Please see below for important updates on reporting and communications with Hamilton Public Health Services during the ongoing cyber security incident.
Changes since the March 4th advisory include:
- New phone number for reporting rabies exposures, bites or other animal incidents during business hours (905-977-8193)
- Clarification for reporting Diseases of Public Health Significance
- Direction for corresponding with Infectious Disease Program
- Interim phone number for Sexual Health Information Line
Current Situation
- The City of Hamilton is continuing to experience a network outage related to a cybersecurity incident.
- 905-546-CITY (2489) phoneline is operational, Public Health Services phonelines and faxes remain nonfunctional.
Action Required from 21-Mar-2024 until the network outage is resolved
Reportable Diseases
Please report any suspect or confirmed cases of the diseases listed in Appendix A below or their etiologic agents specified in O. Reg. 135/18 Designation of Diseases under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7.
For laboratories, please print ALL reports of Diseases of Public Health Significance and send by mail.
Mailing Address:
ATTN: Infectious Disease Program
4th Floor, Public Health Reception
100 Main St W
Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6
In addition to mailing ALL reports of Diseases of Public Health Significance, please provide a verbal report of diseases that require immediate and same-day notification (see Appendix A below).
- During regular business hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm- verbally report diseases that require immediate and same-day reporting by calling 365-324-2467 (see Appendix A below).
- •After hours and Weekends- call 905-546-CITY (2489) to speak with the on-call Public Health Nurse or Public Health Inspector. Please follow the usual after-hours procedure for diseases that require reporting after-hours.
Contacting the Infectious Disease, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Outbreak Programs including to report outbreaks or for general inquiries
- During regular business hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, please call 365-323-8170
- After hours and Weekends- call 905-546-CITY (2489) to speak with the on-call Public Health Nurse or Public Health Inspector. Please follow the after-hours procedure for diseases that require reporting after-hours.
Contacting the Sexual Health Team
- During regular business hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, please call 289-440-1849
- NOTE: if you are attempting to submit documents with personal health information (i.e. surveillance reports), please send by mail to the mailing address listed above. Do not send via e-mail.
Rabies exposures, bites or other animal contact incidents
- During Regular Business Hours- To report an incident during business hours, please call 905-977-8193.
- After Hours and Weekends – To report a rabies incident outside of business hours, please call the City of Hamilton Public Health Inspector on-call at 905-546-CITY (2489).
STI Medication and Vaccine Ordering
- Please send STI Medication Order Forms and Vaccine Order Forms by email to publichealth.medorders@hamilton.ca
- *Please do not include any personal health information or personal information on the STI Medication and/or Vaccine Order Forms.
Vaccine Records & Adverse Events Following Immunization Reporting
- Please advise your patients to refrain from faxing their vaccine records to HPHS.
- Individuals can report their vaccines online at http://www.hamilton.ca/vaccines
- Vaccine records can also be dropped off in-person at 110 King St. W. 2nd Floor reception Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- To report an Adverse Event Following Immunization or Cold Chain Failures, call 905-961-5057.
- If you need to speak to Vaccine Program staff regarding reporting vaccine records, vaccine record interpretation, or ordering vaccines through special order, please call 905-961-5057 during business hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
For any Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) referrals:
If you have any questions about this advisory, please call: 365-323-8170