6 infants born with congenital measles from unvaccinated mothers in Ontario since last fall
Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, has revealed that six infants have been born with congenital measles since the beginning of an outbreak last fall. These infants were infected in the womb through mothers who were not vaccinated against the measles virus. While these infants did recover from the infection, the situation could have been prevented if the mothers had been vaccinated and protected from contracting measles.
Congenital measles can lead to severe complications, such as inflammation of the brain and even death. Tragically, Dr. Moore announced that an infant born prematurely and infected with measles had passed away in southwestern Ontario. The infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Dr. Moore disclosed that out of 40 pregnant individuals who were infected with measles in Ontario, only two had been vaccinated. He emphasized the importance of vaccination and suggested that unvaccinated pregnant individuals should isolate themselves if they reside in a community with active measles cases. The province has reported over 2,000 cases since the outbreak began in October.
It is worth noting that the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not recommended for pregnant individuals 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 if they are exposed to measles. However, Dr. Moore acknowledged that some individuals may choose to forgo this treatment due to personal beliefs, similar to vaccine hesitancy.
Dr. Catherine Varner, in an editorial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, highlighted that pregnant individuals are particularly vulnerable during infectious disease outbreaks and should not be overlooked in preventive strategies and healthcare responses.
Dr. Moore reassured the public that the majority of pregnant individuals in Ontario are fully vaccinated against measles. He acknowledged the challenges posed by those who choose not to vaccinate and stressed the importance of engaging in conversations to address their concerns.
While achieving 100% vaccination coverage would be ideal, Dr. Moore emphasized the importance of working with communities that have chosen not to vaccinate. He commended healthcare workers for their dedication to these challenging conversations and emphasized the ongoing effort to protect the population from preventable diseases.
