Infant Death Sparks Concern as Measles Cases Surge Across Canada
AFP
Toronto: A Canadian infant who was born prematurely and infected with measles has died, according to health authorities, raising fresh concerns over the resurgence of the highly contagious virus in the country. Officials have not yet confirmed measles as the cause of death but noted it may have been a contributing factor.
The infant, who contracted the virus before birth from their unvaccinated mother, faced several serious medical complications unrelated to measles, said Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore. “While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
If confirmed, it would be the first measles-related death in Canada during the current outbreak.
According to federal health data updated on June 2, Canada has reported 2,755 measles cases this year—2,429 of which are confirmed and 326 considered probable. The outbreak’s epicenter is Ontario, where nearly 2,000 cases have been reported. Alberta follows with 632 confirmed cases.
In March, Dr Moore highlighted that the outbreak is “disproportionately affecting some Mennonite, Amish, and other Anabaptist communities” due to lower vaccination rates in those populations.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. The virus can cause severe complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation, premature birth, and in rare cases, death. Infants under 12 months—who are too young to be vaccinated—along with individuals with weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable.
Canada had declared measles eradicated in 1998, following widespread immunization efforts. However, cases continue to emerge, often imported from abroad and exacerbated by local vaccine hesitancy.
The United States is also facing a resurgence, with outbreaks notably affecting a vaccine-skeptical Mennonite community along the Texas–New Mexico border. Public health experts have raised alarm over declining vaccine confidence, in part due to misinformation. Among the most prominent vaccine skeptics is former U.S. presidential candidate and current Health Secretary under Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has repeatedly and falsely claimed that the MMR vaccine is unsafe.
Health officials continue to urge parents to ensure children receive the recommended measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, emphasizing its safety and effectiveness in preventing potentially fatal infections.
