Strain on Public Health: Managing Measles Outbreaks Across Canada

Measles is spreading at an unprecedented rate in Canada. It was considered eliminated in Canada in 1998, but last week, Ontario reported 1,440 cases of the disease, Alberta reported 313 cases, and Saskatchewan reported 27. There are also cases in British Columbia, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. In April, New York State issued a travel advisory for people coming to Ontario, warning “measles is just a car ride away.”

Vaccination rates are also on the decline. In Ontario, only about 70 per cent of children under the age of 7 have been fully vaccinated against measles. 

André Picard is a health columnist for The Globe and Mail. He’s on the show to explain how significant it is that we’re seeing these kinds of measles numbers, and how he thinks public health officials need to address this moment. 

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com