This month, Minister Josie Osborne made public one of the most urgent challenges facing British Columbia’s health system. At this moment, ten patients are hospitalized with measles. The province has gone from OMG to an incredible spike in cases. In under a month, the cumulative number of cases has more than doubled! As of the beginning of this week, health officials had confirmed 102 cases of measles so far this year. This increase has set off national alarm bells for public health officials.
Osborne affirmed that one of these behaviors is, in legal terms, “active and contagious,” making the case for public health even stronger. The minister made an important observation. No longer just brought into British Columbia by travelers returning from abroad, measles is now circulating in our own communities. This unprecedented wave of immigration has understandably raised serious alarm. Meanwhile, Alberta has romped past 1,246 infections since March and Ontario is in the throes of its own very serious outbreak as exemplified by 1,910 cases.
Risks and Vulnerable Populations
The current outbreak poses particular risks to certain segments of the population. Adults and children younger than five years are at increased risk for severe disease from measles. The same is true for the immunocompromised and pregnant women. The most common symptom is a painful rash, which usually appears two to four days after symptoms begin. It starts on the face and then descends to the body.
Osborne added that vaccination is still the best protection against these types of outbreaks. She stated, “Vaccination really is the only really very effective and safe way to build immunity against the disease.” These feelings are part of an international wave. As vaccination coverage rates drop, we see increasing case counts and large outbreaks in many countries.
The health minister asked local residents to be proactive and look into their immunization history to make sure they’re up-to-date on all of their vaccines. She spoke about the significance of that Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. It keeps us safe as individuals and in terms of the broader community.
“It’s not appropriate for politicians or for people not with the expertise to be drawing conclusions that simply are misguided or plain wrong,” – Josie Osborne.
Community Response and Public Awareness
Premier David Eby spoke to the growing number of cases. He referred to the situation as “the sadly predictable outcome” of this increase in vaccine hesitancy. For this reason and many others, health officials are more concerned than ever about vaccine misinformation. This inaccurate information can deter people from getting immunized.
Health experts have long been banging the drum about the need to vaccinate high percentages of the population if we want to get to herd immunity. The MMR vaccine isn’t safe and effective just in theory—it saves lives. When misinformation creates hesitancy, the resulting distrust can spark outbreaks, such as the one now hitting British Columbia.
Health authorities have responded by working efficiently to contain the outbreak. Simultaneously, they are helping to increase awareness among the public of the great need for vaccination. Community outreach programs are expected to play a crucial role in educating residents about the risks associated with measles and reinforcing the call for vaccination.
