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Ontario is facing its largest measles outbreak in almost 30 years, with 350 cases confirmed in the province. The rise in cases has led health experts, including the province’s top doctor, to advise immediate action to curb the spread of this highly contagious disease.
Symptoms include the tell-tale splotchy rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the torso, patients can also develop a fever, runny nose, and cough, according to Health Canada. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing or touching your eyes, nose or mouth after touching an infected surface.
“Over 96 per cent of cases in Ontario are among individuals who are unimmunized or have unknown immunization status,” wrote Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health in a statement on March 14
“Vaccination is the most effective way to limit the spread of measles and protect yourself and your loved ones,” he said.
The outbreak is mostly in southwestern Ontario, according to Public Health Ontario, where vaccination numbers against measles are low. Dr. Moore stressed that measles can lead to severe health complications, including pneumonia, respiratory failure, and brain swelling. “Measles spreads easily among those who aren’t vaccinated,” he warned in his statement.
Measles spreads quickly in communities with low vaccination rates, said Dr. Vanessa Allen, a medical microbiologist at Sinai Health. “Before the vaccine, a person infected with measles could spread it to 12 to 18 other people,” she said.
Dr. Sarah Khan, an infectious disease specialist at McMaster University, urged university students and other high-risk individuals to check their vaccination status.
“If you’re not immune, you can get measles vaccination at many clinics,” she said. “Two doses are about 97 percent effective.” Dr. Khan also noted that pregnant people, infants younger than six months old and people with severe immunosuppression cannot receive the measles vaccine and should speak to their health-care provider to see how they can stay protected.
Dr. Allan Grill, a family physician with the Markham Family Health Team, noted that “anyone born between 1970 and 1996 may have only received one dose, which offers about 95 percent protection.” According to Public Health Ontario, 98 per cent of confirmed cases from Oct. 28, 2024 to March 12, 2025 were people born after 1970.
“Unfortunately, our immunization has gone down because of the pandemic, a lot of kids didn’t get in to see their doctor and are behind on their vaccines,” said Grill.
“Maybe some people are having a bit of vaccine fatigue, but I can’t stress enough that it is vaccinations that are going to protect people against this condition,” he said.
In response to the outbreak, universities are taking their own measures to protect their students. According to the TMU Medical Centre, no measles cases have been reported thus far at TMU, but the centre says it will continue to closely monitor cases. “If a patient presents with symptoms consistent with measles, they will be tested with a throat swab, urine test, and blood work,” wrote a spokesperson for the TMU Medical Centre in an emailed statement to OTR. MMR boosters, a vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, are available at the TMU Medical Centre for students with unknown vaccination status.
