Measles vaccination rate inadequate, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer says
Dr. Robert Strang said the latest numbers from 2024 show 93 per cent of two-year-olds at that time had had at least one dose of the measles vaccine and 79 per cent had two doses. The vaccine is recommended for babies at 12 months and 18 months.
"We're doing OK because those are underestimates," Strang said Wednesday. "And we know some of that 93 per cent — maybe [there was] just a delay [and] they didn't get their second dose until after they were two and they're still fully immunized. But there's more we need to do."
This week, Nova Scotia Health reported one lab-confirmed case of measles in Pictou County and said it expects there to be more. The health authority said the case is believed to be related to travel within Canada to an area with known measles cases. Nova Scotia's first lab-confirmed case of 2025, in May, involved a person who had travelled to the U.S.
Strang said even if the 2024 provincial numbers don't include every child who had the shot, the percentages need to be higher to fully prevent the spread of measles, which is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread.
When asked about the fact that 21 per cent of two-year-olds in Nova Scotia haven't been fully vaccinated, Strang said that's in part due to the impact of the pandemic, vaccination misinformation and challenges accessing primary care.
He said Public Health has increased the number of clinics for families without a primary care provider.
"In the last few months, with a focus on measles vaccine, we've immunized 5,000 to 6,000 Nova Scotians getting them up to date with their measles vaccine. So there's lots of good things happening, but we need to continue these efforts."
Strang said measles outbreaks show the importance of vaccinations.
"Vaccines prevent disease," he said.
Nova Scotia Health describes measles as a "very contagious viral infection that can cause serious illness." It says most cases occur in unvaccinated people who travel to places where measles cases are happening.
Symptoms of measles include:
Fever.
A red blotchy rash on the face that spreads down the body.
Cough, runny nose, red eyes.
Small white spots that may show up inside the mouth and throat.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, a measles infection can sometimes result in hospitalization.
Older adults who likely had measles as children have natural immunity, Strang said.
Anyone born between 1970 and 1996 may have received only one vaccine, so it's recommended those people get a booster.
MORE TOP STORIES
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Christmas tree growers keep watchful eye on spread of dangerous mould
Christmas tree growers in Atlantic Canada are monitoring the spread of a disease and looking for ways to combat it. Phytophthora abietivora, a destructive form of mould first identified in 2017 — although it has probably been around undetected for much longer — is causing root rot primarily in Fraser and balsam fir trees. Matthew Wright, treasurer of the Christmas Trees Atlantic Association and a crop protection expert, said imported seedlings may have brought the disease into Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where localized outbreaks have occurred. "It's not anything to be casual about," he said. The disease is spread through soil, water, infected plant material and contaminated equipment. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the disease spread from the northeastern U.S. to Quebec and Ontario. In Quebec, it was reported in forest nurseries and Christmas tree plantations where it caused root rot. In Ontario, it has been found in samples from forested areas but is not associated with any disease. Wright said the disease is a slime mould and belongs to an ancient group of organisms between algae and fungi. "They have swimming spores that move through moist soil to infect new trees," he said. "That's why drainage is one of the real keys to managing it." The mould produces thick-walled spores that can survive in soil for decades, meaning that once it is in a field it is almost impossible to eliminate. Wright said a warming climate in the region may be worsening the problem. Frozen soils had frosts that went deep enough to kill off most mould species, Wright said. But with milder winters, the frost isn't penetrating as deeply, and the mould is surviving. He said growers can reduce the chance of losses by improving drainage and planting on raised beds. Wright said if the disease spreads to natural stands of trees the consequences could be devastating. Infected trees should be removed and burned to prevent further contamination. Research efforts Wright said researchers are exploring ways to fight the disease. In North Carolina, he said scientists are grafting Fraser fir onto momi fir rootstock, an Asian species that has developed "bulletproof" resistance to the mould. Wright said Canadian researchers, led by a team in Quebec, are using DNA sequencing to track the pathogen's spread and test potential biological controls. MORE TOP STORIES
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
France registers a record 480 excess deaths during early summer heatwave
The early summer heatwave that affected 60 French departments between 19 June and 6 July led to a record 480 excess deaths, a rise of 5.5 percent compared to normal mortality levels, the country's public health agency has announced. People aged 75 and over accounted for almost all the excess deaths during the heatwave – 410 of those recorded in the affected areas, Public Health France said. It added that the "notably long and unusually early heatwave" had impacted nearly three-quarters of the population. This initial count will later be supplemented by an estimate of deaths specifically attributable to heat, to be included in a broader report due after 15 September, the agency noted. The calculation of excess mortality is based on all-cause death data collected from civil registry offices and transmitted by France's national statistics bureau Insee, compared with the expected number of deaths based on figures from the previous six years. What does 50C feel like? Touring 'heat chamber' allows French people to find out The region with the highest number of excess deaths was Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA), which covers the south east of the country. It saw at least 140 additional fatalities (representing a rise of 9.2 percent). Public Health France published a map of excess deaths by department but cautioned during a press briefing that a significant percentage increase in areas with small populations – and thus small absolute numbers – may not always be statistically meaningful. Three regions – Corsica, Hauts-de-France in the north of the country and Île-de-France, the region surrounding Paris – recorded no excess deaths during the heatwave period. The agency said that the figures underscore "the importance of implementing preventative measures to reduce the impact of heat, not only during heatwaves but throughout the summer". It stressed 'the need for a reinforced climate adaptation strategy at both national and local levels'. The agency also added that, according to its 2014-2023 data, 70 percent of heat-related deaths during the summer occurred outside officially declared heatwave days. Climate change pushed temperatures in latest European heatwave up by 4C (with AFP)
Associated Press
7 hours ago
- Associated Press
FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2025: DECADES-OLD LEAD POLLUTION LINKED TO MEMORY PROBLEMS IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY FINDS
Key Takeaways TORONTO, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Historic lead levels from the era of leaded gasoline may be contributing to cognitive issues 50 years later, suggests research reported for the first time at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference ® 2025 (AAIC®), in Toronto and online. Americans are about 20% more likely to experience memory problems if they lived in areas with high levels of atmospheric lead between 1960 and 1974, according to the analysis of more than 600,000 adults 65 and older. ' Research suggests half the U.S. population — more than 170 million people — were exposed to high lead levels in early childhood. This research sheds more light on the toxicity of lead related to brain health in older adults today,' said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead. 'Other studies reported at AAIC 2025 suggest that (a) lead exposure at any point in life may cause cognitive problems, (b) it may be more likely to affect certain populations and reflect disparities, and (c) there is a biological connection between lead exposure and Alzheimer's.' Historic levels of lead air pollution are associated with memory problems 50 years later In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers examined how exposure to airborne lead from 1960-1974 — when leaded gasoline use was at its highest — may affect brain health later in life. They determined that older adults who grew up in areas with moderate to extremely high historical atmospheric lead levels (HALL) were about 20% more likely to report memory problems as adults 50 years later. The researchers calculated the average HALL by area and linked it to self-reported memory problems from the American Community Survey from 2012-2017 (368,208 people) and 2018-2021 (276,476 people). They didn't analyze the source of the lead but believe that the higher the density of automobile traffic, such as in urban areas, the higher the atmospheric lead. Factoring in both time periods, the researchers determined that 17-22% of people living in areas with moderate, high or extremely high atmospheric lead reported memory issues. 'Our study may help us understand the pathways that contribute to some people developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease,' said Eric Brown, M.D., MSc, FRCPC, lead author of the study, associate scientist and associate chief of geriatric psychiatry at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto. Lead was originally added to gasoline to increase performance until researchers determined it posed serious risks to health and the environment. The more than 20-year-long phase-out of leaded gas began in 1975 when all new cars sold in the U.S. were required to have catalytic converters. 'When I was a child in 1976, our blood carried 15 times more lead than children's blood today,' said Esme Fuller-Thomson, Ph.D., senior author of the study and a professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Ientash Faculty of Social Work and director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging. 'An astonishing 88% of us had levels higher than 10 micrograms per deciliter, which are now considered dangerously high.' While the risk of atmospheric lead has decreased, other sources of exposure remain, such as old lead paint and pipes. Those who have been exposed to atmospheric lead should focus on reducing other risk factors for dementia, including high blood pressure, smoking and social isolation, said Brown. Living near lead-polluting sites may affect memory Another study reported at AAIC found that older adults who live about three miles from a lead-releasing facility — such as glass, ready-mixed concrete or computer and electronics manufacturers — are more likely to have memory and thinking problems than those who live farther away. This research, which focused on a racially and ethnically diverse group of older adults, reinforces concerns about the long-term cognitive impact of environmental lead exposure, especially in communities already facing health disparities. Researchers assessed 2,379 patients (average age ~74 years) from two studies: the Kaiser Health Aging and Diverse Life Experienced study (KHANDLE, 1,638 patients) of a diverse group of Kaiser Permanente insurance plan members who live in northern California, and the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR, 741 patients) study of Black adults age 50 and older who live in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas. They evaluated the participants' proximity to the nearest lead-releasing facility and compared the distance to participants' Neuropsychological Assessment Scales results at baseline and two years later. Compared to two years earlier, the KHANDLE participants who lived within 5 km (just over three miles) of a lead-releasing facility scored 0.15 times lower on verbal episodic memory tests (recall of personal experiences), and 0.07 times lower on overall cognitive ability compared to those living farther away. Every 5 km farther a participant lived from a lead-releasing facility was associated with 5% higher memory scores two years later. Among STAR group participants living within 5 km of a lead-releasing facility, researchers observed a 0.20 times lower score on semantic memory (general knowledge) two years later, compared to those who lived farther away. 'Our results indicate that lead exposure in adulthood could contribute to worse cognitive performance within a few years,' said Kathryn Conlon, Ph.D., MPH, senior author and associate professor of environmental epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. 'Despite tremendous progress on lead abatement, studies have shown there is no safe level of exposure, and half of U.S. children have detectable levels of lead in their blood. Additionally, there are regions and neighborhoods that have more exposure.' According to Conlon, there were 7,507 lead-releasing facilities in the U.S. in 2023. To reduce exposure, Conlon said people living near lead-producing facilities should keep their homes clean to avoid the accumulation of lead-contaminated dust, remove their shoes when coming inside, and place dust mats inside and outside to avoid tracking lead-contaminated dust indoors. Use the Environmental Protection Agency's TRI Toxics Tracker to identify lead-releasing facilities near you. Study reveals how lead exposure may set the stage for Alzheimer's Even low levels of lead exposure can create permanent changes in brain cells, including increased buildup of abnormal tau and amyloid beta, which are proteins associated with Alzheimer's, suggests a third study reported at AAIC 2025. The researchers exposed human brain cells to lead concentrations of zero, 15 and 50 parts per billion (ppb), simulating the kind of lead exposure people might experience through contaminated water or air. The EPA's action level for lead in drinking water is 15 ppb. They ran molecular, genetic, biochemical and functional tests on the cells and determined that (a) the 15-ppb and 50-ppb lead-exposed neurons were more electrically active (suggesting early dysfunction) than those that had no exposure, (b) energy-producing cells were damaged, and (c) there was an increase in tau and amyloid beta. Even after the lead was removed, the cells remained primed for damage, responding more severely to additional stressors such as tau. 'These findings help explain how lead exposure, especially in early life or from occupational and environmental sources, might leave a lasting molecular imprint on the brain making it more vulnerable to age-related diseases like Alzheimer's,' said Junkai Xie, Ph.D., lead author of the study and post-doctoral research associate in chemical engineering at Purdue University. 'Our results show that lead exposure isn't just a short-term concern; it may set the stage for cognitive problems decades later.' About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® (AAIC®) The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community. AAIC 2025 home page: AAIC 2025 newsroom: AAIC 2025 hashtag: #AAIC25 About the Alzheimer's Association® The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit or call 800.272.3900. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
