Number of confirmed and probable measles cases in Waterloo Region surpasses 100

Public health officials say there are now more than 100 confirmed or probable cases of measles in Waterloo Region. CTV’s Krista Simpson reports.

The number of confirmed and probable measles cases in Waterloo Region has surpassed 100.

The cases are part of an outbreak in southwestern Ontario that began back in October 2024. Waterloo Region had its first reported case in March 2025.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Waterloo Region Public Health reported 79 confirmed and 22 probable cases of measles in the region.

“We’re seeing now, I think, what we would classify as community spread. We anticipate that these numbers will continue to climb,” said David Aoki, Region of Waterloo Public Health’s Director of Infectious Disease and Chief Nursing Officer.

Aoki said more cases are being reported every day and public health believes the peak of the outbreak is still to come.

High schools reopen

Two Kitchener high schools that were closed due to measles exposures have now reopened.

Eastwood Collegiate Institute was shut down Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16, while St. Mary’s High School was closed Friday, May 16.

Both schools reopened Tuesday, May 20, after public health went through about 4,000 vaccination records to determine who was able to return.

Aoki said while the majority of people are able to go to school, there are a few reasons why some may be absent.

“There’s many reasons why someone may not be fully vaccinated or might not be able to return, not just about vaccine, but also about their personal health and what’s safe for people to return. There’s lots of reasons but we’re very happy that we have the majority of people back.”

Expanded eligibility for vaccination

On Friday, Public Health announced Waterloo Region is now among the areas in the province that can offer measles vaccines sooner than the typical provincial schedule.

The new guidelines are as follows:

• Infants aged 6 months to 1 year of age are recommended to receive a single dose of vaccine (they must receive two additional doses after the first birthday)
• Children aged 1 year to 4 years of age are recommended to receive an earlier second dose of vaccine as soon as possible (in the routine schedule they were eligible after 4 years of age)
• Adults born on or after 1970 are now recommended to receive a second dose of vaccine if they do not already have one

Vaccinations can be administered by a family doctor or at a walk-in clinic. Public Health is also planning to host clinics, in particular to help those who don’t have a primary care provider.

For those who are unsure of their vaccination status, Aoki says there are a few options: check with public health to see if your school records are still available, get a blood test to check immunity, or, what he says public health typically recommends: just get the shots now.

“There’s no added risk but you get the benefit of surety that you now know you had them,” Aoki says.