Health minister defends province’s approach amid worsening measles outbreak
Posted May 7, 2025 11:17:58 AM.
Last Updated May 7, 2025 12:06:13 PM.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones is defending the province’s record against measles as new infections rise sharply.
The latest public health data released last week shows 223 new infections across Ontario in the previous week.
That brings the total number of people in the province who have fallen ill from the virus to 1,243 since October. That includes 84 people who have been hospitalized, 63 of them children.
Jones says Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has been helping local public health units where the outbreaks are occurring.
“I know that Dr. Moore’s work is making a difference because he is focusing on the public health units that are experiencing those outbreaks and ensuring they have the support they need,” Jones remarked on Wednesday.
She says Moore directed health units to focus on vaccinating children over a year ago.
Opposition parties and some health officials have slammed Ontario’s approach to the growing outbreak.
Ottawa Public Health is investigating the city’s first measles case since 2019.
An adult and a child who live in Ottawa are believed to be the first people in the city to acquire the measles while travelling internationally. Ottawa Public Health (OPH) notified people who could have been exposed to the confirmed cases.
The risk to the general population remains low, the health agency said, but there are two locations where people could have come in contact with the cases.
- Food Basics located at 1021 Cyrville Rd.
- Monday April 21, 2025, between 5 pm and 8 pm
- Costco located at 1405 Blair Towers Pl. (near Ogilvie Road)
- Wednesday April 23, 2025, between 6 pm and 8:45 pm
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that usually begins with a fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body.
Public health officials are urging people to ensure they are vaccinated against measles, which carries the risk of serious complications.
