Ontario has reported a significant rise in measles cases as the province starts sharing weekly updates on this infectious disease.
Public Health Ontario states there have been 470 measles cases since an outbreak began in October, marking an increase of 120 cases since March 14.
This outbreak has led to 34 hospitalizations, with two patients requiring intensive care. Most hospitalized individuals were unvaccinated children, including one patient who needed intensive treatment.
The highest number of cases continues to be found in the Southwestern Public Health region, accounting for nearly half of all reported cases. The neighboring Grand Erie area has about 24 percent of the total cases.
Nine percent of the province’s infections are now located in Huron Perth, which includes Stratford and Goderich. This figure rose from 3.7 percent last week, prompting local health officials to label it a concerning area.
The expansion of outbreaks raises alarms about increasing measles incidents across Canada, including 40 cases in Quebec and 13 in Alberta based on the latest statistics.
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Most of the 34 hospitalizations in Ontario were unvaccinated children, including one of the intensive care patients, Public Health Ontario said. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters)
The outbreak in Quebec started back in December, primarily affecting the Laurentides region known for its skiing activities. Hockey fans who attended a Montreal Canadiens game earlier this month are still being advised to watch for symptoms.
In Alberta, most infections are concentrated in the northern part of the province; however, measles reached Taber in the south this week after a traveler from Toronto visited several places while infectious.
Ontario has begun issuing weekly reports after previously providing case numbers every two weeks; meanwhile, Alberta now shares data daily from Monday through Friday.
Measles is among the most contagious diseases worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the virus can remain active both airborne and on contaminated surfaces for up to two hours.
The illness typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes before developing into a red blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body and limbs. The virus can result in pneumonia, brain inflammation and even death.
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