reporting requirements Health care providers should report all identified cases of C. auris colonization to […]

PPH: Children’s Oral Health Program: information and support for children and youth (0 to 17 years)

Primary care providers play an important role in promoting oral health, identifying children at risk for dental disease, and connecting families to available services. The Children’s Oral Health Program can provide information and resources to support oral health care access for children and youth. Get more information Primary care physicians who would like additional information about the Children’s Oral Health Program and available supports are invited to complete a brief survey by Monday, July 27, 2026. Complete survey

PPH: Launch of SmartParent for prenatal education

Peel Public Health has partnered with SmartParent to launch a free text messaging prenatal program for all expectant families in Peel. They are one of the first Public Health Units in Ontario to offer this innovative prenatal and parenting education program.  SmartParent was developed by researchers from the University of British Columbia in consultation with pregnant and new parents, nurses, doctors, midwives, and experts in maternal and child health.  It is endorsed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society).  SmartParent is currently offered in Halton and the provinces of British Columbia and Nova Scotia. How it works This “just in […]

Spotlight:  Women and Children’s Paediatric Healthy Lifestyle Clinic

The Women and Children’s Ambulatory Clinics at Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness (PMC) would like to spotlight the Paediatric Healthy Lifestyle’s Clinic: “Rising rates of obesity are a significant public health concern in Canada and across the world. In Canada, almost two in three adults and one in three children and youth are overweight or living with obesity with even higher rates in marginalized and equity-seeking populations. Obesity greatly increases the risk for several chronic diseases such as diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.”  The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P. The Paediatric Lifestyle Clinic offers […]

Ontario Health Hantavirus Communication

As you may be aware, a cluster of confirmed and suspected Andes hantavirus (ANDV) infections, including fatalities, has been identified among passengers of the MV Hondius cruise ship. As of May 7, 2026, 8 cases have been reported, including 5 laboratory confirmed infections, and 3 deaths. The current hypothesis is that some passengers may have been exposed to ANDV in Argentina (where the virus is endemic) prior to embarking, with potential subsequent transmission occurring onboard the vessel. At this time, all known Ontario contacts associated with this cluster have been identified and are in contact with public health. These individuals are currently self-isolating […]

Welcoming Dr. Justin Kutzko as CW OHT Palliative Care Primary Care Lead

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Justin Kutzko has been selected as the new Palliative Care Primary Care Lead. About Dr. Justin Kutzko Dr. Kutzko graduated from the University of Queensland Medical School in 2011 and he completed his postgraduate clinical fellowship training in general practice as well as palliative medicine in Australia. After moving to Canada with his family in 2022 he held positions as a Palliative Care Specialist at Sunnybrook Hospital, and then William Osler Health System from 2023 to the present. Dr. Kutzko has a strong interest in health […]

Updates to Osler’s Diagnostic Imaging Requisitions

Please see the below memo from William Osler Health System: Dear Referring Providers We would like to inform you of important updates to our Diagnostic Imaging requisitions following recent changes to the OHIP Schedule of Benefits. Effective May 15, 2026, revised requisitions for Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and Nuclear Medicine studies will be implemented. These revisions are required to ensure compliance with current billing and ordering requirements. Patients previously  designated as High-Risk and booked at 12 month intervals will be contacted by DI and rescheduled to 36  months from their last examination, in accordance with the updated guidelines. Action Required: […]

Invitation to Participate: Ontario Health’s OHT Primary Care Provider Experience Survey

As part of our commitment to building a more connected health care system, the CW OHT and PCN invite you to participate in Ontario Health’s 2026 OHT Primary Care Provider Experience Survey. Your input will help our OHT and PCN assess and report on our progress building a strong PCN that engages and supports family physicians and other primary care providers, as well as our collective efforts to build a more connected and integrated health care system. As this survey is being distributed province-wide, we will also be able to compare our progress to our peers.    Ontario Health developed this […]

Osler Collaboration Survey

William Osler Health System has asked the CW PCN to share this message with family physicians and NPs who provide comprehensive longitudinal primary care on their behalf: Strengthening Collaboration between Community Physicians and Osler Dear Colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your input on how we can create a more seamless, connected system—one that supports you to deliver timely, coordinated and convenient care to your patients in partnership with William Osler Health System (Osler). At Osler, the health and wellbeing of our community guide everything we do Strong and integrated connections between our hospital and […]

Peel Public Health Respiratory Illness Season Updates [March 8 – March 14]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of March 8 to March 14. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

PPH Respiratory Illness Season Updates [February 1 – February 7]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of February 1 – February 7. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

Vaccine Updates – Peel

Key messages  Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) Suspension orders are being mailed to students in Grades 2 to 6 and Grades 9 to 12 who have not submitted updated immunization records as outlined in the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). These orders will be issued from January through April 2026. Immunization requirements align with the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules in Ontario. The minimum age and spacing between doses must be followed to meet the ISPA requirements. If a student presents with a suspension order Vaccines received out of Ontario should be considered valid if there is written documentation of administration of vaccine at ages and intervals […]

eReferral Ontario Now Available for Onboarding

eReferral Ontario is the updated provincial platform designed to streamline and optimize the referral process. It launched with a limited rollout in August 2025, allowing select users and sites to onboard. Starting this month, onboarding is open to all clinicians and providers. eReferral Ontario will work in conjunction with Central Intake to improve coordination and efficiency across the system. As per the Operational Direction: Local Delivery Group (LDG) Expansion to Support Spread and Scale of Digital Priorities, hospitals will be working with their local LDG Lead Organization and Ontario Health regional teams to onboard providers to eReferral. All other providers are requested to visit eReferral […]

PPH Respiratory Illness Season Updates [December 28 to January 3]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of December 28 – January 3. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

Welcoming Dr. David Borts as CW OHT Primary Care Specialist

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. David Borts has been selected as the new Primary Care Specialist representative for the CW OHT Primary Care Council (PCC), following an election at the October Central West Primary Care Network (CW PCN) Annual General Meeting. About Dr. David Borts Dr. Borts graduated from McGill Medical School in 1980 and completed residency training in both internal medicine (1984) and cardiology (1986). He has been a clinical cardiologist serving the community of Brampton for 36 years. In 2007, he completed an MBA at the Schulich School of […]

PPH Respiratory Illness Season Updates [November 30 to December 6]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of November 30 to December 6. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

PPH: Hepatitis Exposure & Vaccine Ordering

Key messages Alert: possible hepatitis A exposure in Peel A Peel resident has recently tested positive for hepatitis A, leading to potential exposure to hepatitis A virus in a child care centre in Peel and a workplace in Halton. The infection was likely acquired during international travel to an endemic area. The risk of transmission is low, however individuals who have been identified by Peel Public Health as close contacts have been notified and have been encouraged to: Close contacts may contact their health care provider for advice or to request vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Hepatitis A is a […]

PPH: Respiratory Illness Season Updates [October 26 to November 1]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of October 26 to November 1. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

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