Measles Surge: Officials Warn of ‘Looming Crisis’ for March Break Travel
Canadian health officials warn of a surge in measles cases during the March Break travel period and say they anticipate infections among individuals who have travelled abroad, especially if they were not adequately protected against the virus.
As of 11MAR, Public Health Ontario has reported six laboratory-confirmed measles cases in the province.
Montreal Public Health has reported 14 confirmed cases of measles in the city since February, indicating potential local transmission, as only two are suspected to have been contracted abroad.
CTV reports that measles cases have been confirmed in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
Toronto's first reported case of measles this year was linked to travel, involving an infant who required hospitalization in February.
According to Maclean’s, if there were accolades for the most contagious virus, measles would be a top contender. It can linger in the air for hours, quickly spreading from one infected person to nearly everyone nearby.
Shockingly, MacLean's reports one in five infected individuals requires hospitalization, and approximately one in every 300 infected children tragically succumb to the disease.
McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish warns of a looming crisis in Canada due to "vaccine refusal and pandemic-related disruptions." With 15,000 children missing shots in Ottawa alone between 2020 and 2022, the situation is dire. Bowdish highlights Canada's increased vulnerability and the potential for a measles outbreak to strain our already stretched healthcare system.
According to Global News, Hamilton Public Health is actively searching for individuals who may have been in contact with a child who contracted measles while travelling to India.
Dr. Brendan Lew, the associate medical officer of health, stated that the child was a passenger on Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 61 from Jeddah on 05MAR 2024. Those who may have been exposed include passengers on the flight between 9:40 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. Additionally, pax at Terminal 3 of Toronto Pearson between 3:25 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the same day are also considered at risk.
Dawn Bowish told MacLean's, "Right now, I'm following the U.K. very carefully to decide what our next step should be. The U.K has a terrible vaccination rate, lower than ours. It's been an epicentre of vaccine misinformation, and it's an international country, especially in London. If anyone's going to have a real problem, they will, and we can learn from how they respond."
The repercussions extend beyond the initial illness, with potentially long-term complications including pneumonia, vision loss, hearing impairment due to ear infections, and even a severe neurological disorder known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
Thanks to consistently high childhood vaccination rates, typically standing at 92% nationwide, Canada usually sees only a handful of measles cases annually.
2024 presents a stark departure from this norm. The current year has witnessed nearly double the number of cases recorded in the entirety of 2023. Health officials are sounding alarms, noting that community transmission, often spurred by vaccination rates dipping below 95%, may be emerging in certain regions of Ontario and Quebec.
According to experts, measles has a long incubation period, and symptoms may not appear until weeks later. Before the rash appears, the symptoms of measles can be similar to those of a cold or flu. In children, the virus can cause severe health problems, such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.
Public health emphasizes the importance of vaccination. However, this message may not resonate as more Canadians are becoming hesitant towards vaccines, leading to lower vaccination rates among children.
The Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, expressed his concern over the confirmation of a single case of measles in B.C. He stated that the news is "terrifying" for parents of infants and criticized individuals spreading false information about vaccines. Eby emphasized that without adequate vaccination, infants in the province are at risk of severe illness, and it is essential to prioritize their health and safety.
