Written by Alexia Baggetta

Infographic by Mehmet Oner

With six of nine confirmed measles cases in the province affecting unvaccinated individuals, health officials are urgently advising travellers to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the disease. 

Ontario Measles Update

Data from Public Health Ontario (PHO) shows at least one confirmed case in every health unit across the province, except for Toronto Public Health (TPH), where two cases have been confirmed. Of these cases, three individuals required hospitalization. 

The latest update shows seven measles cases are linked to travel outside Canada, while two cases have unknown sources of exposure, with no travel history or links to the confirmed cases. 

Ontario’s top doctor, Dr. Kieran Moore, told CBC that vaccination is key to avoiding the disease, emphasizing that outbreaks can happen when unvaccinated or otherwise susceptible people travel to and from countries where the virus is circulating.

Vaccination Rates in Children

In a report by PHO, vaccination rates against measles have been mostly declining among kids, especially in the Greater Toronto Area. These declining rates are raising concerns among some of the public regarding the potential for increased measles outbreaks.

“It’s up to parents to keep their kids up to date on their vaccines,” David Colander, a resident in the Peel region said. “They don’t know any better,” he said. 

The report also said the percentage of seven-year-olds fully vaccinated for measles dropped from 80.2 per cent in the 2019-2020 school year to 38.9 per cent in the 2021-2022 school year. The gap is similar in Peel Region, where rates have fallen from 77.7 to 37.2 percent in the same time period.

What You Can Look Out For

Health officials are recommending to check immunization records to make sure they are up to date on their measles vaccines, especially if summer vacation plans are in the works. Ontario residents are eligible for free measles vaccination. 

Symptoms to be aware of include: high fever, cold-like symptoms, cough, runny nose, small spots with white centers inside the mouth, sore eyes or sensitivity to light and a red, blotchy rash lasting four to seven days. 

Not Everybody is Concerned

Despite these urgent warnings, some individuals like Anthony Tamburro, a resident and daily commuter in the York Region area, are not overly concerned about the disease. 

“This is unlike COVID-19 where we weren’t too sure what to expect. Measles have been around forever, and we’ve had vaccines for just as long,” Tamburro said. 

“If you’re vaccinated, there’s absolutely no reason for concern in my book.”