Updates to the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA)

Advisory Alert

May 30, 2018

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To health care providers and community partners:

Re: Updates to the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA)

Please be advised that effective May 1, 2018, there have been updates made to the legislation concerning the reporting of Diseases of Public Health Significance (formerly called Reportable Diseases) and for the reporting of adverse events following immunization (AEFI). The key highlights of these changes are noted below.

Added:

• Blastomycosis
• Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) colonization or infection, outbreaks
• Echinoccocus multilocularis infection

Removed:

• Malaria
• Yellow Fever

Updated:

• All invasive Haemophilus influenza now reportable (previously serotype b only)
• Respiratory infection and gastroenteritis outbreaks in institutions will now also include outbreaks in public hospitals

AEFI reporting:

• Health care providers must now report AEFIs for ALL vaccines authorized for use in Canada
• All health care providers who immunize must now report AEFIs (including pharmacists)
• Details of reporting of AEFI must include: the name and address of the facility where the reportable event was attended to; the date the client experiencing the AEFI was assessed; and the name and address of the person reporting the AEFI; and the name of any vaccines given that may potentially be associated with the AEFI. This change came into effect January 1, 2018. The AEFI form is located at the following address:
  http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Report_Adverse_Event_Following_Immunization_Form_fillable_2013.pdf

As per the revised Ontario Regulation 135/18 (formerly 559/91) and amendments under the HPPA, the attached list of specified diseases (PDF, 364 KB), or their etiologic agents, must be reported to the local Medical Officer of Health.

Diseases in bold with a must be reported immediately (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) by phone 705.522.9200 and after-hours, 705.688.4366 and fax to 705.677.9618 to the local Medical Officer of Health. Other diseases can be reported the next working day.

The HPPA and its regulations are available at: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h07.

For any questions, please contact the Control of Infectious Diseases program at 705.522.9200, ext. 301.

Sincerely,
Ariella Zbar, MD, CCFP, MPH, MBA, FRCPC
Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Clinical Services

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This item was last modified on May 30, 2018