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Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
B.C.‘s Interior health authority confirms additional measles cases
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Measles case confirmed in B.C. Interior; health authority warns of exposures
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Geoff Robins / The Canadian Press) Health officials in B.C.'s Interior say they have confirmed a single case of measles, the first one detected in the region this year. The case was confirmed in Kamloops, and officials are following up with individuals who are known to have been exposed, Interior Health said in a news release Tuesday. The health authority said the risk to the broader public is low, but there were several incidents last week during which the public may have been exposed to the disease. Those exposures included: June 16: Denny's Restaurant at 570 Columbia St., Kamloops from noon to 2:45 p.m. June 16: Aberdeen Mall at 1320 Trans-Canada Hwy., Kamloops from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 16: Earls Restaurant at 1210 Summit Dr., Kamloops from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. June 16: Shoppers Drug Mart at 1210 Summit Dr., Kamloops from 9:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. June 18: Castles and Cottages at 347 Victoria St., Kamloops from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 'Individuals exposed to the measles virus should monitor for symptoms that may develop up to three weeks after being exposed,' Interior Health said, in the release. 'These include fever, dry cough, runny nose and red eyes; followed a few days later by a rash that usually starts on the face and spreads rapidly down to the rest of the body.' Most people in Canada are immune to measles due to immunization or previous infection. However, the prevalence of the disease has been increasing in recent years as vaccination rates have dropped. In B.C., the vaccination rate among seven-year-olds was 72.4 per cent in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. That's down from a rate of 90.9 per cent a decade earlier. Alberta and Ontario have been dealing with large outbreaks this year, with 1,050 cases confirmed in the former and 2,188 reported in the latter as of those provinces' most recent updates. B.C. has seen a relatively lighter caseload, with just 32 cases reported so far in 2025, though the newly confirmed Interior case is not included in that total. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control also notes that in the Northern Health region – where the majority of confirmed cases are located – the total is undercounted. 'Currently, there have been 20 confirmed cases in Northern Health,' the agency says on its website. 'This number only captures a subset of the actual cases as some communities have a large disease burden, and not everyone is presenting to Northern Health for diagnosis and health care support.' Read more: Northern Health ramping up vaccine availability as measles cases may be undercounted Interior Health says people exposed to measles who were born in 1970 or later and have not had two doses of measles vaccine should get a booster dose. Certain people – specifically those who are pregnant, babies less than six months old and people with certain immune conditions – should not get the measles vaccine, but can receive a medication that can prevent measles after exposure. Anyone who has been exposed to the disease and has not been vaccinated or is unsure of their vaccination status should call 1-855-549-6364 and leave a message, Interior Health said. To book a vaccination appointment in Kamloops, call public health at 250-851-7300, the health authority added. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel
Toronto Star
20-06-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
New measles cases increase for third week in northern Ontario public health unit
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Halton Region warns of potential measles exposure in Oakville
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins Halton Region says it is investigating a confirmed case of measles in Oakville. Halton Region Public Health (HRPH) did not release further details about the case but said possible exposure may have occurred at 3075 Hospital Gate in the North Oakville Medical Building, near Dundas Street West, on June 12 from 2:10 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. HRPH says measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads 'easily' through the air and any visitors to the building during the noted times should check their immunization records and watch for measles symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Symptoms include a high fever, a red and blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and small, white spots on the inside of the mouth. Public Health Ontario (PHO) says a total of 2,083 confirmed and probable measles cases have been reported in the province since an outbreak began in October 2024. Earlier this month, an infant in southwestern Ontario who contracted measles from their mother before birth and was born prematurely died.
Toronto Sun
06-06-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Don't know if you've been vaccinated against measles? Get a shot, doctors urge
Published Jun 06, 2025 • 3 minute read A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont., on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Photo by Geoff Robins / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Public health doctors say if people don't know if they've been vaccinated against measles, they should get a shot. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, says people should try their best to find their vaccine records and ask their doctors. People born before 1970 are presumed to have been exposed to measles and likely to have some immunity, she says. But if people were born in 1970 or later and really have no idea if they were vaccinated, there is no harm in getting a dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to ensure they are protected as Canada continues to see a rising number of cases, Tam says. The exception is pregnant women, because the MMR vaccine isn't recommended during pregnancy as it contains live virus that could theoretically be transmitted to the fetus. Tam says it's vital for women of childbearing age to be vaccinated ahead of time because a measles infection can cause severe complications for both the mom and baby. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She says if someone is already pregnant and thinks they might have been exposed to measles, they should talk to their health-care provider. Dr. Sarah Wilson, a physician with Public Health Ontario, says a blood test, known as serology, can be used to see if a pregnant person has antibodies to measles. 'If there is uncertainty as to whether or not they've ever had an MMR vaccine, offering serology can be helpful to understand (if) this person (is) susceptible or not, so that if they are ever exposed to measles, they can very quickly be offered something called post-exposure prophylaxis to help reduce the risk of measles,' Wilson said. But for most people who aren't sure of their vaccination status, getting a measles shot is preferable to getting a blood test to check for measles immunity, both Wilson and Tam said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That's because the time lapse between getting the test and waiting for the results is a missed opportunity to get vaccinated sooner, they said. Tam said Canada has enough MMR vaccine to meet an increased demand for the shot. As summer approaches and people prepare to travel — both within Canada and to foreign countries — making sure you get a measles shot if you're unvaccinated or unsure should be part of the plan, Tam said. 'Get ready to get vaccinated as early as possible, but I think the important point is if you really left it to the last minute, still go and get it,' she said. 'Even the last-minute immunization will offer some protection during that trip, but also it can protect you into the future.' Tam said being vaccinated against measles also helps protect others who can't be immunized, including pregnant women, children under six months old and some people who are immunocompromised. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Babies usually don't get their first dose of MMR vaccine until they're 12 months old, but public health officials have lowered the age to six months in communities where there is a measles outbreak, including in southwestern Ontario. The devastating effects of the rise of measles in that hard-hit region became clear on Thursday, when the Ontario's chief medical officer of health announced a baby who was born prematurely and infected while in the womb had died. Dr. Kieran Moore noted that the infant also faced other medical complications unrelated to the virus. Tam and Wilson both expressed their condolences to the grieving family. 'That was very sad news,' said Tam. 'I think it's telling us that we've all got to be very vigilant about measles in our communities.' Read More For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to – a member of the Postmedia Network. Olympics Toronto & GTA Columnists NHL Editorial Cartoons
