With measles cases rising, Southwestern Public Health steps up immunizations

In a move to curb a measles outbreak that is hitting kids particularly hard, Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) is expanding its vaccination program to include a first dose for infants aged six to 11 months. 

"Measles is in our community, this is a concerning outbreak," said Dr. Ninh Tran, the region's medical officer of health. 

As of Feb. 26, 177 cases of measles have been detected in the province since Oct. 28, 2024. SWPH declared a measles outbreak in late January. According to the latest numbers posted last week, 110 cases have been reported to the local health unit since October. Nine of those cases have resulted in hospitalizations, with eight coming since the new year.

Of the 177 cases tracked province-wide since the outbreak began, 141 were in children and adolescents. Also, 98 per cent of people who've contracted measles in this outbreak are unvaccinated against the disease. 

Tran said the infant vaccinations being offered by SWPH are a new option for parents to guard against the highly contagious respiratory virus. Generally, toddlers get their first dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine on their first birthday, followed by a booster when they turn four. 

Tran said the doses at ages one and four are still recommended, with the infant vaccinations added as a new option to protect children quickly during this outbreak. 

"Having one dose provides a significant amount of protection versus having no doses," said Tran. "Infants are one of highest risk groups." 

The new appointments for babies up to 11 months old are available for residents of Oxford and Elgin Counties and the city of St. Thomas.

The health unit has also posted information about recent exposures to measles. One exposure happened at East Elgin Community Complex and Arena on Feb. 15. Other transmissions have been traced to local hospital emergency departments. 

While death is rare in measles cases, it can cause long-standing health problems, particularly for people in high-risk groups, including children, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. 

"This is something no parent would want to see their children get," said Tran.  

Measles can lead to long-term health effects

Speaking Monday on CBC's The Current, Dr. Dawn Bowdish, an Associate Professor at McMaster University, said measles can spread rapidly in communities with low vaccination rates. 

It can also take up to three weeks before an infected person shows symptoms.

"A person could be walking around, breathing out the virus, and somebody could pick it up before they even know they're sick," said Bowdish.

"It stays in the air for a really long time. You can walk into a room where someone was breathing an hour ago and still get it." 

Also, once patients recover, they can be left with long-lasting health effects, including a compromised immune system.

"It's not just the acute phase of measles that's dangerous," said Bowdish. "It's this post-measles phase where there are more health concerns. Just because kids don't die doesn't mean they won't be carrying the scars of this infection for a really long time or forever."

Laura Taylor, who has a nine-month-old son, made sure to get her child vaccinated. She lives in Aylmer, Ont., where health officials say exposure happened at a local community centre and arena. 

"It's definitely very scary, seeing the cases pop up on Facebook," she said. "There are more and more cases, and it's closer to home." 

Recently, her son contracted a fever, and although it wasn't connected to measles, she said the recent rise in cases was enough to cause her unease. 

"The thought crosses your mind, that fear of knowing something's close by in the community," she said.

Misinformation on social media

Emma Arthur is a registered practical nurse who lives in Ingersoll, Ont. She's studying to get her bachelor of science in nursing degree to pursue a career in public health. 

She's frustrated at seeing the spread of a disease that had been declared eradicated in Canada back in 1999 due to widespread immunization. 

Arthur is also frustrated by the misinformation about the disease being shared on social media. 

"Misinformation can spread like wildfire, and so can the measles," she said. 

Information about measles, including how to get vaccinated, is posted on the SWPH's website.