Quebec confirms 30 measles cases as December outbreak continues

Measles was declared eradicated in Canada in 1998, but, like much of the country, it's making a comeback in Quebec, with the corporation that manages the province's health network confirming 30 cases as part of the latest outbreak.

The Laurentians remain the most affected region, with 27 cases of measles. The other cases are located in Montreal, Laval and the Montérégie. This recent outbreak dates back to December and remains active, Santé Québec says.

"This potentially serious disease is highly contagious," it says on its website, citing dozens of locations and times people may have been exposed to the virus.

For each measles case reported in Quebec, a public health investigation is conducted to determine the source of the infection and to identify people who may have been exposed to the virus, the Crown corporation says.

"Preventive treatment of people exposed to the measles virus can limit the spread of the disease," it says.

Vaccination is the best way to protect against the highly contagious disease. Quebec's vaccination schedule recommends that children receive the vaccine at 12 and 18 months, but it is available for free at any age.

If an unvaccinated person has been in contact with a measles case, they must self-isolate at home from the fifth day after exposure until the 14th day. A person is not contagious during the first four days following exposure.

Last week, the Health Ministry reported that vaccination coverage among elementary and high school students for the current school year (2024-25) is around 90 per cent. However, there are delays in vaccination among young children and certain adult populations.

Quebec not facing case surge

For now, Quebec is not facing a surge in cases. In Ontario, 84 new measles cases have been reported over the past two weeks — nearly double the total number of cases in the province since the outbreak began in the fall.

As of Feb. 26, a total of 119 cases have been confirmed in Ontario, with 23 more considered probable.

The main symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that starts on the face before spreading to the body. Severe complications can occur, leading to death in vulnerable individuals, especially infants who are not yet vaccinated.

Complications can also include loss of sight or hearing. There's a one in 1,000 chance of permanent brain damage and one in 3,000 chance of death, according to Santé Québec.

Recent Public Health Agency of Canada data shows Manitoba and British Columbia also have a few measles cases.

This year's growth in measles cases demonstrates how this virus can spread if people were not vaccinated, Dr. Theresa Tam told CBC News last week.

"What I would like to see is that we stop these outbreaks in their tracks so that it doesn't become entrenched in the Canadian context," she said.

The United States is also seeing an increase in the spread of the disease. Last week, the first measles-related death in a decade was reported in Texas. The victim was an unvaccinated child.

"Measles remains one of the major causes of death among young children globally," Santé Québec says on its website. "Yet there is a safe and effective vaccine against this disease."