Measles is up 500% in Ontario alone. In the last week alone, the province has recorded more than 100 new infections. In the latest release, Public Health Ontario reports the high number of aggregate confirmed and suspected cases at 572 cases. This increased demand kicked off with the war breakout in October. This fast growth really only affects the Southwestern and Grand Erie public health units. At the same time, emerging outbreaks elsewhere in the country are being watched very carefully.
In just the past week, Chatham-Kent has seen an almost doubling of cases to 39. In contrast, Huron Perth is struggling with 55 people active. The outbreak has spread beyond Peel into Waterloo and Lambton, playing a major role in the province’s horrific numbers. Public health officials are gravely alarmed. The total hospitalized has risen to 42, and two patients are currently in intensive care.
Even adjacent provinces are vulnerable to spillover. To date, Alberta has seen 18 confirmed cases, mostly affecting younger children. In stark contrast, Quebec’s numbers are steady at 40 cases for a second week in a row. Though public health officials are doing everything they can to control the spread, continued vigilance through heightened monitoring is key to stopping this situation from worsening.
As the World Health Organization puts it, we are dealing with a pathogenic virus of remarkable resiliency. It can remain airborne for up to two hours, and on contaminated surfaces for much longer. This feature highlights how imperative it is to stay on top of good hygiene habits like hand washing and keeping vaccinated in order to stop transmission.
