A child under the age of five has died of measles in Ontario, the first such death in over a decade in the province.
According to Public Health Ontario (PHO), five cases required hospitalization, all among unimmunized children, and among them, was a child less than five years old who died.
“Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. Symptoms of measles include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes and cough. Immunization is the best protection against measles,” the PHO said.
The PHO in its report has confirmed 22 measles cases in Ontario up to May 15, 2024.
Of the 22 cases, 13 were in children and nine were adults. Twelve of these children were unimmunized and one child's immunization status was unknown.
The cases were reported in nine of the 34 public health units in the province.
The highest number of cases — six — were reported by the Toronto Public Health Unit and City of Hamilton Public Health Services.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Winnipeg today to highlight the federal government’s plan to create a National School Food Program, where he spoke about the death due to measles in Ontario.
Trudeau called the child's death "a tragedy that nobody wants to see.
"My best advice to all families is to listen to your physicians, talk with your doctors about what vaccinations are right for their kids," he said. “This is a tragedy that nobody wants to see. I can't imagine what that family is going through right now.”
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