With more than 107 confirmed and probable cases of measles in Huron and Perth since October, the counties have been declared areas of concern for the highly contagious airborne illness.Â
Measles is a respiratory virus that causes fever, cough, red eyes and a distinctive rash and can last for up to two hours in the air or on surfaces.
While most recover within two or three weeks, it can become more severe with possible pneumonia, ear infections, and in extreme cases brain swelling.
Medical Officer of Health and CEO for Huron Perth Public Health, Dr. Miriam Klassen, told MyStratfordNow there is a harsh reality – two in every 1,000 cases result in death due to brain swelling or respiratory failure.
“It’s true that most will recover uneventfully, but not everybody.”
Prior to the outbreak, measles in Ontario was rare because in 1998 it was given elimination status in Canada.
“In the last decade, we’ve seen increasing vaccine hesitancy, so vaccination rates were declining and then the pandemic hit,” said Klassen.
Due to the pandemic, individuals fell behind in their vaccine schedules.
This meant that measles began circulating globally and saw an increase in 2024.
Then, in October, 2024, a travel-related measles case caused a small outbreak in New Brunswick, where an Ontarian was present and unknowingly brought it back to the province.
From Oct. 18, 2024 to April 16, 2025, Ontario has reported 925 measles cases associated with this outbreak, in 15 public health units.
The majority of cases continue to be with people who are un-immunized.
Klassen explains that a way to boost immunity to measles is through vaccination as two vaccine doses offer 97 per cent protection against the virus.
“Vaccination is the best protection, we have a long track record with a proven, safe and effective vaccine and it’s readily available.”
Visit hpph.ca/measles to learn more about measles in the region.
