Group B Streptococcal Disease of the Newborn (GBS)

January 13, 2026

 

Unless stated otherwise, the NWT 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.

See Alberta Public Health Disease Management Guidelines: Group B Streptococcal Disease of the Newborn (GBS).

CASE DEFINITION

In the NWT, for the purposes of case definition, a neonate is defined as an infant less than one month of age (Public Health Agency of Canada, national notifiable case definitions)

REPORTING

All HCPs must follow the NWT Public Health Act. Measures for contact tracing and 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.

Laboratories

  • Report all positive results to the OCPHO by fax (867) 873-0442 within 24 hours

PUBLIC & HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

For more information on Group B Streptococcal Disease of the Newborn (GBS):

EPIDEMIOLOGY