Health implications of in utero measles exposure
Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch discusses the health implications of in utero measles exposure, and what this outbreak signals for Canada's vaccination strategy.
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CTV News
39 minutes ago
- CTV News
What's the risk of catching measles at airports and crowded areas? Here's what travellers need to know
Amid a resurgence of measles in Canada and around the world, some Canadians may be worried about catching the highly contagious disease in public places while travelling, such as airports and other indoor settings. 'We live in an unprecedented time of human mobility at a global level, and we will see inevitable cases of measles imported into Canada,' Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases specialist at the Toronto General Hospital, said in a video interview with on Thursday. 'It's happening and it will continue to happen. And while we can't necessarily control what happens outside of our borders, we certainly can have influence of what happens within our borders, and it's our duty to lower barriers to routine childhood immunizations.' While Canada's travel advisory currently has measles at the lowest risk level, here's what Canadians need to know about the chances of catching it during the busy summer travel season. Measles in Canada and globally Within Canada's borders, the disease has been spreading, with an ongoing outbreak affecting a total of 2,088 people as of May 31. It began in New Brunswick in October 2024, with related cases in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Measles has been considered 'eliminated' in the country since 1998, according to the Canadian government's latest monitoring report. However, measles cases occur sporadically, typically coming from other affected regions. Cases have climbed to a 27-year peak in Canada, with 2,698 confirmed this year compared to only 17 in 1998. One death was reported in Ontario this year. 'We are in the midst of an outbreak in parts of Canada right now, and there are potential exposures in public places, airports, community centres, restaurants, public places where people may visit,' Bogoch said. 'But if people are immune to this infection, preferably through vaccination but also through recovery from infection, the risk is negligible.' As many parts of the world experience an increase in measles cases, Canada's travel health notice says the risk is at the lowest level. The level 1 advisory encourages travellers to practise health precautions, including avoiding insect bites, properly wash their hands and have updated vaccinations. It said vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from the disease. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show the number of measles cases in the European Union and European Economic Area have risen since 2013. 'My main concern is that there may be people who are non-immune who can receive a free, widely available vaccine that has decades of safety data and decades of effectiveness data associated with it and that it's a preventable disease,' Bogoch said. How do you get measles? The virus is spread through coughing, sneezing or breathing the same air as an infected person. It can remain contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours, according to the World Health Organization. Who is most at risk? Most people are immune to measles, but the virus will circulate more in certain cases, with those who are unvaccinated and not immune to it mainly getting infected, Bogoch said. He noted that pockets of Canada may have undervaccinated communities. He listed an example of many cases in Ontario occurring in a largely unvaccinated Mennonite Christian community in the southwestern part of the province. 'It sadly spreads like wildfire, and that's exactly what we're seeing happening right now,' Bogoch said. People who get infected with the virus are typically those under age 20, he added. 'It's primarily, almost exclusively … people who have not received two doses of vaccine,' Bogoch said. 'You can significantly lower risk of infection by receiving a routine childhood immunization. Two doses of a measles vaccine is extraordinarily effective in preventing measles infections.' Where are people more likely to get measles? While people can contract measles at airports, train stations and other crowded public areas, Bogoch said there isn't one primary place of infection. 'Measles is transmitted primarily in indoor settings through the air,' he said. 'It's a virus that is able to stay suspended in the air for a prolonged period of time, and the infectious dose is tiny. 'So if someone is non-immune and is exposed to the virus in an indoor setting, there's a very high likelihood that that person will get infected with measles.' With the disease mostly transmitted in indoor settings, the risks aren't necessarily higher during the peak summer travel season. 'It can be transmitted at any time of year,' Bogoch said. 'For example, in the winter months, there might be more people crowding in indoor settings because it's cold outside.' Symptoms and treatment Symptoms can show up as a fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes before a rash with red and blotchy spots appear. There isn't any specific antiviral treatment for measles. People can be treated with medications to help relieve symptoms. Most people recover, but severe cases may need to go to the hospital. Bogoch said the vast majority of those born before 1970 were already infected with measles since the virus was common back then, so they generally won't have to worry about getting it and have 'lifelong protection.' Most who have received two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is routinely given to children, have a 'very, very small' risk of infection, Bogoch added. Advice for travellers If you're travelling anywhere outside Canada where the measles risk may be higher, Bogoch recommends getting health advice before leaving the country. 'There's measles, but of course, there's a lot of other things that you can be mindful of and take precautions to ensure you have a healthy, safe and happy trip,' he said.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Ontario reports 74 new measles cases, including 28 more in the northern region
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine awaits the next patient at a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins TORONTO — Ontario is reporting 74 new measles cases over the last week, bringing the total number of people in the province who have fallen ill to 2,083 since October. That's lower than the number of new cases reported over the last several weeks, but includes an uptick in northern Ontario. Public Health Ontario data released Thursday included 28 new infections in the region covered by Algoma Public Health, based in Sault Ste. Marie. That brings the region's cumulative count to 81. A provincial hot spot in southwestern Ontario saw 14 more cases, with Southwestern Public Health reporting a total of 739. The report said seven infants in total have been born with congenital measles, including a premature baby in southwestern Ontario who died. Ontario's chief medical officer of health announced that death last week — the outbreak's first — and noted the child was infected in the womb through a mother who was not vaccinated. Throughout the outbreak, 40 pregnant people have been infected with measles, and most of them were not fully immunized. The report said there have been 144 hospitalizations – among them 104 infants, children and teenagers – with nine admitted to intensive care since an outbreak began last fall. Hospital stays ranged from one to 54 days with a median length of three days and two days for people in intensive care. Several public health units, including those in Hamilton, North Bay, Niagara, York Region and eastern Ontario, reported no new cases. Almost 840 infections had been reported in Alberta as of Wednesday. The western province is second to Ontario in the number of measles cases. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025. By Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
One year later: N.S. graduates dozens of new paramedics, emergency medical responders
A year into its efforts to beef up recruitment of paramedics and emergency medical responders by offering free tuition to students, the province says it's starting to see the fruits of its labour. Jeff Fraser, the senior executive director for Emergency Health Services at the Department of Health, said Monday that recent numbers showed vacancy rates had been cut in half in April 2025 compared to the previous April. "We're really happy with the results we've seen to date," Fraser told CBC's Information Morning Nova Scotia. Through its incentive program, the province offered to cover the full tuition for more than 460 people who wanted to train to become a primary care paramedic or an emergency medical responder. In exchange, graduates have to agree to stay in the province and work — paramedics for four years and emergency medical responders for two. To date, 119 paramedics and 37 emergency medical responders have completed their training and are working in the field, said Fraser. He said the province has awarded a total of 319 bursaries, 259 for would-be paramedics and 60 for emergency medical responders. "We're seeing a big difference," said Kevin MacMullin, the business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 727, which represents paramedics in Nova Scotia. "We've now got schools in places like Yarmouth where we never had a class before and that's important because people in that region can't always travel up to Halifax and stay in the Halifax region and take the primary care program," he told Information Morning on Thursday. Both programs offer class time and hands-on learning in the field, with the paramedic training lasting 50 weeks and the emergency medical responder training covering three months. Emergency medical responders are trained to work alongside paramedics to provide basic emergency care. They can also assist with hospital patient transfers and in the offload areas in emergency departments. "There's usually a backup of paramedics waiting to get offloaded and that's one of our primary disadvantages at the present time because we want to get our trucks back out on the road where they should be to respond to emergencies," said MacMullin. The province will continue to offer the incentive program this year into the next, said Fraser. "That will bring us the stability in our workforce," he said. "We'll continue to re-evaluate and make recommendations to government as time goes on."
