August 19, 2026

Unless stated otherwise, the GNWT Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is using the information regarding case definition, diagnosis, overview of communicable disease and public health measures found in the Alberta Health Services Public Health Disease Management Guidelines.

Note: Any additional information that is NWT specific will be found on this page and supersedes the direction provided in the Alberta Health Services resource. This includes but is not limited to reporting requirements and specified public health measures set out below.

Information on respiratory illness, including Influenza and resources for the NWT can be found here: Respiratory Illnesses.

See Alberta Public Health Disease Management Guidelines: Influenza.

Link: Notifiable disease guidelines

REPORTING

All HCPs must follow the NWT Public Health Act. Legislative requirements are laid out within the Reportable Disease Control Regulations and reporting timelines are found in the Disease Surveillance Regulations.

Health Care Professionals

For Part 2 written report within 24 hours

• Confirmed Case:
  • Immediately report all deaths of a patient diagnosed with influenza, whether influenza was the cause of death or a contributing factor, MUST be reported to the OCPHO via the OCPHO Reporting Line (867) 920-8646.
• Outbreak or suspected outbreak:
  • Immediately report all outbreaks of confirmed influenza or influenza-like illness by telephone (867)-920-8646 to the OCPHO and if in a facility follow the Reporting of Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks algorithm and Guidelines on the use of oseltamivir in long-term care facilities
• Laboratories
  • Report all positive results to the OCPHO by fax (867) 873-0442 within 24 hours

PUBLIC & HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

For more information on Influenza:

NWT:

• Guidelines For the use of Oseltamivir in Long-term care facilities
• Information for Health Professionals: Respiratory Illnesses
• NWT Immunization Schedule Health Professionals
• 811 Health Advice Line
• DHSS Outbreak Management
• NTHSSA Outbreak Management Documents
• Reporting of Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks
• Wastewater Monitoring

Alberta Health Services:

• Alberta public health disease management guidelines: Guide For Outbreak Prevention and Control in Continuing Care Homes

Government of Canada:

• Canadian Immunization Guide
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI):
• Public Health Agency of Canada: Canadian Respiratory Surveillance Report
• Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada
• Seasonal Influenza Update 2025-26

EPIDEMIOLOGY

• For information on the epidemiology of Influenza in the NWT see: Epidemiological Summary of Communicable Diseases HSS Professionals.