Latest news with #KieranMoore
Globe and Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Fault lines
The quiet streets of Taber, a small town in Southern Alberta, still hold reminders of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taped to the windows of the Taber town office and a local bank are posters that encourage physical distancing. Pinned to the fence of a home near the only major highway that runs through the town is an anti-Trudeau tarp expressing support for protestors during the 2022 Coutts border blockade who opposed vaccine mandates. Now, persistent anti-vaccine sentiment in this area is playing a role in the spread of a different virus. Measles, long considered eliminated in Canada with the advent of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in the 1970s, has had a revival domestically and globally owing to lower childhood vaccination rates. Canada's outbreak began last October in New Brunswick and has spread to multiple provinces. One premature baby infected with measles in utero died recently in Ontario, the first fatality linked to the outbreak. Alberta and Ontario have recorded the highest numbers of people infected, with more than 3,000 cases between them, mostly among unimmunized children. Alberta, however, has the highest number of cases per capita at 20.1 per 100,000 people, followed by 12.9 in Ontario. Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Kieran Moore, wrote in a March memo to local medical officers of health that the provincial outbreak had been traced back to 'an exposure at a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick last fall.' Officials have not identified the source of Alberta's cases. The outbreak in Alberta is concentrated in the South Zone, the area south of Calgary that includes Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, as well as many smaller towns and rural communities. Roughly 68 per cent of the provincial caseload of 984 is in this region. Taber sits at the epicentre of the outbreak. On a recent spring afternoon, Cam Hazell, a pharmacist at Johnson's Drugs in Taber's town centre, said it's no shock the area is seeing an uptick in measles cases. He's seen children with visible rashes around town. Mr. Hazell said vaccine uptake in general has declined significantly since COVID, and that the pandemic drove people into one of two camps: pro- or anti-vaccine. 'Everything is so polarized,' he said, adding it's a difficult, even borderline impossible, task to change people's outlook on vaccines. 'People seem to be pretty entrenched in their views.' The Municipal District of Taber, which encompasses the town, has the lowest vaccination rate for young children in the South Zone, making it easy prey for the highly contagious virus. Only 28.7 per cent of children born in 2022 had the recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine by their second birthday in 2024, the latest provincial data show. While coverage was 83.2 per cent in 2024 for children who turned 17 that year, that was still nine percentage points lower than in 2019. Measles is easily transmissible, which means at least 95 per cent of the population must be immunized for herd immunity. Taber, a former coal-mining town nestled in Alberta's vast prairies, is best known for being the 'Corn Capital of Canada,' a nickname it earned for its famous, sweet crop. The landscape outside of the town is dotted with grain elevators and fields full of hay bales. This is the religious heartland of Alberta, a place deeply rooted in social conservatism. Taber and the surrounding municipal district have a population of roughly 18,000 people. A significant number of Low German-speaking Mennonites call the area home, and many of them have roots in Mexico. There are also a handful of Hutterite colonies outside of town and a notable Mormon population. The town was settled by Mormons in the early 20th century. The only obvious signs that the community is in the midst of Alberta's worst measles outbreak in nearly half a century are posters taped to the windows of the local hospital and clinics, which warn of the virus. The situation has grown so dire in Southern Alberta that the provincial health authority, Alberta Health Services (AHS), abandoned the use of public alerts to warn people of site-specific measles exposures. There is now a standing advisory in place, meaning anyone living in or visiting the area is at significant risk of being exposed. Prior to the change, alerts – which detail locations where someone with measles visited while infectious – were issued for a number of grocery stores in Taber, the local Aquafun Centre, a locally owned Mexican grocer, a Dollarama and a Shopper's Drug Mart. Standing outside of the No Frills grocery store, one of the previous exposure locations, Lisa Fehr, a mother of three, said it was December when she first heard of measles making its rounds. Family members of hers were sick with the virus. She also learned in her weekly moms group of other children falling ill. Her children, all aged 2 or younger, have been vaccinated. She isn't willing to take any risks, preferring to be in the company of those who are also protected against measles. Vaccination, she says, is a topic of contention in the community. 'It was a big, big thing, like, 'How dare you get the vaccine?' But it's like, why wouldn't I?' Ms. Fehr said. 'I'm not going to take any risks, especially when it comes to my kids. It was the same thing with the COVID vaccine.' People in Taber who spoke to The Globe and Mail had varied reactions to the measles outbreak. Some did not know it was occurring or said it was nothing to worry about. Others blamed people with certain religious or political views, a handful pointing directly at the Mennonite community. A mother of two, who was approached by The Globe and declined to provide her name, citing privacy reasons, was raised Mennonite. She said some church leaders preach that 'it's against their religion to get the vaccine and they're bound to hell if they do take it.' She said this is a more common stance among traditional Mennonites, stressing that there are varied perspectives and practices among the broader religious community. Tamara Miyanaga, reeve of the Municipal District of Taber, said she doesn't agree with people in the community who are identifying one culture as the root of the problem. 'There are other people, besides Low German Mennonites, who've chosen not to get vaccinated,' she said. Ms. Miyanaga added that some locals may be resistant to vaccination because they are unaware of the serious risk of measles, a virus that has been relatively dormant for decades, or do not have access to health care guidance in their language. Part of AHS's strategy to stifle measles in Southern Alberta is sharing information in Low German. This includes social-media infographics and a YouTube video that explain what measles is, its symptoms and how to stay safe, including by vaccination. There is also a helpline with Low German speakers. Public-health officials have also been working directly with affected communities, collaborating with physicians, public-health nurses and faith leaders to communicate the risks of measles. The focus in this part of Alberta has shifted from eliminating measles in the region to controlling its spread. Vivien Suttorp, AHS medical officer of health for the South Zone, said cases are significantly underreported and it's likely that tracked infections are just the 'tip of the iceberg.' Her team was prepared for measles to touch down in Southern Alberta. They didn't need a crystal ball – data on declining childhood vaccination rates and cases popping up globally made it inevitable. The last outbreak declared in the South Zone took place in October, 2013. Less than 50 cases were formally identified, the majority of which were among members of a religious community where immunization was not generally accepted, before it was confirmed over in January, 2014. Declining immunization rates compared with 10 years ago, in addition to increased travel, are reasons this outbreak can't be so easily contained, Dr. Suttorp said. She noted that there is an increasing number of sporadic cases with no known connection to the larger outbreak. There is no indication, she said, that the outbreak will be over soon. Canada declared measles eliminated in 1998 owing to widespread MMR vaccine coverage. If public health is unable to get measles under control by the fall, the country risks losing its status. In an effort to protect the vulnerable, visitor restrictions have been put in place at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and acute care units at the Brooks Health Centre and Taber Health Centre. All visitors under the age of 16 must provide proof of MMR vaccination to enter the neonatal intensive care, pediatric, maternal-child and labour delivery units. Critics of the province's response say these actions have come too late, with cases already surging in the region. At the entrance of the Taber Health Centre is a sign that, in all caps, warns people who have been exposed to measles not to enter. There is a separate entrance to avoid possibly infecting other patients. Yet there have still been multiple cases of individuals infected with measles, perhaps unknowingly, who have spent hours sitting in the emergency department – for nearly five hours on May 9, four hours on April 16 and three hours on March 11, according to public alerts. The measles virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room. Dr. Suttorp at AHS said the outbreak is causing strain on health care workers, especially those working in rural communities where there is limited staff. She said there are plans in place to open a measles assessment and treatment centre if existing sites are unable to manage. Vaccine outreach is focused on children, she said, because they are more at risk of serious complications from measles. Most children do recover, but some of the possible complications include immune amnesia, which essentially wipes out the body's immune memory, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but deadly brain disorder. Even if a child recovers from measles, SSPE can develop seven to 10 years later. 'All of a sudden, it impacts physically and mentally to a vegetative state, and then death. There is no treatment,' Dr. Suttorp explained during an interview at Chinook Hospital. Infants in the South Zone who are six months of age or older are eligible for an early dose of vaccine because of the severity of the outbreak. Ontario put similar measures in place in the southwestern part of the province, the hotbed of the measles resurgence. In May, the Alberta government broadened its measles awareness campaign to radio, print and digital platforms, in addition to adding more immunization appointments provincewide. Paul Parks, an emergency physician and past president of the Alberta Medical Association, said the United Conservative government has done too little, too late. He said the province has 'completely abdicated' its responsibility to protect public health provincewide. 'There's been even some active support and bolstering of misinformation,' said Dr. Parks, referencing a government-commissioned report on the pandemic that recommended the use of COVID-19 vaccines be halted. 'They've courted some of the fringe beliefs out there, which has had a negative effect on public-health education and advocacy.' In the parking lot of the Taber Health Centre, Rhien DeGagne said he thinks some people in the community are hesitant to get the MMR vaccine because they believe it will cause autism – a myth that has been repeatedly debunked by experts. 'I don't agree with that at all. I just think it's a combination of the junk we put in our system nowadays,' he said. Mr. DeGagne said he doesn't support the COVID vaccine because of its novelty. But he agrees with more established vaccines, such as those that protect against measles, polio and smallpox, because they have eliminated, or eradicated, the presence of disease. 'Parents these days have to open their eyes a bit,' he said. His daughter was initially opposed to getting her children vaccinated against measles before they had a tough conversation about it. 'I said, you know, at the end of the day, you have to live with the decision you made. If something bad happens to your child, that's on you.' Since January, 75 people have been hospitalized for measles in Alberta, 12 of whom have required intensive care. The conversation about measles often comes back to children. Outside of Taber's Walmart, Harold Earhart said he isn't worried about measles. He's vaccinated. He points to a young girl holding her mother's hand in the parking lot. 'They are the ones who are going to be going through the pain and suffering.' What must Canada do to stop the spread of measles? Columnist André Picard spoke with The Decibel about the science and the stakes for your health. Subscribe for more episodes. With measles making a comeback, doctors race to fight a disease many have only seen in textbooks Views on measles vaccine differ in Southwestern Ontario after baby's death Ask a Doctor: Should I get a measles booster?
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Premature baby dies with measles
As measles cases across Elgin County and North America continue to rise, a southwestern Ontario infant infected by its unimmunized mother was identified June 5 as Canada's first death related to a measles outbreak that took hold of the nation on Oct. 30, 2024. 'It is with deep sadness that I confirm that an infant, born prematurely and infected with measles, has tragically passed away in southwestern Ontario,' Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health said in a statement. Dr. Moore said the infant contracted the virus before birth from the unimmunized mother. While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, Dr. Moore said that the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus. 'Anyone who is unvaccinated is at risk and I urge everyone, but especially those who may become pregnant, to ensure they have received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, which will protect both a parent and baby,' added Dr. Moore. 'This vaccine has been safely used for over 50 years and is highly effective.' Dr. Ninh Tran, Southwestern Public Health's Medical Officer of Health added: 'This event underscores the seriousness of measles in pregnant individuals, as it can cause low birth weight for the baby, preterm birth, and miscarriage. 'Measles can also cause pneumonia, brain swelling, and death, with infants and immunocompromised individuals especially vulnerable to these risks,' Dr. Tran said in a separate statement. 'The safest and most effective way to protect yourself from measles is through immunization.' The United States has reported 1,088 cases this year, as of June 1, according to a Reuters report. Two children have died in the Texas outbreak. The Government of Canada's latest report shows there are 2,755 measles cases in nine jurisdictions, as of May 24, 2025. That's an increase of 244 measles cases since the previous report. As of June 3, 2025, Ontario has reported a total of 2,009 measles cases in 19 public health units, an increase of 121 cases since the previous week. The weekly provincial report indicates 74.9 percent of measles case in Ontario were infants, children and adolescents, while 24.5 percent were adults. More than 96 percent of all infant, child and adolescent outbreak cases were unimmunized, while 67.3 of adults were unimmunized. A total of 1.9 percent of all cases were pregnant women, with 74.4 percent unimmunized. Six cases of congenital measles, infants diagnosed in the first 10 days of life, have been identified since the Ontario outbreak began on October 30, 2024. SWPH reported 727 cases in the region from Oct 30, 2024 to June 5, 2025, 10 more measles cases since May 29, 2025. More than 74 percent of cases are 18 years old or younger. Nearly 89 percent of cases were unimmunized people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), before widespread measles vaccinations were available in 1963, major epidemics occurred about every two-to-three years, causing an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year. An estimated 107,500 people died from measles in 2023. Accelerated immunization activities prevented an estimated 60 million deaths from 2000 to 2023, according to WHO. Vaccinations decreased estimated measles deaths from 800,062 in 2000 to 107,500 in 2022. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Measles strikes at birth: Six Canadian newborns infected from unvaccinated mothers
Representational image Six babies have been born with measles in Ontario after catching the virus in the womb — all of them born to mothers who weren't vaccinated. Ontario's top doctor, Kieran Moore, told The Guardian that the infants are now recovering, but he emphasized that these infections could've been avoided with routine vaccines. The cases are part of a growing measles outbreak — the biggest in the western hemisphere since late last year. Canada had officially wiped out measles back in 1998, meaning it wasn't spreading regularly anymore. But with more than 2,000 cases reported in Ontario since October — more than the entire U.S. so far this year — that status could be in jeopardy. The measles vaccine isn't given during pregnancy because it contains a live virus. But if an unvaccinated pregnant person is exposed to measles, doctors recommend a dose of intravenous immunoglobulin to help prevent infection. Still, some people refuse that too, often for personal or philosophical reasons. What is congenital measles ? Congenital measles is when a baby is born already infected with the measles virus. It happens when a pregnant woman catches measles and passes it on to their baby before birth. While measles is dangerous at any age, it can be especially serious for newborns — and even more so when they're exposed to it before they're even born. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Normally, babies get some natural protection from their mother's immune system while they're in the womb. But if the mom hasn't been vaccinated and gets infected with measles during pregnancy, that protection isn't there — and the virus can pass straight to the fetus. This kind of early exposure can lead to all sorts of complications. Congenital measles can cause a baby to be born too early (premature), have a low birth weight, or develop serious issues like brain inflammation (known as encephalitis). In really severe cases, it can even lead to death. The scary part? This is something that's usually preventable. The measles vaccine (MMR) is super effective and has been around for decades. But it's not given during pregnancy because it contains a live virus. That's why it's so important to get vaccinated before becoming pregnant — or, if already pregnant and exposed to measles, to talk to a doctor about getting immune protection another way, like through intravenous immunoglobulin. While congenital measles is rare — especially in countries with high vaccination rates — outbreaks and rising vaccine hesitancy have made it more of a concern lately. With strong public health programs and informed choices, it's a risk that can be reduced, if not entirely avoided. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
09-06-2025
- Health
What we know about measles during pregnancy
The death of an Ontario infant (new window) born prematurely and infected with measles through the mother is raising questions about how the virus is transmitted during pregnancy. On Thursday, Ontario health officials announced the death of a baby (new window) who was infected with the virus while in the womb. It was the first fatality in the provincial outbreak that began on Oct. 28 last year and includes 2,009 probable and confirmed cases. While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said in a statement released Thursday. Measles is a respiratory infection with symptoms that include fever, a blotchy rash, a cough and red, watery eyes. In May 2024, a child under five died of measles in Hamilton (new window) , but before that, there were no measles deaths in the province in more than a decade. Measles-infected baby dies in southwestern Ontario (new window) Moore has previously said the current outbreak was traced to a Mennonite wedding in New Brunswick, and is spreading primarily in Mennonite and Amish communities where vaccination rates lag. The majority of those cases are in southwestern Ontario. WATCH | Death of a measles-infected baby in Ontario: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Measles-infected baby dies in southwestern Ontario An infant born prematurely and infected with measles in the womb through their mother has died, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kieran Moore announced Thursday. It is the province's first recorded death from the current outbreak that started in October of last year. Health officials stress that anyone who isn't vaccinated is vulnerable to measles and they encourage everyone to ensure they are up to date on their Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines. I urge everyone, but especially those who may become pregnant, to ensure they have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which will protect both a parent and baby, said Moore. What is known about measles transmission during pregnancy? Dr. Jacqueline Wong, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at McMaster Children's Hospital, says transmission of measles during pregnancy is rare. If the baby does contract measles from the mother in utero, Wong says the impact varies depending on how far along the pregnancy is. Your risk of transmitting the infection to the baby varies during the different trimesters because of the development of the fetus, the development of the placenta and the blood flow. What are the risks during pregnancy? Dr. Sheryl Choo, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, says there are serious complications that can result if people who are pregnant become infected with measles. For instance, she says pregnant people infected with measles can develop lung infections like pneumonia at almost double the rate of those who are not pregnant. If people become infected with measles during pregnancy (new window) , Choo notes it can also increase the risk of serious complications including miscarriage and premature birth. According to Moore, the MMR vaccine has been safely used for over 50 years and is highly effective. Two doses provide nearly 100 per cent protection, he said in a statement Thursday. What about risks to the baby? Babies born to those infected with measles can face complications related to premature birth, such as low birth weight and breathing issues, which can result in stays in the neonatal intensive care unit, Choo said. This is all on top of the symptoms of a measles infection itself, she said. Much rarer complications of measles can include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE (new window) . It is almost always fatal and generally develops seven to 10 years after an initial measles infection (new window) , even if the person appears to have fully recovered. It can be dormant in the brain for years and may eventually flare up, causing brain inflammation and resulting in children or young adults losing the ability to move and speak. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, SSPE occurs in between four and 11 out of every 100,000 measles cases. Health officials say it strikes between seven and 11 years after an initial infection and the highest rates are among children who contract measles before the age of two. If I'm pregnant can I get the measles vaccine? No, the measles vaccine is not recommended to be administered to people who are already pregnant. If you want to take the measles vaccine, it has to be before you're pregnant, Choo said. That's because the measles vaccine contains a live strain that is a weakened form of the virus, which is not recommended during pregnancy. Choo says that's because there is a theoretical risk that the measles virus contained in the vaccine can be passed to the baby. In contrast, vaccines that contain inactivated viruses can be given during pregnancy. The flu vaccine is one example. Is there treatment for pregnant people exposed to measles? If you're pregnant and you think you may have been exposed to measles, health officials advise you to contact your local health authority. They can determine if exposure occurred and direct patients to seek appropriate care without contributing to further spread. If measles exposure is confirmed, Choo says there is an injectable medication option called IVIg (new window) . Depending on when the exposure occurred, the medication may be used to help protect against infection or reduce severity of the illness. However, health officials and doctors agree that the best way to protect against measles is immunization. The most important recommendation or advice I can give … is to make sure you're up to date with all the immunization if you're starting that journey of becoming pregnant, Wong said. CBC News with files from CBC's Alison Northcott and Christine Birak
The Guardian
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Six babies with unvaccinated mothers born with measles in Canada
Six babies with unvaccinated mothers have been born with congenital measles in the Canadian province of Ontario since the start of the largest outbreak of the disease in the western hemisphere late last year. Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Kieran Moore said the infants, who were infected with measles in the womb, have all recovered. He said the infections could have been prevented through routine vaccination. Congenital measles, which refers to cases in which a child is born already infected with the highly contagious disease, can produce inflammation of the brain and in some cases, death. Canada achieved 'elimination status' for measles in 1998, meaning the virus is no longer circulating regularly. But the scale of the outbreak in Ontario could overturn that achievement. Since October, Canada's most populous province has reported more than 2,000 cases – more than all of those in the United States combined in 2025. Public health figures show cases continue to climb despite efforts to quell the rise. Last week, the outbreak reached a grim milestone after the province recorded its first fatality. Moore told the media a premature baby, who contracted measles in utero, died from medical complications, including the presence of the virus. 'It's only a very small subgroup of people who have chosen not to get vaccinated who are having the complications,' he said on Friday. While the vaccine is not recommended once a person is pregnant – in part because it contains a live virus that could be passed on to the fetus – public health groups recommend unvaccinated pregnant people get one dose of intravenous immunoglobulin if they are exposed to measles. 'Some people, if they don't want a vaccine, they may not want the immunoglobulin either. That may be a philosophical choice,' he said. Moore said that Canada's high levels of vaccination have nonetheless blunted what could be a far worse outbreak, giving large swaths of the population protection against the virus. 'I know some will concentrate on the glass being half-empty. You know, to have that level of protection in the face of the risks globally, I think is quite an accomplishment.
