Death of infant infected with measles in southwestern Ontario
An infant born prematurely with a measles infection in southwestern Ontario has died.
The infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who was unvaccinated against measles, said Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore in a statement.
'This is devastating news for the community, and we offer our heartfelt thoughts to the family. We will not be sharing additional details at this time to respect the family's privacy,' said Dr. Ninh Tran, medical officer of health at Southwestern Public Health in a statement.
'This event underscores the seriousness of measles in pregnant individuals, as it can cause low birth weight for the baby, preterm birth, and miscarriage. Measles can also cause pneumonia, brain swelling and death, with infants and immunocompromised individuals especially vulnerable to these risks. The safest and most effective way to protect yourself from measles is through immunization,' said Dr. Tran.
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