Measles outbreak will continue unless more people get vaccinated: Sask. chief medical officer

There have been 37 reported measles cases in Saskatchewan from mid-March to mid-May this year, Saskatchewan's chief medical officer said at a news conference Friday, compared to only two cases from 2015 to 2024.

Dr. Saqib Shahab said cases have been confirmed in people from five months to 57 years old.  

"Many families are still not accepting vaccines despite public health staff reaching out to them locally," Shahab said. He said that most new cases are in unvaccinated people in the southern rural parts of the province.

"This means that the measles outbreak will continue. Hospitalizations will continue. Exposure to persons at higher risk, including infants under one, unvaccinated pregnant women, and immunocompromised [people] who are at higher risk for severe complications, will continue," Shahab said. 

Of the 37 cases, four were hospitalized. 

Shahab said 70 per cent of the reported cases are school-aged children and younger adults, and 95 per cent of cases were in unvaccinated individuals. 

"Canada eliminated local transmission of measles in 1998. Since then, the only cases we would see would be individuals who have travelled to other parts of the world [and] came back," he said.

"So this is extremely unusual for Saskatchewan and is extremely unusual for Canada as a whole."

In Ontario and New Brunswick, children are required to have proof of immunization for measles, or have a valid exemption on file, to attend school. That's not the case in Saskatchewan, where children don't need to be vaccinated to attend school. 

"In our experience, we have had a vaccination rate of 91 per cent when children start school. So we have not felt the need to have mandatory vaccination," said Shahab.

When asked why he thinks people might not be getting vaccinated, Shahab said some people may think that diseases like measles are no longer a danger, which he said is incorrect. 

"People may have concerns about the vaccines, but these vaccines, all vaccines, including the measles vaccine, are extremely safe and effective. And if you have questions, please talk to your health-care provider," Shahab said. 

He also said there is a lot of misinformation about vaccination going around that people should protect themselves from. 

Shahab estimates there are around 20,000 to 30,000 unvaccinated people in the province, and while vaccine uptake has been increasing over the last two months, it isn't enough to stop the outbreak and community transmission, he said.

If an unvaccinated person develops a fever, cough, red eyes and runny nose, it could be the onset of a measles infection, said Shahab. A rash develops behind the ears, face, and moves to the rest of the body two or three days after the symptoms begin. 

"It is important to isolate as soon as symptoms start at home, not go to daycare or school, and continue isolating for at least four days after the start of the rash," Shahab said. He also said it's important to inform health authorities where you have been, so they can warn the public about possible exposures.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority says while measles has no known treatment, the vaccine is almost 100 per cent effective at preventing measles after two doses.