School principals are required, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O., 1990, Chapter H7, to report any student that is suspected or confirmed to be ill with a disease of public health significance to the Medical Officer of Health.
Download the Diseases of Public Health Significance List .
How to report a disease of public health significance
Call the Reportable Disease and Outbreak Reporting Line at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4752. After business hours, on weekends and on statutory holidays, call 1-877-884-8653.
When reporting, include the following details:
- Student’s name
- Parent/guardian’s name
- Date of birth
- Disease (specify if suspect or confirmed)
- Student’s address
- Telephone number for parent/guardian and/or students 14 years of age or older
- Physician‘s name (if known)
- Name of person reporting, school and contact information
Our role includes:
- Investigating and managing reports of diseases of public health significance
- Making recommendations to healthcare providers on managing cases (people who get sick) and contacts of cases
- Offering immunization and recommendations on preventative medication/immunization for case contacts (people in contact with those who are sick)
- Providing guidelines for how long sick students and staff should be kept home from school or work
- Providing advisories for diseases of public health significance to the school for students, parents and staff