Measles continues to be a grave health risk in Ontario. This is in contrast to recent reports indicating a shocking 173 new cases. The outbreak began in October of 2022. As of August 26th, we’ve verified a total of 1,795 measles cases. Public health officials can directly connect most of the infections to unvaccinated people.
This recent outbreak is part of a larger resurgence of measles in Canada. Alberta is having an especially bad outbreak, recently reporting more than 500 cases since March. This local transmission highlights the critical role vaccines play in stopping disease transmission before it spreads.
In Ontario, the fallout from the outbreak has been dire. At least 129 people have needed hospitalization because of measles-related complications. One hundred ten patients have been admitted to intensive care units. This should give everyone pause, as it highlights just how sick these migrants are.
Health authorities warn that unvaccinated people are at greatest risk of getting measles. The virus, which is extremely contagious, spreads through the air via droplets when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. The unvaccinated and under-vaccinated are most at risk in communities where outbreaks happen.
The deadly and highly contagious reality we now face has inspired unprecedented public health advocacy communications focused on raising awareness related to the criticality of immunization. Health officials are encouraging parents to avoid waiting and make sure their kids receive vaccinations on time. This not only keeps their families safe, but protects the whole community.
As new strains of the outbreak emerge and change, public officials continue to monitor case numbers and increase vaccination efforts. Measles threatens the health of patients. It can exacerbate broader public health disasters when an outbreak occurs in a community with low vaccination rates.
