A recent report from Public Health Ontario, released on Thursday, indicates a continuing downward trend in new measles cases in the province. The health agency reported a total of 12 new measles cases, significantly decreasing from the 33 cases reported the previous week and 96 cases two weeks prior. This decline suggests a possible improvement in the outbreak situation, although health officials remain cautious.
In detail, the new cases included two infections in a northern region encompassing Sault Ste. Marie and its surrounding areas. This specific region had recently seen the most significant increase in measles cases over the past few weeks. Furthermore, southwestern Ontario reported four additional cases, which has been the hardest-hit area for months regarding measles infections.
Despite the declining trend in weekly case numbers, public health officials highlighted that new cases continue to emerge regularly. They also pointed out the possibility of a reporting lag, which implies that some infections from previous weeks may not have been captured in the current statistics. This confirms the ongoing risk of measles transmission within certain communities.
Public Health Ontario (PHO) explained that during an outbreak, the number of reported cases tends to decrease as the proportion of immune individuals in the community increases, either through vaccination or past infection. The overall focus remains on monitoring measles data and activity closely in the coming weeks and months, as stated in their email communication.
Since the onset of the measles outbreak linked to travel in New Brunswick last October, Ontario has recorded a total of 2,223 cases. The report on Thursday also noted an adjustment where one case previously reported in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph was deducted from the total count. Due to privacy concerns, PHO did not disclose additional details but mentioned that some cases might undergo reclassification following ongoing investigations.
Regarding the national situation, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported that New Brunswick has not documented any measles cases as of June 21, 2025. Meanwhile, Alberta has the second-highest number of measles infections in the country, with 1,179 cases confirmed to date, including 74 new cases reported in the last week alone. This indicates a broader concern over measles outbreaks across various provinces.
The majority of individuals affected by measles in both Ontario and Alberta are unvaccinated infants, children, and adolescents. This alarming trend underscores the importance of vaccination in controlling the spread of this highly contagious disease. Health officials continue to advocate for vaccination as a key measure to prevent further outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations.
