Canadian Measles Outbreak: Six Babies Sick, Vaccine Debate Reignited
Six Ontario infants were born with congenital measles, all recovering, due to their unvaccinated mothers’ infection during the largest Western Hemisphere measles outbreak. This outbreak, exceeding 2,000 cases in Ontario alone, threatens Canada’s elimination status for the disease, achieved in 1998. The outbreak resulted in a fatality, a premature infant who contracted measles in utero. While vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy, intravenous immunoglobulin is advised for unvaccinated pregnant people exposed to measles, though some refuse this option as well.
John Q. Hosedrinker