As Ontario faces its worst measles outbreak in over a decade, New York state health officials have taken notice, warning residents to avoid travel to the province.Â
In a travel advisory from the New York State Department of Health from April 2, it names Canada, and “especially in Ontario,” as regions that have seen an increase in cases.
“Measles is only a car ride away!” the advisory reads. “Around 90 per cent of people who are exposed to a person with measles will become infected if they are not vaccinated. Because measles is so contagious, it easily crosses borders.”
TORONTO - Ontario schools are starting to issue suspensions to some of the thousands of students who aren’t fully vaccinated, as measles conti…
TORONTO - Ontario schools are starting to issue suspensions to some of the thousands of students who aren’t fully vaccinated, as measles conti…
Along with Canada, other countries included in the travel warning are Yemen, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Ethiopia, Romania, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.
Dr. Gerald Evans, the medical director of infection prevention and control at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and a Queen’s University professor, told the Star he understands the reason for the travel advisory, as measles is “the most highly transmissible vaccine-preventable disease.”
“It’s got the danger element and it’s got the transmissibility element. And both of those are why I think you’re going to see places like in New York, at the department of health, issuing travel advisories,” Evans said. “Ontario is so close to the northern parts of New York state, and I think they’re being careful.”
Ontario’s measles outbreak has climbed to 661 cases since it began last fall, with almost half of the infections seen in unvaccinated children in the Southwestern public health unit.
As of April 4, . According to The Associated Press, infections have jumped in the U.S., particularly in Texas, with nearly 500 cases in that state, and cases spreading to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico. Three unvaccinated people in the U.S. died from the effects of measles tied to the outbreak.Â
The advisory urges New Yorkers who haven’t received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine that travelling to areas with outbreaks could result in infection and spread to others when they return home.
“You should plan to be fully vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before you depart,” the advisory said.Â
In a statement to the Star, Ontario’s Health Ministry said “vaccination is the most effective way to limit the spread of measles,” adding that 96 per cent of cases in Ontario are among people who are unvaccinated.
In light of the travel advisory, New Democrat MPP Dr. Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre) is calling on the province to launch an urgent public health campaign to “build trust in communities and raise awareness about the safety and effectiveness of the measles vaccine.”
As more Canadians cancel their travel plans to the U.S. amid the trade war, Evans said this could be an advantage in limiting the spread between countries, but he added “there’s no question” that measles will stick around for the summer and perhaps persist for at least a year in North America — so he recommends Canadians to stay up to date with their MMR immunization.
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