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.

The most current information for the NWT can be accessed from the following link: Respiratory Illnesses.

See Alberta Public Health Disease Management Guidelines: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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.

Note: the only acceptable methods of reporting to the OCPHO are outlined below.  Information provided outside of these methods will not be considered reported unless otherwise stated by a CPHO delegate.

Health Care Professionals

For Part 2 written report within 24 hours

• Confirmed Case:
  • Immediately report all deaths of a patient diagnosed with RSV, whether RSV 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 RSV or RSV-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 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV):

NWT:

• 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):
• Updated guidance on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for older adults and for adults at high risk of severe RSV disease (PDF)
  • Summary of updated guidance on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for older adults and for adults at high risk of severe RSV disease
• Updated guidance to protect infants and children from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease: Use of monoclonal antibodies (nirsevimab and clesrovimab) and the RSVpreF vaccine (PDF)
  • Summary of updated guidance to protect infants and children from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease: Use of monoclonal antibodies (nirsevimab and clesrovimab) and the RSVpreF vaccine
• Public Health Agency of Canada: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): For health professionals

Other Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

EPIDEMIOLOGY

• For information on the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the NWT see: Epidemiological Summary of Communicable Diseases HSS Professionals.