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Measles Outbreak in Ontario Linked to New Brunswick Gathering

A notable outbreak of measles in Ontario has been traced back to a significant event held last fall within the Mennonite community in New Brunswick, as reported by the province’s chief medical officer of health.

In correspondence sent earlier this month to health units across Ontario, Dr. Kieran Moore highlighted the surge in measles cases, particularly in southwestern Ontario, where over 90 percent of those affected are unvaccinated individuals.

“The potential for further spread exists in unvaccinated communities, notably impacting some Mennonite, Amish, and other Anabaptist groups due to low vaccination rates coupled with recent exposures to measles in select areas,” Dr. Moore articulated in his letter.

As of February 26, the outbreak has resulted in 177 confirmed cases across the province, with a considerable concentration of these cases reported in the Grand Erie and Southwestern Public Health units.

Moore also noted that there have been additional reported cases and exposures in Manitoba, attributed to family visits from Ontario.

Expectations of further spread are heightened due to possible exposures tied to travel during the March break. In light of this, healthcare professionals are encouraged to consider measles in their differential diagnoses, particularly for patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms who have recently been in high-risk regions.

Measles Outbreak Details

New Brunswick officials declared their own outbreak on November 1, 2024. During this period, health workers successfully traced contacts with 266 individuals and administered vaccinations to 239 people across 30 clinics. This outbreak culminated in 50 cases before it was officially regarded as over on January 7.

Throughout Canada, measles—despite being preventable through vaccination—continues to spread. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reports that there have been 369 confirmed cases in the country since the start of the year, as of March 18.

The measles vaccine is routinely available in Canada in various forms, such as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, or the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Efficacy rates are reported to be between 85 to 95 percent following the administration of the first dose at 12 or 15 months of age, which reaches nearly 100 percent effectiveness with a second dose, according to PHAC.

For additional information regarding vaccination eligibility and to verify if your vaccinations are current, click here.

Source
globalnews.ca