Public Health Ontario states that there have been more verified cases of measles recorded this year than in the prior year.
As of March 13, only three months into the year, the public health unit stated that there have been eight lab-confirmed cases of measles reported in Ontario.
In all of 2023, there were seven lab-confirmed cases of measles reported in the province.
Measles is a highly contagious and very serious respiratory infection that can be spread through coughing or sneezing.
Public Health Ontario mentioned that “measles has been rare” due to successful elimination in Canada, largely as a result of high immunization. Measles cases are typically linked to travel, PHO said.
“Due to an increase in measles activity globally, Ontario has started seeing more cases of measles,” Public Health Ontario mentioned.
Public Health Ontario stated that six of the 2024 cases were related to travel and were contracted outside of Canada. The other two cases occurred in individuals with an unknown source of exposure, indicating no travel history and no connection to a confirmed case.
Of the eight cases, one was reported in Brampton, one in Toronto, one in Brantford, one in Newmarket, one in London, one in Simcoe-Muskoka, and two in Hamilton.
