Public health urges people to get measles vaccine; virus circulating in region

GUELPH – Measles has become rare in Ontario since a vaccine was developed in 1970 – until recently that is.

Now there are cases in Ontario – one in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph – and that’s cause for concern, the region's medical officer of health told the board of health on March 5.

“Before 1970 it was very common,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer noting that since 1996 measles vaccines have been so common, “people have forgotten what measles looks like.

“But vaccination rates are declining and now some populations have measles transmission within Ontario … It means a lot of newborns are susceptible.”

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Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) staff have been going through records to ensure elementary and high school students are up to date on all their childhood vaccinations, including measles.

As of March 5, 25 high school students have been suspended for having out of date records and the March 19 deadline for elementary students is fast approaching.

Children cannot receive the measles vaccine until they are one year old and they receive a second shot at age 4 or 5.

Measles is a virus that spreads very quickly and can lead to complications for unvaccinated children like pneumonia, fever, dehydration and neurological damage such as hearing loss.

Mercer said it’s been difficult to do contact tracing “because often they won’t tell us where they’ve been,” she said.

“We really just want to stop the spread. And it’s so contagious. It won’t stop until it can’t find a host.”

Mercer said family doctors and public health have all the childhood vaccines and are happy to set up an appointment for the shots.

“We will make room for you,” she said.

For more information, visit wdgpublichealth.ca/measles.

U.S. cases

Twelve states in the U.S. have confirmed cases of measles.

The outbreak along the Texas–New Mexico border continues to grow, with more than 200 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths (an adult and a six-year-old).

Officials say most people with measles are unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown.