Health unit issues vaccination reminder as more measles detected in Windsor-Essex
Caption: Nine-year-old Jexer Brayan receives a MMR vaccine, which protects against contracting the disease measles, at City of Lubbock Health Department in Lubbock, Texas, USA, 01 March 2025. T (Annie Rice/Shutterstock)
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) says it's sent reminders to school-aged children who are overdue for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines as wastewater surveillance is showing an increase in measles virus in the region.
Nobody has established a direct link between the wastewater signal and school-aged children, but the signal is a reminder that it's important to protect children through high community immunization, the health unit said.
"Wastewater surveillance is one of the tools we use to monitor public health trends," said Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, medical officer of health.
"Although clinical measles cases remain low, the presence of the virus back in the wastewater suggests that we must remain vigilant."
The health unit is offering catch-up immunization clinics throughout the summer.
"We want to make it as easy as possible for families to access this important vaccine," Aloosh said.
"With the school year approaching and the measles virus detected in wastewater, this is a timely opportunity to ensure our community remains protected against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases."
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