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CBC
7 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Southwestern Public Health ends weekly measles reports amid falloff in local cases
Social Sharing Southwestern Public Health is winding down its weekly measles reports amid a drop in the number of local cases being reported. But health officials stressed on Tuesday that the move doesn't mean the months-long outbreak that prompted them is over. The health unit is instead directing Elgin and Oxford County residents to refer to the measles case reports issued each week by Public Health Ontario, which consists of data from Ontario health units. While SWPH is still conducting its own internal surveillance, not having to prepare and publish local weekly reports will help free up some resources, said Carolyn Richards, the program manager for SWPH's foundational standards team. "Cases are much lower now than they were in the spring. It could be because children are out of school for the summer, like it could be something that's temporary," Richards told CBC News. Richards added that the health unit would consider bringing back the local reports if measles cases began to rise again. In a statement, the region's medical officer of health, Dr. Ninh Tran, said the risk of measles continues for those who are susceptible. "Please continue to be vigilant in preventing measles and protecting yourselves and loved ones through vaccination," he said. Family doctor says measles outbreaks in Canada are entirely preventable 6 days ago While B.C. has recorded a little over 100 cases of measles as of July 5, neighbouring Alberta has recorded more cases than the entirety of the U.S. despite having a fraction of the population. Dr. Susan Kuo, a Richmond family physician, said the current outbreak could be prevented with up-to-date vaccinations, and the COVID-19 pandemic had led to an increase in vaccine skepticism and poor disease mitigation. The health unit began issuing its own weekly reports in April, when the region was Canada's measles hot spot, accounting at one point for nearly half of all measles cases in Ontario. Those numbers have fallen significantly in recent weeks. Last week, the health unit reported only one confirmed case, the same as the previous two weeks. Richards said they were meant to provide the public a more precise, detailed look at the local data in comparison to Public Health Ontario's reports, which provide a broader provincial overview. While the provincial reports used data provided by SWPH, figures could sometimes differ slightly from what local health officials were telling residents due to routine data cleansing. "Now that the numbers are much lower, that risk of a difference between us and the provincial report is so much lower that we can switch to using them as the source," Richards said. Most of the recent cases reported by Public Health Ontario have come from nearby Huron and Perth counties. Of the 32 new cases reported last week, 19 were within the jurisdiction of Huron-Perth Public Health, which covers Clinton, Goderich, Stratford and St. Marys, among other communities. Dr. Miriam Klassen, the region's medical officer of health, told CBC News last week that the cluster of cases was linked to an exposure at a private function, and large households in the community with multiple cases. Measles cases in Alberta surpass 1,300 4 days ago As Alberta's measles outbreak continues to grow, some residents are reconsidering travel plans — particularly families with young children or individuals with autoimmune concerns. Dr. Christopher Labos addresses and debunks common misinformation about measles vaccines and preventative treatments. CORRECTION (July 18, 2025): A previous version of this title incorrectly stated the number of confirmed measles cases in Alberta as 13,000. In fact, the number of cases in the province is 1,300. Ontario had recorded a total of 2,276 measles cases as of last week, linked to a travel-related case in New Brunswick in October. The majority, nearly 74 per cent, involved infants, children, and adolescents 19 and younger, according to Public Health Ontario. Of those, 96 per cent were unvaccinated. At least 68 per cent of adult cases involved unvaccinated individuals. While Ontario's case count is still the country's highest, attention has lately turned to Alberta. The province reported 47 cases over the weekend, bringing its total tally to 1,454 as of Monday.
CTV News
22-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
SWPH no longer providing weekly measles updates
Due to the ongoing pattern of fewer measles cases being reported to the health unit, Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) has decided to conclude publishing its weekly Measles Outbreak Report until further notice. Instead, SWPH is encouraging residents of Elgin County, Oxford County, and the City of St. Thomas to view the weekly measles epidemiology report published by Public Health Ontario. 'The decision to end our local measles dashboard does not mean this outbreak has ended. Instead, we are recommending a provincial source to inform our community as we move through this outbreak response,' said Dr. Ninh Tran, Medical Officer of Health. 'The risk of measles persists for those who are susceptible. Please continue to be vigilant in preventing measles and protecting yourselves and loved ones through vaccination.' The latest measles outbreak report from SWPH on July 17 indicated there have been 759 total cases in the region since October 2024.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Boil water advisory for areas of St. Thomas
Map of affected areas in St. Thomas. (City of St. Thomas) A boil water advisory is in place for areas of St. Thomas by Southwestern Public Health, after water sample results indicated the presence of bacteria. The affected locations are: East Avenue, Chester Street, West Avenue, Devonshire Place, Balflour Street, Ada Street, Parkside Drive, Bell Drive, Henry Street, Glenbanner Street, Willow Street, Wilson Avenue (from #2 to #193), Bush Line (40359), Elm Street (from #25 to #80), Palm Street (from #4 to #17), Sunset Drive (from #126 to #188) and Pinafore Park. Dr. Ninh Tran, the medical officer of health, advises residents to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before domestic use. Water must be boiled before using it for drinking, making infant formula and juice, brushing teeth, washing raw foods and making ice. The advisory will remain in effect until tests show the water is safe to consume. For more information on the boil water advisory, visit Southwestern Public Health's website.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
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.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Boil water advisory for users of Oxford South Municipal Water Suppl
There's a boil water advisory in effect for all users of the Oxford South Municipal Water Supply. According to Southwestern Public Health, the advisory is for Norwich, Otterville and Springford. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ninh Tran has been notified that water sample results may indicate the presence of bacteria in the water It is recommended that all affected residents bring water to a rolling boil for at least one full minute before using it for:
