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Measles is gaining ground and is causing concern for public health
Measles is on the rise, and not just in the United States, where a child has died from the infection. Public Health Canada is also concerned about the "worrying trend" in the spread of the highly contagious virus.
Posted yesterday at 5:00 AM
Alice Girard-Bossé
La Presse
What's happening with measles in Canada?
With more cases reported in the first two months of 2025 than in all of 2024, Canada is on a “concerning trend” for measles, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said in a statement Thursday. In total, Canada has recorded 227 cases of measles this year, many requiring hospitalization. The majority of cases are children who had not received their two doses of vaccine and acquired the infection at social events, daycares, schools or health care settings. The notable increase is due to outbreaks in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba.
What about the United States?
So far this year, there have been nearly 150 cases of measles in Texas. Among them, an unvaccinated child died from the infection. It was the first death from the virus in the United States in nearly a decade. On Thursday, an unvaccinated adult who contracted measles died in New Mexico, but the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed by health officials.
"Measles travels and crosses borders. We can therefore expect to have other cases," says Dr. Jasmin Villeneuve, medical advisor at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ).
Is Quebec spared?
No. A measles outbreak broke out in early December in the Laurentides region after an infected person from outside Quebec infected attendees at a conference. To date, 30 cases have been confirmed in Quebec, the majority in the Laurentides region. A few cases have been confirmed in the Montreal, Laval and Montérégie regions. “This is not a trivial disease. Infected people can be very sick,” warns Dr. Villeneuve .
Why is this a concern?
Measles is a highly contagious virus. “It is considered one of the most contagious diseases. In a population where no one is protected against measles, one case could generate 15 to 17 secondary cases. The flu generally causes three to five,” explains Dr. Villeneuve . It is not necessary to have direct contact with an infected person to contract the virus, since it can remain suspended in the air for several minutes or up to two hours. Symptoms of measles can appear one to two weeks after exposure. This is why it is essential that people in contact with a confirmed case isolate themselves to wait to see if symptoms appear.
How to protect yourself?
Vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself. Two doses of vaccine provide 95% protection against the disease, and this for life. Quebecers can get the vaccine for free by making an appointment on the Clic Santé website or by calling 1-877-644-4545. Adults born before 1970 do not need to be vaccinated, since they are considered immune due to the widespread circulation of the virus when they were younger. Since the outbreaks this year are due to travellers having been exposed to measles in another country, Dr. Tam encourages Canadians to get vaccinated against measles and to check that their vaccinations are up to date before travelling. “The vaccine should be administered at least two weeks before departure, but even last-minute vaccinations offer protection,” she explains.
How do you know if you are infected?
The main symptoms of measles are usually a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, general malaise, and redness—first on the face and then on the body. However, there is a risk of serious complications. These complications include blindness, deafness, and permanent neurological damage. People at greatest risk of complications from the disease include babies under 1 year old, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women who are not adequately vaccinated against measles.
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...du-terrain-et-preoccupe-la-sante-publique.php
----------------------------------------------------
Measles outbreak
Since December 2024, a new measles outbreak has been reported. The outbreak is still active.
As of March 7, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. 31 confirmed cases of measles have been reported as part of this outbreak:
...
https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/measles/measles-outbreak
Measles is gaining ground and is causing concern for public health
Measles is on the rise, and not just in the United States, where a child has died from the infection. Public Health Canada is also concerned about the "worrying trend" in the spread of the highly contagious virus.
Posted yesterday at 5:00 AM
Alice Girard-Bossé
La Presse
What's happening with measles in Canada?
With more cases reported in the first two months of 2025 than in all of 2024, Canada is on a “concerning trend” for measles, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said in a statement Thursday. In total, Canada has recorded 227 cases of measles this year, many requiring hospitalization. The majority of cases are children who had not received their two doses of vaccine and acquired the infection at social events, daycares, schools or health care settings. The notable increase is due to outbreaks in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba.
What about the United States?
So far this year, there have been nearly 150 cases of measles in Texas. Among them, an unvaccinated child died from the infection. It was the first death from the virus in the United States in nearly a decade. On Thursday, an unvaccinated adult who contracted measles died in New Mexico, but the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed by health officials.
"Measles travels and crosses borders. We can therefore expect to have other cases," says Dr. Jasmin Villeneuve, medical advisor at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ).
Is Quebec spared?
No. A measles outbreak broke out in early December in the Laurentides region after an infected person from outside Quebec infected attendees at a conference. To date, 30 cases have been confirmed in Quebec, the majority in the Laurentides region. A few cases have been confirmed in the Montreal, Laval and Montérégie regions. “This is not a trivial disease. Infected people can be very sick,” warns Dr. Villeneuve .
Why is this a concern?
Measles is a highly contagious virus. “It is considered one of the most contagious diseases. In a population where no one is protected against measles, one case could generate 15 to 17 secondary cases. The flu generally causes three to five,” explains Dr. Villeneuve . It is not necessary to have direct contact with an infected person to contract the virus, since it can remain suspended in the air for several minutes or up to two hours. Symptoms of measles can appear one to two weeks after exposure. This is why it is essential that people in contact with a confirmed case isolate themselves to wait to see if symptoms appear.
How to protect yourself?
Vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself. Two doses of vaccine provide 95% protection against the disease, and this for life. Quebecers can get the vaccine for free by making an appointment on the Clic Santé website or by calling 1-877-644-4545. Adults born before 1970 do not need to be vaccinated, since they are considered immune due to the widespread circulation of the virus when they were younger. Since the outbreaks this year are due to travellers having been exposed to measles in another country, Dr. Tam encourages Canadians to get vaccinated against measles and to check that their vaccinations are up to date before travelling. “The vaccine should be administered at least two weeks before departure, but even last-minute vaccinations offer protection,” she explains.
How do you know if you are infected?
The main symptoms of measles are usually a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, general malaise, and redness—first on the face and then on the body. However, there is a risk of serious complications. These complications include blindness, deafness, and permanent neurological damage. People at greatest risk of complications from the disease include babies under 1 year old, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women who are not adequately vaccinated against measles.
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...du-terrain-et-preoccupe-la-sante-publique.php
----------------------------------------------------
Measles outbreak
Since December 2024, a new measles outbreak has been reported. The outbreak is still active.
As of March 7, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. 31 confirmed cases of measles have been reported as part of this outbreak:
- Laurentides: 24
- Montréal: less than 5
- Laval: less than 5
- Montérégie: less than 5
...
https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/measles/measles-outbreak
