(April 16, 2025) By: Joseph Goden (with files from Grant Deme), Go Northumberland<\/p>\n
The Ontario Health Coalition is sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in measles cases across the province and is urging a stronger public health response.<\/p>\n
According to Public Health, 816 measles cases \u2013 678 confirmed and 138 probable \u2013 were reported from October 18, 2024, to April 9, 2025, across 15 public health units. The majority of infections are in western and southwestern Ontario, with additional clusters in the southeast, near north and Niagara regions.<\/p>\n
From April 3 to April 10, the province recorded 155 new cases. Of those affected, 92.5 per cent of children and teens and 62 per cent of adults were unvaccinated.<\/p>\n
Dr. Dick Zoutman, an infectious disease specialist and board member of the Ontario Health Coalition, pointed to Ontario\u2019s immunization rate of 70 per cent \u2013 well below the 91 to 93 per cent levels seen in many European countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a public health failure that must be addressed with the utmost urgency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Executive director Natalie Mehra said Ontarians are not getting clear information on how to protect themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are confused as to what they should do,\u201d Mehra said. \u201cThere are far too many people who are not immunized, and the language being used regarding people born before or after 1970 is unclear for regular people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coalition is urging Public Health to launch a more visible and effective education campaign, make clear that measles is airborne and highly contagious, and offer concrete advice on how to limit the spread.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization reports that global measles immunization coverage is significantly higher than Ontario\u2019s current level.<\/p>\n