A sign warning warning about measles symptoms in the lobby to Windsor Regional Hospital on May 25, 2025.Dax Melmer/The Globe and Mail
Measles, a virus considered to have been eliminated in Canada in 1998, has made a significant comeback in this country, with major outbreaks in Ontario and Alberta. There have also been cases in several other provinces, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Ontario has recorded its first death associated with an outbreak that began in the fall. A baby born prematurely and infected with measles has died in Southwestern Ontario, Kieran Moore, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, said on June 5. The baby contracted the virus in utero. The mother was not vaccinated against measles, according to a statement from Dr. Moore.
Alberta launches extended measles awareness campaign to fight off rise in cases
Public Health Ontario says there have been more than 2,000 people infected with the virus since last October in multiple public health units. Cases have been mostly concentrated in Southern Ontario, and the majority of them have been among unimmunized individuals.
In Alberta, there were more than 700 confirmed cases.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease. It can result in serious health complications that, while rare, include respiratory failure, encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain, and death.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a rash that look like red spots or blotchy patches, which starts on the face and spreads down the body, arms and legs.
While measles is often associated with a rash, it takes time for this to appear (usually about three to seven days after symptoms begin). This means the virus can often be mistaken for a cold or the flu. The rash typically lasts about four to seven days.
Individuals with measles are considered to be infectious from four days before the onset of a rash until four days after its appearance.
Most individuals recover from measles within two or three weeks. It is considered to be a vaccine-preventable disease. The first measles vaccine was licensed in Canada in 1963.
Illustrations of the measles vaccine and virus.Illustration by Photo illustration by The Globe
How does it spread?
The virus is spread by air and through contact with respiratory secretions from the nose and mouth, such as when an infected person breathes, coughs, speaks or sneezes.
Health Canada says it can persist on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the space. Those who recover from the virus are considered to have lifelong immunity.
What is the advice from medical professionals to parents who suspect their kids may have measles?
Most people who become infected with the virus are able to recover at home, but severe cases may require hospitalization. Medical professionals say it is important to call ahead if medical intervention is necessary to allow for health care providers to make arrangements to see patients without spreading measles to others.
How is measles treated?
There is not a specific anti-viral treatment that is available to treat a measles infection. Physicians suggest medications can be used to help alleviate symptoms, such as a fever, and advise patients to get lots of rest and to drink fluids.
What is the existing vaccination schedule?
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is considered to be a routine childhood vaccination.
A first dose is recommended after a child’s first birthday, at 12 to 15 months of age. A second dose is usually given before a child starts school (between ages 4 and 6). However, the minimum interval between doses is only four weeks.
If I am an adult, should I consider getting a booster of the MMR vaccine?
Adults born after 1970 who live in or will be travelling to a place where measles is circulating may want to consider getting a booster if they’ve only had one dose.
Public-health experts suggest adults should check vaccination records to determine if they’ve had one shot or two. A widespread immunization program for infants was introduced in 1983, when a single dose was given to children at one year of age.
A second dose was added to the program in 1996, and a large catch-up campaign was launched to give the second shot to all school-aged children, says Public Health Ontario.
What should I do if my child is too young to be vaccinated against the measles or has only had one dose?
Public health nurse Lauri Bidinot demonstrates how to give a measles shot to a girl at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on March 4, 2025.Geoff Robins/The Canadian Press
The answer depends on how widely measles is spreading in your area, if at all.
In Southwestern Ontario, the epicentre of the province’s outbreak, public-health officials have set up special clinics that offer the measles shot to babies between six months and 11 months old.
They also encourage children who have only had one dose to get a second one as soon as possible, as long as at least four weeks have elapsed since their first shot.
Ninh Tran, the Medical Officer of Health for the Southwestern Public Health Unit, said he is recommending children in his region not wait for their second dose because of how quickly measles is spreading in his community.
The same advice wouldn’t necessarily apply in parts of Canada with no measles cases, although there is no harm in receiving the two doses closer together.
What should I do if my child is under the age of 1?
Health professionals say some protection is offered to young babies because of an antibody transfer that takes places during pregnancy.
Typically, children receive a dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age, but in some instances, such as during an outbreak, health officials may suggest a dose prior to their first birthday. Babies who receive a shot before they turn 1 would still need two more shots to be fully protected against the measles, Dr. Tran said.
Do you have any questions about the measles outbreak?
Canada is experiencing one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades, with cases in Ontario rivalling the entire United States. What do you want to know about the measles outbreak? How does it spread? What's the cause of the outbreaks? What can you do as a parent to keep your child safe? Submit your questions now.