Latest news with #SouthwesternPublicHealth
CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Two of the four Atlantic provinces have measles outbreaks
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont., on March 4. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins FREDERICTON — Two of the four Atlantic provinces are dealing with active measles outbreaks. Nova Scotia health officials say there are 30 cases in the province's northern zone, while New Brunswick's online dashboard says there are 15 confirmed infections in the south-central region. Earlier this year, Prince Edward Island reported four cases — two in April and two in June. Newfoundland and Labrador has not reported measles infections in 2025. On Thursday, Nova Scotia health officials said the northern zone outbreak involves communities with low measles vaccination rates, but didn't give details. Scientists say a 95 per cent vaccination rate — with two doses of vaccine — is needed in a population to prevent the disease from spreading. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025.
Toronto Sun
24-07-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Ontario's former measles hot spot sees no new cases for 1st time since spring
Published Jul 24, 2025 • 2 minute read Data released by Public Health Ontario shows no additional measles cases in the area covered by Southwestern Public Health. Photo by Cynthia Goldsmith / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Canada's former measles hot spot is reporting no new cases for the first time since a spring surge. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Data released by Public Health Ontario shows no additional illnesses in the area covered by Southwestern Public Health, which in April accounted for 45% of the province's cases and the highest count in Canada. The benchmark comes after the region reported just one new case for each of the previous three weeks, although there are nine new cases in the neighbouring health unit of Middlesex-London. Public Health Ontario says they are among 22 new cases over the past week, including four reported by the Grand Erie health unit, eight in the summer destination of Huron Perth and one in Chatham-Kent. Southwestern Public Health said earlier this week it was ending local weekly measles reports but stressed that the outbreak was not over. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More The province's weekly case additions have hovered around the 20s and 30s lately, with 32 additions logged last week, 21 the week before that, and 11 on July 3. The latest data brings the province's total number of infections to 2,298 since an outbreak began in October. Meanwhile, the Alberta Medical Association is hoping to draw more attention to its outbreak, which logged 1,511 cases as of Thursday. An expert AMA panel called the province's measles situation an epidemic on Wednesday. 'We're probably just seeing the tip of the iceberg,' Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist with the University of Alberta, said on the panel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Dr. James Talbot, former chief medical officer of health in Alberta, said describing the spread as an epidemic would appropriately raise the level of urgency for parents to get their kids vaccinated before school resumes. Talbot urged the government to make measles vaccines available to infants as young as six months old in Edmonton and Calgary. The province offers early shots to infants in the hardest hit south, central and north zones. The Alberta government said more than 82,000 measles vaccines were administered across Alberta between March 16 and July 12, representing an increase of more than 55% compared to the same time last year. Nova Scotia reported 30 cases of measles in the northern zone Thursday, up from the single case reported July 7. Health officials say they believe the cases stemmed from travel within Canada to regions where measles is circulating. Manitoba said there were 12 new cases in its weekly report Wednesday, bringing its total number of confirmed infections to 158. Sports Canada Editorials World Toronto & GTA
Toronto Sun
22-07-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Canada's former measles hot spot ends weekly reports, says outbreak not over
Published Jul 22, 2025 • 2 minute read Measles. Local health officials are ending weekly measles reports for a southern Ontario hot spot that had led the country in infections. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Southwestern Public Health announced the change Tuesday, adding that doesn't mean the outbreak is over. It encouraged residents to check for weekly updates on the region from Public Health Ontario, which are released Thursdays. The local health unit began posting weekly reports online in April when communities including St. Thomas, Elgin and Oxford counties accounted for 45% of cases in the province and the most measles infections in Canada. But in its last update Thursday, the public health unit reported just one new case for the third week in a row. Public health experts have expressed cautious optimism about Ontario's overall slowing counts with 32 new cases reported last week. Read More Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. However, the medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health says the risk of measles persists, especially for those who are not vaccinated. 'Please continue to be vigilant in preventing measles and protecting yourselves and loved ones through vaccination,' Dr. Ninh Tran said Tuesday in a statement. Public Health Ontario releases weekly reports on measles cases, which are compiled from public health unit data. But as the outbreak surged, the southwestern public health unit also released its own data publicly, with a more localized break down, such as hospitalizations and immunization status of infected individuals within the area. Carolyn Richards, who oversees epidemiologists and public health planners at Southwestern Public Health, said that was done to meet increasing public interest as cases rose. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We had a lot of people on our website and our social media, so we wanted to put out our data in the same place that people were looking for other information,' she said. Richards said her team felt comfortable ending those reports now that spread has slowed, but they could return if cases surge again. 'We don't know that it couldn't increase again. We just know that the cases are low at this time and that it could be possible that's related to summer holidays, kids aren't in school,' Richards said. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Ontario had recorded 2,276 measles cases as of last week. While its case count is still the country's highest, attention has lately turned to Alberta. Alberta reported 47 new cases over the weekend, bringing its total cases since March to 1,454 as of Monday. The province's former chief medical officers of health Dr. Mark Joffe said July 9 that Alberta had twice the rate of confirmed cases than the more populous Ontario. The province of Alberta updates its measles count on weekdays and breaks down the number of cases in each zone, with its south zone accounting for more than half of the cases. Canada Columnists Celebrity Olympics Entertainment
CTV News
22-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Canada's former measles hot spot ends weekly reports, but says outbreak is not over
A sign outside Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 warns residents to call ahead before visiting a doctor or hospital if they think they have the measles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Hamilton public health warns of possible measles exposures at Costco and Service Ontario
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins Public Health officials in Hamilton are warning the public about two confirmed cases of measles in the city, which may have resulted in some people being exposed to the virus without their knowledge. The cases are reported as being from the same household and travel related, As of July 8, Ontario has reported 2,244 cases of measles but a significant portion of those cases are clustered in southwestern Ontario. With these two new cases, Hamilton has reported four cases this year. Hamilton health services are advising that the public may have been exposed to the virus at the following locations: Service Ontario (50 Dundurn St S, Unit 10, Hamilton, ON L8P 4W3) July 7, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Costco - Ancaster (100 Legend Ct, Hamilton, ON L9K 1J3) July 7, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Upper Gage Clinic and Gage Pharmacy (1050 Upper Gage Ave, Unit 3, Hamilton, ON L8V 0A3) July 9, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ellen Fairclough Building - Service Ontario, main lobby, elevators, 4th floor (119 King St West, Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y7) July 9, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Hamilton health officials are warning the public to watch for symptoms, including a high fever, red blotchy rashes, small white spots with white centres (Koplik's spots) inside the mouth and throat.
