The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly advises all Canadians to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles, especially before traveling.
Amid the spread of measles, the agency says it is concerned about the March holiday season, which could lead to more cases of this highly contagious disease in the country.
To be fully protected, adults and children must have received two doses of measles vaccine.
The first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is usually given to babies 12 to 15 months old, and then again before the child starts school.
The Canadian Immunization Guide recommends that adults who are unsure whether or not they have received two vaccinations should receive a booster shot, especially if they are traveling.
It also recommends that adults born before 1970 who are unsure whether they have ever had measles receive one dose of the vaccine.
If parents are traveling with babies younger than 12 months, the baby must receive a dose of measles vaccine if they are at least 6 months old.
The DD Shelly Bolotin, director of the Center for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto, says there’s no harm in getting an extra dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Importing cases
Measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998, meaning that all outbreaks since then have started from an infected person in another country.
Recently, measles cases have increased in other countries, including the United Kingdom.
“As there is an increase in cases outside of Canada, it is understandable that we are also seeing an increase in imports [de rougeole]explained the DD Bolotin. What we need to do is ensure that our population is adequately protected so that when cases arise, they do not spread into large epidemics [ici]. »
The Public Health Agency is aware of six cases of measles so far in Canada in 2024, according to an emailed statement Thursday.
“Measles can cause pneumonia, as well as serious and lifelong complications, including deafness and brain damage resulting from inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), the statement said. Measles can be a deadly infection. Children under 5 years old, adults over 20 years old, pregnant people, and immunocompromised people are at higher risk of complications from measles. »
Decline in vaccination and increased risks
“As the spring break holidays approach, I am concerned that the resurgence of measles worldwide, combined with the decline in measles vaccination coverage among school-age children in Canada, will lead to a increase in the number of imported cases of measles, which could result in transmission in Canadian communities,” worried the DD Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, in a statement released Friday.
The DD Tam specifies that the measles vaccine should preferably be administered at least two weeks before departure abroad.
“For anyone traveling this spring, I urge you to be vigilant and watch for measles symptoms,” she recommends. The first symptoms are fever, red, watery eyes, runny nose and cough, followed by a red rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. If, upon returning to Canada after traveling abroad, you suspect you have contracted measles, wear a well-fitted medical mask and limit contact with others, if possible. »
A 2021 survey of childhood immunization coverage in Canada indicates that 91.6% of 2-year-olds have received at least one dose of a measles vaccine, but only 79.2% of 7-year-olds received two doses.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of measles cases worldwide increased 79% in 2023 compared to 2022, with Europe particularly affected. This increase is attributed in part to a decrease in measles vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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