Adults born before 1970 are generally considered immune to measles, through previous exposure to the virus, said Department of Health spokesperson Sean Hatchard.
“However, if they plan to travel outside of Canada, they should consider receiving one dose of the MMR [measles, mumps and rubella] vaccine before their journey,” he said in an emailed statement.
This dose is not currently publicly funded but is available through a number of travel clinics across the province. It costs about $140.
New Brunswickers born in 1970 or later who have not received two doses of a measles vaccine should contact their primary care provider or local Public Health office to be immunized, said Hatchard.
“Measles is highly contagious and being fully vaccinated provides almost 100 per cent protection,” he said.
N.B. cases ‘certainly possible’
Measles is transmitted through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks, or by direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.
The virus can cause serious illness and severe complications, including deafness, brain damage and even death.
“Given the current global and national measles situation, it is certainly possible for New Brunswick to see cases of measles here at home,” said Hatchard.
About three to seven days after measles symptoms begin, the tell-tale rash that looks like small red spots appears. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
New Brunswick’s last incidence of measles — an outbreak in Saint John in 2019 — started through international travel. A person who had recently travelled to Europe became the province’s first case since 2017. The outbreak lasted more than two months, with a total of 12 cases confirmed.
“Our ability to limit the spread of measles rests largely on ensuring that our population has a high vaccine coverage. That is why it is important to address missed immunizations now as the best way to prevent measles,” Hatchard said.
Vaccination rate below target
In New Brunswick, children are routinely immunized with two free doses of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chicken pox), or MMRV, vaccine at 12 months and 18 months of age.
As of Dec. 31, about 85 per cent of seven-year-olds in the province have had at least two doses of the MMRV or MMR vaccines, said department spokesperson Katelin Dean. This data is for all seven-year-olds — not just those attending public schools, she said.
Dean did not respond to repeated requests for vaccination rates for older youth or adults. It’s unclear if such data exists.
According to experts, at least 95 per cent of the population must have immunity to the virus — either through vaccination or prior infection — to prevent an outbreak.
As part of New Brunswick’s routine immunization schedule, adults born in 1970 or later who have not previously received two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are eligible to receive two doses one month apart, or receive one dose if they have had one previous dose in childhood, said Hatchard.
“New Brunswickers are encouraged to consult with their health-care provider or a travel clinic before they travel to ensure they are up to date with their immunizations,” said Hatchard.
Watch for post-March break measles
People who recently returned from March break travel should be watching for symptoms, Dr. Yves Léger, acting chief medical officer, has said.
It can take up to 21 days after exposure to the virus for symptoms to appear, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, and people who are infected can spread the virus to others before they develop symptoms.
Research suggests that one person with measles can spread it to an average of 12 to 18 others.
A flyer educating people about measles is displayed on a bulletin board in California, one of the U.S. states where there are currently measles cases. (Eric Risberg/The Associated Press)
Measles typically starts with cold-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, red, watery eyes, and runny nose.
About three to seven days after symptoms begin, a rash that looks like small red spots appears. It usually starts on the head/neck and spreads down the body, arms and legs.
Anyone who develops symptoms should get assessed by contacting Tele-Care 811 or eVisitNB, said Hatchard. He did not include primary care providers or after-hours clinics.
If people have “severe or concerning symptoms,” they should visit the nearest emergency room, he said.
Public Health prepares
“New Brunswick remains vulnerable to diseases occurring globally or nationally — with international air travel allowing people to cross the globe in the span of a day, we recognize the importance of being well prepared for potential cases,” said Hatchard.
“Although Public Health New Brunswick has experience in managing measles cases, we are taking steps to help prevent and better respond to any future measles cases in the province,” he said, without elaborating.
The acting chief medical officer of health previously told CBC News that Public Health officials have been reviewing their guidelines for how they manage measles cases and contacts, and working with the communications branch to encourage New Brunswickers to ensure they’re up to date with their vaccines, especially if they’re travelling.
Public Health also planned to distribute a memo to health-care practitioners to raise their awareness, make sure they’re keeping an eye out for any potential cases, and encouraging vaccines with their patients, Léger said.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
