Measles-infected infant dies in southwestern Ontario

Ontario's Ministry of wellness has  proclaimed the number one recorded dying of a morbilli patient from the current outbreak that started in October. 

Dr. Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of health, issued a statement Thursday saying a southwestern Ontario infant has died after being born prematurely and infected with the highly contagious virus through the mother.

Moore offered few other details.

Southwestern Public Health, which covers Oxford and Elgin counties, confirmed the child was from a community in their coverage area.

"The infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine," Moore wrote. "While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus.

"Out of respect for the family's privacy, no further personal or medical details will be shared."

The death is the first in this outbreak, which at last count, on Tuesday, included up 2,009 probable and confirmed cases since it began on Oct. 28, according to the ministry.

It's only the second measles-related death the province has seen in decades, after an unvaccinated child from Hamilton who was younger than five years old died in May 2024.

Previously, Moore shared that this outbreak in Ontario was traced back to a Mennonite wedding in New Brunswick, and is spreading primarily in Mennonite and Amish communities where vaccination rates lag. The vast majority of those cases are in southwestern Ontario.

The official case count in the current outbreak is likely lower than the actual number as many cases aren't being reported, health officials have said.

Case counts have been highest in the areas covered by Southwestern Public Health, Chatham-Kent Public Health, Huron-Perth Public Health, Grand Erie Public Health and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

In May alone, 79 people were diagnosed with measles by Southwestern Public Health, which by far has the largest case count in the province. Seventy-five per cent of patients in that health unit were younger than 18.

Those most at risk from the measles virus are unvaccinated children, health officials have warned throughout the outbreak.

"Measles poses a serious risk to unvaccinated individuals and to infants in the early stages of life in particular," Moore wrote in the release Thursday. "Anyone who is unvaccinated is at risk and I urge everyone, but especially those who may become pregnant, to ensure they have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which will protect both a parent and baby. This vaccine has been safely used for over 50 years and is highly effective. Two doses provide nearly 100 per cent protection."

Officials in public health areas affected by the outbreak have told reporters they've poured resources into delivering that message to rural communities in different languages and through outreach to faith leaders.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones, whose response to the outbreak has been panned by opposition politicians in recent weeks, said she hopes the child's tragic death is a wake-up call.

"I hope today's terrible news really refocuses people's conversations with their primary-care practitioners. Listen, this is real, this is impactful, and as we have seen this week, sometimes can lead to death," Jones told reporters.

Jones also said the ministry is working hard to convince parents to vaccinate themselves and their children. She said letters have been sent to schoolchildren and their parents, and there's been ministry collaboration with health units and a "multimillion-dollar social media campaign."

She also pointed to a directive the province sent to Southwestern Public Health and other health units in the fall, asking them to start offering measles vaccines to children earlier than the regular age.

"You know, it's devastating when you hear about something, that we've had a measles vaccine in Canada and around the world for almost five decades, and yet we still have individuals who for many different reasons are choosing not to get vaccinated."

Moore said measles is one of the most contagious diseases. Complications from infection can include pneumonia, brain swelling, premature birth and death.

Those seeking vaccination are urged to contact their local health units.

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