Hemorrhagic Fevers

• Case counts (2016-2025), population estimates (2016-2023), & population projections (2024-2025): Public Health Ontario.
• Query: Case counts of reportable diseases by public health unit and year. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; extracted on March 9, 2026.

Public Health Agency of Canada:

• Ebola disease: Symptoms and treatment  
• Lassa Fever
• Marburg virus disease
• Dengue fever
• Yellow fever
• Rift valley fever fact sheet 

World Health Organization:

•  Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Arenaviruses
• About Kyasanur Forest Disease
• About Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever

Only yellow fever is preventable by vaccination. Check your vaccination records or call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5252 to obtain information about where to receive a yellow fever vaccination.

Public Health Ontario’s Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Risk Assessment Tool can be used to support clinicians in conducting a comprehensive clinical risk assessment for VHF including evaluation of the patient’s clinical presentation, travel to areas with endemic VHF or suspected/confirmed outbreaks, and relevant exposures within 21 days of symptom onset. A positive response in a single section should not be used on its own to indicate VHF suspicion. Clinicians should base decisions regarding VHF suspicion on the overall clinical risk assessment.

See also: Public Health Ontario’s VHF Triage Assessment Algorithm.

Acute Care: Infection Prevention and Control Management of VHF in Acute Care

• Summary of IPAC Recommendations for Preventing VHF Transmission in Acute Care
• Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Specimen Collection and Handling in Acute Care Settings

Pre-Hospital Care and Ground Transport: Infection Prevention and Control Management of VHF in Pre-Hospital Care and Ground Transport

Donning and Doffing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Putting On/Taking Off PPE with N95 Respiratory for Unstable or Confirmed Cases of VHF
• Putting On/Taking Off PPE with Powered Air Purifying Respirators for Unstable or Confirmed Cases of VHF
• Putting On/Taking Off PPE when Observing Health Care Workers

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers are a Risk Group 4 Pathogen. In accordance with Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, shipping clinical specimens suspected of Risk Group 4 pathogens require Category A packaging (section 2.36) and an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) (section 7.2(1)(g)).

Before collecting specimens, the clinician should complete the Public Health Ontario’s Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Risk Assessment Tool and consult with the Ministry of Health as per the Notification Pathway for Special Pathogens.

For more information see Public Health Ontario’s:

• Test Information Index: Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Viruses (e.g., Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, Crimean-Congo) - PCR
• Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for VHF Specimen Collection and Handling in Acute Care Setting
• Clinical Laboratory Biosafety Measures in VHF Investigations

The Ebola Vaccine (Ervebo®) is authorized in Canada but is currently not available or recommended for Canadians as part of routine immunization or for vaccination prior to travel. The vaccine should be offered as post-exposure prophylaxis to persons who have been exposed to Ebola Virus Disease (Orthoebolavirus zairense) and is available via the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile. See the Canadian Immunization Guide: Ebola virus vaccine for additional information. 

Ministry of Health Infectious Diseases Protocol, Appendix 1, Disease: Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers caused by i) Ebola virus, ii) Marburg virus, iii) Lassa virus, or (iv) Other viral agents including arenaviruses, bunyaviruses, filoviruses, and flaviviruses