The global increase in cases of measles, a disease that has been eradicated in Canada, is worrying the country's public health, which fears the emergence of cases introduced into the country during spring break.

• Also read: Measles: WHO warns of a sharp increase in the number of diseases worldwide

The Chief National Public Health Officer, Theresa Tam, stated in a press release that she fears “that the resurgence of measles around the world, combined with the decline in measles vaccination rates among school-age children in Canada, is leading to an increase in the number.” would.” of imported measles cases.

This “could lead to transmission in Canadian communities,” she adds.

As of February 23, 2024, six cases of measles have been recorded in the country, several of which required hospitalization.

Dr. Tam therefore advises all Canadians to get two doses of the measles vaccine, especially before traveling.

“The measles vaccine should preferably be administered at least two weeks before travel, but there are still benefits to administering it less than two weeks before travel,” she says. Anyone who has not been vaccinated against measles runs the risk of contracting this disease when traveling abroad.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious complications such as deafness, brain damage or even death.

It is often unvaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated children who become infected while traveling abroad.

Children under 5 years old, adults over 20 years old, pregnant women and immunocompromised people are most at risk of complications.

According to 2021 statistics, 91.6% of children under 2 years old in the country had received at least one dose of the vaccine, but only 79.2% of children aged 7 years old had received two doses.

The number of measles cases in the WHO European region in 2023 was 30 times higher than in the previous year.

In the United States, the disease has also reached its highest level in 25 years.