Measles strikes at birth: Six Canadian newborns infected from unvaccinated mothers
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Six babies have been born with measles in Ontario after catching the virus in the womb — all of them born to mothers who weren't vaccinated.
Ontario's top doctor, Kieran Moore, told The Guardian that the infants are now recovering, but he emphasized that these infections could've been avoided with routine vaccines.
The cases are part of a growing measles outbreak — the biggest in the western hemisphere since late last year.
Canada had officially wiped out measles back in 1998, meaning it wasn't spreading regularly anymore. But with more than 2,000 cases reported in Ontario since October — more than the entire U.S. so far this year — that status could be in jeopardy.
The measles vaccine isn't given during pregnancy because it contains a live virus.
But if an unvaccinated pregnant person is exposed to measles, doctors recommend a dose of intravenous immunoglobulin to help prevent infection. Still, some people refuse that too, often for personal or philosophical reasons.
What is
congenital measles
?
Congenital measles is when a baby is born already infected with the measles virus. It happens when a pregnant woman catches measles and passes it on to their baby before birth. While measles is dangerous at any age, it can be especially serious for newborns — and even more so when they're exposed to it before they're even born.
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Normally, babies get some natural protection from their mother's immune system while they're in the womb. But if the mom hasn't been vaccinated and gets infected with measles during pregnancy, that protection isn't there — and the virus can pass straight to the fetus.
This kind of early exposure can lead to all sorts of complications. Congenital measles can cause a baby to be born too early (premature), have a low birth weight, or develop serious issues like brain inflammation (known as encephalitis).
In really severe cases, it can even lead to death.
The scary part? This is something that's usually preventable. The measles vaccine (MMR) is super effective and has been around for decades. But it's not given during pregnancy because it contains a live virus. That's why it's so important to get vaccinated before becoming pregnant — or, if already pregnant and exposed to measles, to talk to a doctor about getting immune protection another way, like through intravenous immunoglobulin.
While congenital measles is rare — especially in countries with high vaccination rates — outbreaks and rising vaccine hesitancy have made it more of a concern lately. With strong public health programs and informed choices, it's a risk that can be reduced, if not entirely avoided.
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