Health Care Providers

Measles is a designated disease of public health significance. All suspect cases and patients are who are being tested for measles should be reported to Public Health immediately. 

Reporting options:

• Online reporting form (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Call Public Health at 519-575-4400 
  • If calling after business hours, weekends and holidays ask to speak to an on-call Public Health manager

A self-assessment tool is available for anyone who may have been exposed.

Vaccine recommendations: 

Review the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules for Ontario for measles vaccine recommendations for children and adults.

Visit Vaccine Information for Primary Care for vaccine ordering and information.  

Other measles resources:

• Measles - Public Health Ontario
  • How to Recognize and Respond to Measles
  • Post-exposure prophylaxis for contacts and for immunocompromised persons
• Ontario Public Health Standards Infectious Disease Protocol - Measles
• Clinician Guide for Immune Globulin Measles Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

COVID-19

Visit COVID-19 Information for Health Care Providers. 

Respiratory and Enteric Resources

• A Guide to the Control of Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Long Term Care Homes
• Enteric Outbreak Resource Manual
• Infection Control in Long-Term Care Facilities

IPAC Resources

• Dental Instrument Reprocessing
• How to Wash Your Hands
• IPAC Lapse Reports
• Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) Resources
  • PIDAC Best Practice Documents
  • PIDAC Reprocessing in Community Health Care Settings
  • PIDAC IPAC Core Competencies Course
• Quick Reference of Reprocessing in the Clinical Office Setting
• Resources for Preventing IPAC Lapses 
• Infection Protection and Control for Clinical Office Practice
• Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All Health Care Settings 
• Performing a Risk Assessment 
• Recommendations for Outbreak Prevention and Control in Institutions and Congregate Living Settings (Ministry of Health)  
• Best Practices in IPAC 
• Infection Prevention and Control – Online Learning 
• Infection Prevention and Control for Environmental Cleaning in Health Care - Online Learning  

• Blood Exposure Guidelines for Primary Health Care Providers
• Botulism Guide for Health Care Professionals
• Chickenpox and Pregnancy for Primary Health Care Providers
• Infection and Disease
• Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Vaccine Recommendations
• Managing Infections and Exclusion Guidelines for Child Care Providers and Schools
• Public Health Ontario Laboratory Services
• Reportable Diseases 

Mpox

People who meet the Provincial criteria for vaccination to prevent mpox infection can book an appointment or call 519-575-4400 to speak to a representative. 

Contacts of cases will be contacted by Public Health to determine eligibility.

An OHIP card is not required. The vaccine is free and available to all people who are eligible.

• Health Care Provider Advisory - Post-exposure Prophylaxis and Treatment - Region of Waterloo Public Health
• Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Mpox in Health Care Settings - Public Health Ontario (PHO)
• Mpox Fact Sheet - World Health Organization (WHO)
• Mpox Info Sheet - Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Mpox Information and Resources - Public Health Ontario (PHO)
• Mpox Vaccine (Imvamune®) Guidance for Health Care Providers - Ontario Ministry of Health 
• Mpox Virus Information – Ontario Ministry of Health
• Smallpox and other Orthopoxviruses including mpox - Ontario Ministry of Health
• Mpox Memo from Chief Medical Officer of Health - Ontario Ministry of Health
• Testing and Management of Mpox: Information for Primary Care Providers - Ontario Ministry of Health

Tuberculosis

• Form to Report a Positive TB Skin Test - to access this form, please use our Request a form tool
• Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) Management and Treatment
• TSTin3D - an algorithm to aid interpretation of TB skin testing
• Tuberculosis Control Program Physician Treatment and Referral Form
• Tuberculosis Screening for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
• Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Test: A Guide for Health Care Providers

• Chickenpox and Pregnancy for Primary Health Care Providers
• Early Identification Service Pathway and Referral List
• Parvovirus and Pregnancy
• Skin to Skin: Key Messages for Service Providers

Condom access

Region of Waterloo Public Health has a condom access program which offers free condoms through many community agencies. Call 519-883-2314 for locations.

Order free STI medications

Region of Waterloo Public Health provides free STI medications to all local health care providers and medical clinics, for the treatment of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. All patients diagnosed with a reportable STI and their partners, regardless of OHIP status, are eligible for the following free STI medications:

• Azithromycin
• Ceftriaxone
• Doxycycline
• Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin)

To order the above medications, use the request a form tool.

STI treatment guidelines

• Canadian Guidelines on STI – Public Health Agency of Canada 
• Sexually Transmitted Infections – Public Health Ontario

Syphilis

• Syphilis information for health care providers

Tools for Emergency Workers and Designated Officers 

For information and consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health, Designated Officers of Waterloo Region Emergency Service Workers can call:

Monday to Friday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Infectious Disease Information Line: 519-575-4400 ext. 5275

After hours, weekends, statutory holidays (24/7)
Service First Call Centre: 519-575-4400

• Designated Officers Manual for Infection Prevention: Reducing the Risk for Front-Line Staff (Ontario Association of Designated Officers)
• Blood Exposure Guidelines for Emergency Service Workers
• Incident Assessment Form for Designated Officers - to access this form, please use our Request a form tool
• Procedure Flow Sheet for Designated Officers
• Infectious Disease Fact Sheets

Vaccine Information and Forms

For vaccine-related information, forms, and fact sheets, check our Vaccine Information for Primary Care page.

Vector and Animal-Borne Diseases