The number of confirmed measles cases in Canada so far this year is more than three times higher than all infections recorded in 2023, the countryB次元官网网址檚 chief public health officer said as she urged people to ensure their vaccinations are up to date.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is aware of 40 confirmed cases across the country in 2024, Dr. Theresa Tam said on Wednesday.

Tam said she is concerned that not enough school-aged children have been adequately vaccinated against the highly contagious virus.

B次元官网网址淚 strongly advise parents or caregivers to ensure that children in their care have received all measles vaccines according to schedule,B次元官网网址� she said in an interview.

Those who arenB次元官网网址檛 sure about their childB次元官网网址檚 vaccination history should speak to their health-care provider or local public health agency, Tam said.

The timing of the doses varies by province and territory, but generally children get their first doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age and then a second dose before they start school.

B次元官网网址淭he measles-containing vaccines are very effective. (The) benefits far outweigh the risks,B次元官网网址� Tam said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no reason why children B次元官网网址� who could get quite seriously sick from this illness B次元官网网址� should be getting it because itB次元官网网址檚 vaccine-preventable,B次元官网网址� she said.

Quebec has had 28 confirmed cases this year B次元官网网址� the most in the country, Tam said. Ontario has had 10 cases; B.C. and Saskatchewan have had one case each.

The majority of people who have been infected with measles in Canada were unvaccinated and most of them were children.

Seven people have been hospitalized due to measles this year, Tam said.

She said although some people have been infected while travelling internationally, others have caught measles in Canada.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has previously urged people to check their measles vaccination status before the busy March Break travel season.

On Wednesday, Tam said itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to tell at this point if March break travel has contributed to an increase in cases, but wanted to get the message out again as people are preparing for family gatherings and religious celebrations.

The rise in measles this year is likely caused by increased measles activity worldwide, combined with B次元官网网址渟uboptimal vaccine uptake nationally,B次元官网网址� Tam said.

She said there may have been a decrease in access to routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but local public health agencies have been B次元官网网址渢rying very hard to do catch up.B次元官网网址�

There has been a recent B次元官网网址渦pswing in public interest in getting the vaccine, which is great,B次元官网网址� she said.

Symptoms of measles include fever, red watery eyes, runny nose and a cough at first. Those symptoms are followed by a red rash that starts on the face and moves to other parts of the body, the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a statement.

B次元官网网址淢easles is more than a rash. Infection can lead to rare, but severe complications, including deafness and brain injury caused by inflammation of the brain, and can even be fatal,B次元官网网址� the statement said.

A 95 per cent vaccination rate is needed to give communities herd immunity against measles.

The most recent available national data, which is from 2021, showed that 79 per cent of children had two doses of measles vaccine by age seven.

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