No measles confirmed in Ottawa: Public health monitoring re-emergence
Ottawa Public Health says there is a risk of re-emergence of measles, citing the disease’s re-emergence in different parts of the world.
The risk can be mitigated through maintaining higher vaccination rates, the public health agency said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Wednesday.
“Through immunization programs, we’ve been able to significantly reduce the incidence of many of these diseases in Canada. However, there is a risk of re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases like measles if high vaccination rates are not maintained,” said Dr. Laura Bourns, associate medical officer of health at OPH.
Dr. Bourns says currently there are no cases in the city, noting that the most recent case of measles in an Ottawa resident was in 2019.
“Between 2014 and 2019, there were nine confirmed cases of measles in Ottawa residents,” Bourn said.
What is measles and who’s at risk?
Measles is highly contagious from four days before the rash to four days after the onset of rash. It is caused by the measles virus. The measles virus lives in the nose and throat of the infected person. People who come in contact with an infected person should monitor their symptoms for 21 days, OPH says on its website.
Infants under 12 months of age, unvaccinated pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised are at greatest risk for complications when contracting measles, according to Bourns.
Around nine out of 10 people who are not fully vaccinated against the disease may become infected if they become in close contact with an infected person, Bourns explains.
Here’s how to protect your children:
In Canada, it is the responsibility of parents and caregivers to ensure their children are protected.
“As part of the publicly funded routine childhood immunization schedule, measles-containing vaccines are typically given by primary care providers to children in two doses, at ages one and four-six years,” Bourns said.
“Two doses of measles vaccination are 99 per cent effective at preventing infection. Parents/caregivers who are unsure if their child is up to date with their measles vaccines are encouraged to speak with their regular health care provider and should also review their own immunization history for measles before travelling outside of Canada.”
Bourns adds that OPH has implemented the necessary measures to make sure every child is protected.
“Children who do not have or cannot access a regular health care provider can book a routine vaccine appointment at an OPH community clinic,” Dr Bourns added.
While OPH administered approximately 25,000 catch-up doses of routine childhood immunizations to around 10,000 children and youth up to the age of 18 years through OPH’s community clinics, neighbourhood health and wellness hubs and school clinics in 2023, it has administered a total of 4,767 doses of routine childhood vaccines to 2,276 children and youth 0-18 years to date in 2024 – up to Feb. 14.
More information is available online.
Meanwhile, a case of measles in a Montreal child was reported to officials on Tuesday. The infection was likely contracted during a trip to Africa, according to Montreal Public Health, and the infectious period is believed to have lasted from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6.
In Toronto, an infant has been hospitalized after contracting the measles. Toronto Public Health confirmed in a news release last week that it is investigating a confirmed case of measles linked to travel. Few details have been released about the case, but officials say the infant is being treated at a hospital.
With files from CTV News Montreal’s Daniel J. Rowe and CTV News Toronto’s Katherine DeClerq
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