Measles cases near region sparks reminder from public health authorities

Nine cases of measles have been reported by health authorities near Waterloo Region, prompting a reminder to check the status of your measles vaccine from Region of Waterloo Public Health.

This week, Grand Erie Public Health confirmed nine cases of the infectious in Brantford, Brant County, Haldimand County and Norfolk County. According to Ontario Public Health, since the beginning of last year, 65 cases of measles have been recorded across the province.

Symptoms of measles include a fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes and a cough.

“We have seen cases of measles increase in the last year, two years, but Waterloo hasn’t had a case since 2019, and it was related to international travel,” said David Aoki, director of infectious disease with Region of Waterloo Public Health.

According to Aoki, the disease was mostly eradicated through vaccinations by 1970, but since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of people being vaccinated for measles have dropped, leading to a small spike in infections.

Groups most at risk of infection include children who are less than one year old, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.

The measles vaccine is publicly funded and free through health care providers or local clinics.

Those born before 1970 are considered to be immune because of the highly infectious nature of the measles virus. According to Aoki, it’s assumed that anyone born before that year would have been exposed to measles as a child.