This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.
There are four confirmed cases of measles in Canada, and doctors are worried. (Getty)
Ontario’s top doctor is sounding the alarm to public health officials about a “dramatic rise” in measles cases in other parts of the world.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore told health agencies Tuesday there are four active cases of measles in Canada, including two in Ontario. “Given this dramatic rise in cases globally, health system partners in Ontario must be prepared for the continued importation of cases and potential outbreaks,” Moore’s memo said.
“While measles is no longer considered endemic in Canada, outbreaks can happen when susceptible individuals (e.g., unvaccinated) travel to and return from countries where measles is circulating.”
The Ontario cases of measles involve two children who recently travelled, and one was hospitalized in Toronto earlier this month.
Moore is urging doctors and health providers to encourage vaccinations for measles, especially with March Break around the corner. “Importation and resultant local transmission can, and has, led to measles outbreaks in Canada,” he added.
Toronto and the Peel region public health agencies said they were reaching out to known contacts who might’ve been exposed to the highly-contagious virus in the two confirmed cases. “A reminder for anyone who is planning international travel to a destination with high levels of measles to ensure they are immunized against measles,” PPH noted in mid-February, adding all Ontarians are eligible for two publicly-funded doses of the MMR vaccine.
Measles cases are rising worldwide, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization. (Photo via Getty Images)
A November report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control confirmed measles cases are rising worldwide — and more people are dying from it.
The report indicated there was an 18 per cent increase in estimated measles cases and a 43 per cent increase in estimated measles deaths in 2022 compared with 2021.
Researchers said this is a result of millions of children missing measles vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Global coverage with measles-containing vaccine (MCV) declined during the COVID-19 pandemic to the lowest levels since 2008, and measles surveillance was suboptimal,” the report said.
Canadian infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch previously toldYahoo Canada he wasn’t surprised by the report, adding it was clear there was “a breakdown of many public health programs throughout the course of the pandemic.”
Bogoch described the virus as the “canary in the coal mine” of public health, adding outbreaks are “visible, and they’re explosive, and obviously, they can be devastating.”
In 2022, there were 136,200 deaths from measles. Nearly all of those deaths were children, the majority of whom were under the age of five.
Should Canadians be worried about these rising numbers or the recent cases found closer to home? Read on to learn everything you should know about measles and prevention.
Measles symptoms include high fever, cough and a rash all over the body. (Photo via Getty Images)
What is measles?
According to the WHO, measles is a “highly contagious disease” caused by a virus of the same name.
It “spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes,” the agency explained, adding the virus attacks the respiratory system first, before spreading through the body.
Complications from measles are what causes the majority of deaths, including:
blindness
encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling or damage)
severe diarrhea and dehydration
ear infections
severe breathing problems
These complications are most likely to occur in children under five years old and adults over 30, the WHO said.
Bogoch added there’s a misconception, “some people think measles is no big deal. … It’s important to note that it’s associated with significant morbidity. You can get very, very sick from measles.”
How common is measles in Canada?
Despite the global surge, Canada has reported very few cases of measles, thanks to the nation’s high vaccination coverage. Although, some parts of the country are seeing a decline in vaccine uptake, including Alberta where vaccination rates in 2022 dropped from 2018.
Bogoch noted the few cases seen in Canada are predominantly imported, often originating from regions with lower vaccine rates. However, the issue could be that some Canadian children missed out on routine vaccination during the pandemic.
Current recommendation for routine measles vaccines is two doses, the first administered at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 18 months of age or after, but before school.
“Could we see the propagation of cases in Canada after we’d have an important case, if we do see lapses of vaccination?” Bogoch questioned, answering it wouldn’t be surprising. “There’s so little wiggle room with with measles.”
Should Canadians be worried about rising cases globally?
Two doses of a measles vaccine provides nearly 100 per cent protection from the virus. (Getty)
Bogoch advocated awareness rather than undue concern.
While Canada has few measles cases, individuals who choose not to be vaccinated might face risks, especially when travelling to areas with lower vaccine coverage. It’s crucial for Canadians to stay informed about their vaccination status and ensure that routine vaccinations are up to date.
The vaccine is safe, effective, and does a remarkable job in preventing infection.Dr. Isaac Bogoch
Bogoch said some individuals, despite being pro-vaccine, might not be up to date due to receiving only one dose, especially those born before the 1990s. He encouraged those in doubt to consult health-care providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners or pharmacists.
“One dose provides pretty good protection against measles, but two doses is much better,” he claimed.
While Canadians may not face an immediate threat from the global rise in measles cases, awareness and proactive vaccination are essential.
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.
