Health and Social Services
Infectious Disease Outbreaks Information for Health Professionals
Welcome to the Yukon‘s Resource page for the Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Tools and strategies for front-line clinicians online course. This course helps clinicians prepare for, detect and respond to notifiable, emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases. It identifies best practices on how clinicians, public health, and laboratory professionals can work together to address infectious disease outbreaks effectively and efficiently.
The course describes best practices by way of four case studies, and links back to each province and territory so that front-line clinicians may find specific information for their region. This resource page is designed to provide Yukon-specific information all in one place, such as how to contact your local Medical Officer of Health.
This course was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Public Health Association and Memorial University, and is approved by the Public Health Network Council. This CME course is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. You can access the course by visiting: http://www.publichealth.gc.ca/outbreaks-course
General outline of the basic reporting duties of clinicians as per the public health and communicable diseases legislation
Public Health and Safety Act, R.S.Y. 2002, c. 176
"communicable disease" means a disease listed in the For the Control of Communicable Diseases, Regulations, Y.C.O. 1961/048
Basic reporting duties of physicians
Notification and Treatment, For the Control of Communicable Diseases, Regulations, Section 5 (1)(2)(3)
A medical practitioner who believes that a patient has a communicable disease shall advise the patient, any persons attending him and any known contacts or carriers, to adopt the specific control measures for such disease and shall give them the necessary instructions. A medical practitioner shall immediately notify a Medical Health Officer of the action taken and shall provide any further information as required.
Medical Health Officer may compel assistance
For the Control of Communicable Diseases, Regulations, Section 17 (1)(2)
A Medical Health Officer may give any direction that he deems necessary to enforce these regulations and every person shall obey these directions.
Medical Health Officer
How to contact the Medical Health Officer in Yukon.
First Nations and Inuit Health Regional (FNIH) Medical Officer
There is not a FNIH Regional Medical Officer in Yukon. If a member of the First Nations or Inuit community is diagnosed with an infectious disease, the same process will be followed as for a non-First Nations or Inuit person.
How the Yukon Medical Health Officer communicates information to clinicians
Yukon's Medical Officer of Health communicates information to clinicians via memo, letter and/or email.
How the First Nations and Inuit Health Regional Medical Officers communicate with FNIH clinical staff
Not applicable. There is not a FNIH Medical Officer in Yukon.
Yukon pandemic plan
The Government of Yukon is in the process of developing the Yukon Pandemic Plan. In the interim, refer to the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan.
Yukon's Public Information Line
For health information and advice Yukoners can call 811 to access the Yukon HealthLine. The Yukon HealthLine is staffed by registered nurses and other health professionals. 811 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 200 languages. It is a free confidential service.
Public Information Lines for First Nations and Inuit Health staff
Not applicable.
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