Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, is sworn in to cabinet during a ceremony in Toronto on March 19, 2025.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Ontario’s Health Minister defended her government’s response to a growing measles outbreak as the province recorded a significant jump of 223 new cases in a single week.
Both the Ontario government and the province’s chief medical officer of health, Kieran Moore, have faced calls, including from the opposition Ontario New Democratic Party and Liberals, to be more proactive in their response to this public-health concern.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones told reporters Thursday that Dr. Moore has been working closely with local public-health units. She said he directed those units a year-and-a-half ago to refocus efforts to ensure childhood vaccinations are up to date.
“I just want to acknowledge and thank him for his work,” said Ms. Jones. She added that Ontario has made sure, through Dr. Moore’s leadership, that there are sufficient numbers of vaccines for every public-health unit that wants them.
Ontario restarted a public-health campaign recommended by the province’s chief medical officer of health to ensure parents and caregivers understand the “critical importance of getting that vaccine,” she said.
Picard: Measles is spreading quickly in Canada. Where is the public-health response?
Public Health Ontario, in its weekly measles update released on Thursday, said there have now been 1,243 cases (1,065 confirmed, 178 probable) associated with the provincial outbreak. This includes 223 cases since the last update – the sharpest increase in a single week since the first case was reported in October.
Seventeen public-health units, an increase of two from last week, are now linked to the measles outbreak.
Ottawa Public Health also confirmed on Thursday that it is investigating the capital’s first confirmed cases of measles since 2019. It said an adult and child who live in Ottawa are believed to have acquired measles while travelling internationally.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the government needs a plan to stop the measles outbreak from getting worse, including by boosting spending on public health and through public appearances by Dr. Moore.
“This is deeply concerning. The government’s response has been that this is an ideological thing, like we’re making it political. Well, you know what? It is a political issue right now. We need people to understand the importance of immunization,” she told reporters at Queen’s Park.
“My fear is we’ll see it grow every year.”
Similarly, Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said the province was doing too little to counter the spread of the disease, blaming lower vaccination rates on cuts to public-health budgets by past governments.
“This is deeply, deeply concerning,” said Ms. Crombie, also at Queen’s Park, adding that Dr. Moore needs to “take this a little bit more seriously” and put measures in place to boost sagging vaccination rates.
“This is spreading, and it needs to be taken seriously.”
More to come.
What do you want to know about the measles outbreak?
On Friday, May 2 at 1 p.m. ET, Globe health reporters Kristy Kirkup and Alanna Smith will answer reader questions on Canada’s measles outbreaks. What do you want to know about the measles outbreak? How does it spread? What’s the cause of the outbreaks? What can you do as a parent to keep your child safe? Submit your questions now.
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