Mounting measles cases reported by Southwestern, Huron-Perth Public Health

Southwestern Public Health has indicated that the majority of those infected with measles locally lacked critical protection. CTV London's Reta Ismail reports.

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) provided an update Wednesday on mounting measles cases in their region.

Southwestern Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ninh Tran continues to encourage the measles vaccine, emphasizing its life saving benefits.

“Unlike the flu or COVID vaccine, which mainly is to lessen the severity of an infection, two doses of measles containing vaccine prevents the infection altogether,” he said.

Public Health Ontario has linked all but 22 cases in the province to a travel related case in New Brunswick.

Dr. Tran says there has been a steady level of cases over last few weeks – updating the total number of cases reported to SWPH since October 2024 at 296, which amounts to the highest case count in any jurisdiction in Ontario.

SWPH reported an additional measles exposure in the region on Wednesday, with a potential exposure window at Tilsonburg District Memorial Hospital Emergency Department on March 31, from 10:55 a.m. to 1:17 p.m.

“The vast majority of our cases are not up to date to their vaccine, and over 90 per cent have never had a dose of the measles vaccine,” explained Tran.

People who visited the emergency rooms at Stratford General Hospital, Listowel Memorial Hospital and Wingham and District Hospital may have been exposed to the measles virus.

Huron Perth Public Health identified several measles exposure windows on Wednesday:

• Stratford General Hospital
• Listowel Memorial Hospital
• Wingham and District Hospital

Meanwhile, the Middlesex London Health Unit is not seeing the same numbers in the region – however, there is concern since most cases are in children.

In its last community update, London Health Sciences Center (LHSC) cited vaccine hesitancy, and religious or cultural reasons as factors.

Tran says despite speculation about certain communities being impacted by measles, personal risk is specifically tied to vaccination history and exposure.

“Aligning cases too closely to any single population or community can provide a false sense of security for the general public.”

Tran says their vaccination efforts remain in children, as they conduct school-based record reviews, hundreds of doses have been administered through post exposure clinics targeting 6 to 11-month-old babies and community exposure.

- with files from CTV News Kitchener’s Shelby Knox