Nearly 200 new measles cases reported, still mostly in Ontario's rural southwest

Measles continues to spread at the fastest rate in the province southeast of London, Ont., according to Southwestern Public Health (SWPH), despite the region having some of the highest measles vaccination rates in Ontario.

The province-wide count of reported cases since the outbreak began in October now stands at more than 1,440, an increase of 197 cases in one week.

The rapid spread in the region that covers Oxford and Elgin counties isn't because of a lack of efficacy for measles vaccines though, according to the region's top doctor. Instead, it has to do with the way measles spreads like wildfire in pockets of unvaccinated individuals.

"Measles is ... probably the most infectious virus that we have, and it will find any individuals [who aren't vaccinated] if there are exposures," said Ninh Tran, SWPH's medical officer of health.

"In the 2023 to 2024 school year, there we reported 87.8 per cent measles immunization coverage for seven-year-olds, which is higher than the the 70 per cent coverage rate reported across Ontario," he said.

While Public Health Ontario said the initial measles cases that started the province-wide outbreak are traced back to a Mennonite wedding in New Brunswick, the brunt of the outbreak continues to ravage southwestern Ontario, with 84.7 per cent of the province's cases concentrated in the region.

That's particularly true in the jurisdictions of Southwestern Public Health, Grand Erie Public Health, Huron Perth Public Health, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit, home to 78.3 per cent of measles cases the province has seen since the outbreak began.

Here's how the latest Public Health Ontario numbers from October 28, 2024 to May 6 break down:

• Southwestern Public Health: 496 (34.4 per cent)
• Grand Erie Public Health: 201 (14.0 per cent)
• Huron Perth Public Health: 175 (12.2 per cent)
• Chatham-Kent Public Health: 145 (10.1 per cent)
• Windsor-Essex County Health: 111 (7.7 per cent)
• South East Health: 80 (5.6 per cent)
• Region of Waterloo Public Health: 48 (3.3 per cent)
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph: 46 (3.2 per cent)
• Grey Bruce Health Unit: 35 (2.4 per cent)
• North Bay Parry Sound District: 30 (2.1 per cent)
• Middlesex-London Health Unit: 28 (1.9 per cent)
• Lambton Public Health: 17 (1.2 per cent)
• Niagara Region Public Health: 11 (0.8 per cent)
• Northeastern Public Health: 11 (0.8 per cent)
• Algoma Public Health: 3 (0.2 per cent)
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit: 2 (0.1 per cent)
• City of Hamilton Public Health Services: 1 (0.1 per cent)

In recent days, frustration over the continuing spread of the virus despite attempts by public health authorities to educate and advocate for vaccinations, has spilled over into the world of politics.

Opposition NDP leader Marit Stiles said in public statements, the province is failing in its efforts to contain the virus, Wednesday. Liberal health critic Dr. Adil Shamji, who is an emergency room physician, told CBC News much the same.

In response, Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Premier Doug Ford defended on Wednesday the province's approach, with Ford calling childhood vaccination against measles a "no-brainer".

In the single hardest hit region, overseen by SWPH, the work the province has done is being well received.

"Whether that includes the Ministry [of Health], the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health or Public Health Ontario, we're in regular communications, looking at ways of supporting each other through the measles outbreak," Tran said. "Everybody locally as well as provincially is really active, providing a ton of work on this file."

As the virus continues to stubbornly spread predominantly in rural communities, Tran said efforts to convince parents to get their children vaccinated continue.

"Our community is very diverse. We've done work through different outreach, multimedia, multi-language channels," Tran said.

According to the latest provincial figures, 101 people, or seven per cent of patients have been hospitalized so far. No deaths have been reported.

Measles continues to overwhelmingly affect unvaccinated children and teens. People interested in seeking vaccination against measles are encouraged to visit their local health unit's website.