TORONTO — With Ontario’s measles outbreak continuing to grow, parents, educators, and health officials are urging increased vaccinations. The province reported 102 new cases in the past week, bringing the total to 572 since the outbreak began in October.
According to Public Health Ontario, 453 cases have been confirmed, while 119 are classified as probable. Among the 42 individuals hospitalized, two required intensive care, and 36 were children—most of whom were unvaccinated.
The outbreak has been largely concentrated in unvaccinated infants, children, and teenagers, particularly in the Southwestern and Grand Erie public health regions.
Parents Seek Early Immunization
Rosemary Tamburini, a mother from Etobicoke, is considering early vaccination for her nine-month-old baby, who is still a few months away from the standard one-year-old measles vaccine.
“I know many other moms in Ontario who are looking into early immunization,” she said. In response to the outbreak, public health officials in Ontario are offering the vaccine to babies as young as six months old.
Regional Spread and Origins of the Outbreak
New cases have emerged in Waterloo, Lambton County, and Chatham-Kent, where infections nearly doubled to 39 in the past week. The outbreak has also affected Huron Perth, with 55 cases reported.
Officials trace the outbreak to a travel-related case in New Brunswick that spread during a large gathering attended by Mennonite communities. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, stated that the virus has disproportionately affected Mennonite, Amish, and other Anabaptist communities due to lower immunization rates and increased exposure.
Community and School Response
At Walsingham Christian School in Norfolk County, a private school associated with the Old Colony Mennonite Church, four students tested positive for measles in late January and early February. Principal Martin Klassen stated that the school held a meeting with parents and distributed vaccine information in Low German for those who needed it.
“Vaccination is not a religious issue for us,” Klassen clarified. “Parents make their own decisions.”
Frustration and Precaution Among Educators
In Ottawa, music teacher Kelly Moorcroft expressed frustration over the resurgence of measles, a disease that was previously considered eradicated in Canada.
“It’s discouraging to see measles making a comeback,” she said. While Ottawa has yet to report cases, Moorcroft is preparing for possible exposure.
“If a student in my studio refuses vaccination, I might have to reconsider teaching them,” she added.
Moorcroft also pointed out that many Ontario residents lack access to a family doctor, making it difficult to stay up to date with vaccinations. To address this issue, Huron Perth health officials have set up vaccination clinics for individuals without primary care providers.
Public Health Efforts
Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health for Huron Perth, emphasized the importance of immunization in preventing severe illness.
“People who are vaccinated are not getting sick,” she said. “Most are protected.”
Other provinces are also monitoring outbreaks, with smaller case numbers reported in British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 378 confirmed measles cases across 18 jurisdictions this year.
Measles: A Highly Contagious Threat
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. The virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a blotchy rash that spreads across the body. Complications can include pneumonia, brain inflammation, and, in severe cases, death.
Dr. Sarah Wilson of Public Health Ontario, who has worked in the field for over a decade, expressed disappointment at the scale of the outbreak.
“I had hoped we would never see such a large measles outbreak,” she said. “Behind every case, especially those hospitalized, there’s a personal story.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 27, 2025.
