Ontario’s chief medical officer of health reports that six infants have been born with congenital measles since the outbreak commenced last fall, indicating that they were infected in utero by mothers who had not been vaccinated.
Dr. Kieran Moore states that these infants have recovered, but their infections could have been avoided had their mothers received vaccinations to protect against measles.
Congenital measles can lead to severe complications, such as brain inflammation and even death.
On Thursday, Moore revealed that an infant born prematurely and infected with measles has died in southwestern Ontario.
He noted that the infant also encountered other significant medical issues unrelated to the virus.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Moore mentioned that 40 pregnant individuals have contracted measles in Ontario, with only two having been vaccinated.
Moore advises unvaccinated pregnant individuals to isolate themselves if they reside in areas with active measles cases. Health officials have documented over 2,000 cases in the province since the outbreak began in October.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not advised for individuals who are pregnant, as it contains a live virus that could potentially be transmitted to the fetus.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that unvaccinated pregnant individuals receive one dose of intravenous immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to measles.
However, Moore indicated that conveying this message encounters challenges similar to those associated with vaccine hesitancy.
“Some individuals, if they are opposed to receiving a vaccine, may also decline the immunoglobulin. This could be a philosophical decision,” Moore remarked on Friday.
In an editorial published on Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. Catherine Varner contends that pregnant individuals are “bearing the burden” of Canada’s measles outbreak.
“Pregnant individuals are frequently at a higher risk than the general population during infectious disease outbreaks. Therefore, they should not be an afterthought in preventive strategies and the responses of health-care systems.”
Moore stated that the overwhelming majority of pregnant individuals in Ontario are completely vaccinated against measles.
“There exists only a very small subgroup of individuals who have opted not to receive vaccinations and are experiencing complications,” he remarked.
“I understand that some may focus on the negative aspects. However, achieving such a level of protection amidst global risks is, in my opinion, a significant achievement.
“While I would prefer to see a 100 percent vaccination rate, we must engage with those communities that have opted out of vaccination, and this will require lengthy and challenging discussions, which I believe all of our healthcare professionals are committed to undertaking.