Ontario measles outbreak: over 600 cases but fewer new infections reported

Ontario continues to deal with a large measles outbreak. Last week, 89 cases were reported, bringing the total since last fall to 661. However, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said that the rate of spread of the disease is beginning to stabilize, with fewer new infections than in previous weeks. The outbreak has been traced to a large Mennonite gathering in New Brunswick last fall. Cases were initially reported in southwestern Ontario, spreading later to the rest of the province. In Ottawa, health officials are closely monitoring the situation, but so far, the city seems to have escaped the outbreak. This might be due to its higher vaccination rates.
Most infections in Ontario happen among unimmunized people, both children and adults. However, over 75% of cases were among infants, children, and adolescents. There have been no deaths linked to the current outbreak, but 52 cases required hospitalization. Canada is believed to have eliminated measles in the late 1990s thanks to successful vaccination campaigns. In recent years, however, the pandemic and growing vaccine misinformation have created gaps in public immunity, especially among children, leading to a return of the disease. Public Health Ontario recommends all healthcare workers check their measles vaccination status and wear N95 masks when dealing with suspected or confirmed cases.