Ontario measles cases more than double over past two weeks; hospitalizations up

Ontario is seeing a massive surge in measles cases as an ongoing outbreak spreads in the province among mostly unvaccinated people.

Public Health Ontario is reporting 372 total cases since an outbreak began on Oct. 28, 2024. That’s a jump of 195 cases since the agency’s last report on Feb. 27.

The spread has resulted in 31 hospitalizations, including one child who required intensive care. Of those who were hospitalized, 30 were unvaccinated and one person’s immunization status was unknown.

The public health agency described the latest numbers as being a “sharp increase,” attributing the outbreak expansion to transmission among unimmunized children and teens. 

Almost all of the new cases are connected to an interprovincial outbreak first reported in New Brunswick, which has also spread to Manitoba. 

In Ontario, seven more public health units are reporting seeing cases, bringing the total number to 11.

Meanwhile, people are being warned about potential exposures in common public spaces that include restaurants, grocery stores, community centres and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

On Wednesday, Toronto Public Health said it is investigating a case of measles and possible public exposure at Pearson and on an Air Canada flight on March 2. Officials advised anyone who may have been exposed to check their vaccination records and monitor for symptoms until March 23.

Ontario is currently facing its largest measles outbreak in nearly 30 years.

The number of cases reported in the province is almost four times the amount reported over the course of a decade between 2013 and 2023.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Measles symptoms can include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, a red rash that begins on the face and spreads down the body and small blue-white spots (Koplik spots) that can appear inside the mouth and throat.

“The problem is a fever and a rash isn’t super concerning, but what can manifest afterwards, like the secondary bacterial infections, things like pneumonia, ear infections, and severe encephalitis, sort of a brain infection, that’s where we really see a lot of the severe disease that needs hospitalization and unfortunately can lead to death,” Dr. Sarah Khan, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist at McMaster Children’s Hospital, told CityNews earlier this month.

Those most at risk are small children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

Canada eliminated measles in 1998, which required a low level of transmission for at least a year and 90 to 95 per cent vaccination coverage. But it risks losing that elimination status if the present outbreaks continue.

With files from Catalina Gillies and Michael Talbot, CityNews