A premature baby contracted with measles before birth in southwestern Ontario died, the province's chief medical officer said.
Dr. Kieran Moore said the mother of the infant was not vaccinated from measles.
In a statement Thursday, he said measles may have contributed to both premature birth and death, but the infant also faced other serious medical complications that are not related to the virus.
He expressed his sadness to his family and thanked the support of the healthcare providers involved.
“I will extend the sincere despair of dol to my family during these incredibly difficult times,” he said. “I would also like to thank the dedicated medical professionals who have cared for both mothers and infants with compassion and expertise.”
Dr Ning Trang, medical director at Southwestern Public Health's Health Hospital, has also issued a statement regarding the death of infants.
“This is devastating news for the community and we provide our families with sincere thoughts,” Tran said. “At this point we will not share any additional details to respect the privacy of our family.”
Tran said the tragedy “can cause low birth weights for babies, premature births and miscarriages,” adding that it underlines the serious risk of measles brings to pregnant people.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Slivia Jones called the news “deeply intrusive” when speaking to reporters at an unrelated press conference on Thursday.
“We've been eating the measles vaccine in Canada and around the world for almost 50 years, and yet there are still individuals who have chosen not to get vaccinated for many different reasons,” Jones said.
“Our multi-million dollar social media campaign reminds people of importance and frankly the risk of not taking the vaccine. So we hope that today's horrifying news will really refocus people's conversations with primary care practitioners.”
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The death of the infant comes as Ontario has been fighting the outbreak of measles that has made more than 2,000 people sick throughout the province since October 2024.
As of June 3, Ontario reported 1,729 confirmed cases and 280 cases, including 140 hospitalizations. Most of the infected people were not vaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown.
Health officials say the virus is particularly dangerous for babies and unvaccinated infants. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world and can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and premature birth.
Moore urges Ontarians, especially those planning to get pregnant, to make sure they are fully vaccinated.
“Everyone who hasn't been vaccinated is at risk, and I encourage everyone, but especially those who may become pregnant, to make sure they have given two doses of the MMR vaccine that protects both parents and babies,” he said.
Common symptoms include high fever, rash, cockrick spots, cough and runny nose.
Health officials should contact your healthcare provider or local public health force.
– Using Aaron D'Andrea's files
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