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Measles cases nearly doubled in Ontario over two weeks

March 6, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

A recent measles outbreak in Ontario has resulted in 18 unimmunized children being hospitalized.

Public Health Ontario has reported that as of Feb. 26, a total of 119 confirmed cases and 23 probable cases of measles have been reported in the province this year.

All but two of the cases were associated with an ongoing multi-jurisdictional outbreak. One confirmed case was associated with travel outside of the country and occurred in an unimmunized child who required hospitalization.

In total, 177 cases of measles were reported in Ontario between Oct. 28, 2024, and Feb. 26, 2025. This includes 127 confirmed and 50 probable cases.

Cases of measles have occurred in four public health units, including Southwestern Public Health, Grand Erie Public Health, Grey Bruce Health Unit, and Chatham-Kent Public Health.

All outbreak cases were in individuals born in or after 1970. This includes 141 children and adolescents and 36 adults.

Eighteen of those cases required hospitalization including one case that required intensive care.

Public health officials have called this the largest measles outbreak in the province in almost 30 years.

Immunization rates in the province have decreased over the past few years and public health officials are urging parents to get their school aged children vaccinated.

Cases of measles have also been reported in New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Quebec.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. Symptoms include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes and cough.

Immunization is the best protection against measles. For children and most adults born in or after 1970, this means receiving two doses of a measles-containing vaccine.

In Ontario, measles has been rare, owing to the successful elimination of measles in Canada and high immunization coverage.

As a result, measles cases in the country have typically been associated with travel.

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