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Bragging about low vaccination rates during a measles outbreak isn’t a flex—it’s reckless endangerment. Protecting children should come before politics or ideology. Public health isn’t a debate.

Measles 🦠

  • highly contagious! One person catching could spread it up to R0: ~17 other people, while COVID-19 has R0: ~3. That means measles is ~5.67× more contagious than COVID-19.
  • is unique in that measles wipes out existing immunity for other diseases. Measles can cause you to become infected to pathogens you were once immune to.
  • is caused by a virus, therefore antibiotics are wholly ineffective
  • can be vaccinated against 💉

Recognizing and Responding to Measles Symptoms

If you are travelling this spring, remain vigilant for measles symptoms. Measles typically starts with fever; red, watery eyes; runny nose; and, cough; followed by a red rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body.

If you suspect you have measles while travelling in or returning to Canada:

  • Wear a well-fitting medical mask and minimize contact with others.
  • Inform a flight attendant, cruise staff, or border services officer upon arrival.

Stay Protected: Get Vaccinated

With measles cases rising worldwide and in Canada, keeping up with routine vaccinations is more critical than ever. Measles vaccination is highly effective in limiting transmission and preventing severe outcomes. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, check with your healthcare provider or local public health unit.

By staying vigilant and working together to increase measles vaccine coverage, we can prevent outbreaks and keep our communities safe against this preventable disease. The measles vaccine is the best way to protect you and your family.

If you think you or a family member has the measles, or you think you’ve been exposed to measles, call your health care provider immediately – do not go to a health care facility or office without calling ahead first

Please go get vaccinated, folks. Vaccines are demonstrated to be safe and effective time and time again.

Unimmunized 159 (89.8%) (from Public Health Ontario)

External links 🖇️

Title Publisher Date
📄About Measles 🇨🇦Ministry of Health (Government of Ontario)
📄Measles vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide 🇨🇦Public Health Agency of Canada (Government of Canada)
📄Measles | Wikipedia Wikimedia Foundation
📄ENHANCED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SUMMARY Measles in Ontario 🇨🇦Public Health Ontario (accountable to the Ontario Minister of Health) 2025-02-27
🎬Measles: Understanding the most contagious preventable disease | About That CBC News 2024-03-06
🎬Measles Explained — Vaccinate or Not? Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell 2015-02-24
List of Articles 📃
Title Publisher Date
📰A play-by-play of how measles outbreaks can spiral out of control: Canadian pediatrician calls 2024 measles death in child under 5 ‘devastating’ CBC News 2025-03-08
📰Possible measles exposure at Pearson airport and Mississauga hospital, health officials warn: Public may have been exposed to person infected at 4 different locations, officials say CBC News 2025-03-07
📰Norfolk County is grappling with measles outbreaks, predominantly infecting unvaccinated children within religious groups that are historically mistrustful of public health The Hamilton Spectator 2025-03-07
📢Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on the Increase in Measles Cases and the Risk to People in Canada: Measles Cases on the Rise: Protect Yourself and Your Family 🇨🇦Public Health Agency of Canada (Government of Canada) 2025-03-06
📰North Bay confirms its 1st measles case in 30 years as Ontario numbers rise, health units urge vaccination CBC News 2025-03-06
📰Do I need a measles vaccine dose? What to know: Respiratory disease is extremely contagious, public health officials say CBC News 2025-03-05
📰Measles cases nearly double in Ontario over last 2 weeks, far surpassing last decade’s total: 18 unimmunized children hospitalized as a result of recent outbreak CBC News 2025-02-28

Link to a list of credible Canadian sources 🍁.

  • aramis87@fedia.io
    14·
    2 days ago

    I’m going to post the same thing I’ve said elsewhere: in the past month, there have been at least two incidents of people with measles spending hours on college campuses in Texas. It will have spread to at least some of the other students there.

    Those campuses go on spring break this month, where they’ll spread it to other college students. Those students will go back and spend 6-8 weeks spreading it across campus, and everyone will bring it home for the summer.

    If you or anyone you know have questionable immunity, please get vaccinated. I can’t speak for Canada, but people vaccinated in the US between 1957 and 1967 may have received a vaccine that didn’t provide the full strength needed for lifetime immunity; and those vaxxed between 1967 and 1978 may have received only a single shot instead of the now-recommended two shots. There’s a simple blood test to check your antibody levels, or you can just ask for a booster shot.

    Also, it’s not just suffering and complications from measles you’ll need to worry about. Measles can reset your immune system, so that you no longer produce antibodies to diseases you’ve had before or been vaccinated against. Its a miserable disease. If you might be unvaxxed or under-vaxxed, or know someone who is unvaxxed or under-vaxxed, please arrange for a booster shot!