Sask. measles cases nearly doubled in past week, daily cases likely, chief medical officer says

Jeremy Warren · CBC News

· Posted: May 08, 2025 2:25 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

Measles cases successful Saskatchewan person astir doubled successful the past week and wellness officials are expecting to spot caller cases daily, the province's apical doctor says.

Since March 14, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has confirmed 27 cases of measles successful the province, 15 of which happened successful the past week, according to Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.

"Our cases are rising rapidly now," Shahab told reporters Thursday greeting successful Regina. "We are present successful Saskatchewan portion of the unprecedented North American measles outbreak.… We are present entering a signifier wherever we volition apt spot cases each day."

All confirmed cases were linked to question extracurricular the province, but wellness officials are bracing for assemblage dispersed arsenic numbers rise. Most cases are happening successful agrarian communities successful cardinal and southbound parts of the province, Shahab said.

Children marque up astir 75 per cent of measles cases successful the province, with the youngest being a five-month-old, Shahab said. All but 1 of the 27 cases progressive unvaccinated radical and 2 cases required hospitalization, helium added.

"The societal declaration of keeping each different harmless and protected is broken," Shahab said. "For those who take to support themselves and their children unvaccinated, it means present the outbreak successful Saskatchewan volition proceed for weeks to months."

In 1998, measles was declared eliminated from Canada owed to the occurrence of nationalist immunization programs.

Declining vaccination rates person resulted successful outbreaks crossed the state this year.

The SHA said the measles vaccine is astir 100 per cent effectual astatine preventing the disease, but successful Saskatchewan lone astir 75 per cent of children had received some recommended doses of the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine by their 2nd day successful 2024.

Measles is simply a highly infectious microorganism that is dispersed done the air.

Symptoms mostly see fever, runny nose, rash and cough, but tin pb to terrible complications including respiratory nonaccomplishment and swelling of the brain. In the astir terrible cases, measles tin pb to death.

The SHA said anyone who was exposed to measles and is exhibiting symptoms tin telephone HealthLine 811 oregon their health-care supplier for assessment.

The SHA is besides asking radical not to sojourn clinics, but said if they are successful aesculapian distress they should telephone exigency departments earlier visiting and pass aesculapian unit that they were exposed to measles.