First Measles Case Confirmed in Northwestern Ontario Since Outbreak Began
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) has confirmed a lab-verified case of measles — the first reported in northwestern Ontario since the province-wide outbreak began last fall.
According to a news release issued late Friday, the infected individual contracted the virus during international travel and is currently recovering at home. Public health officials are conducting an ongoing investigation and are contacting known close contacts, particularly those considered high-risk. At this stage, the general public is considered at low risk.
TBDHU is advising the public of two potential exposure sites on May 4:
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Air Canada Flight AC1195, Toronto to Thunder Bay (9:40 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET)
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Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) terminal (11:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. ET)
Anyone who may have been exposed is urged to verify their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms until May 25.
As of Thursday, Ontario health officials have reported 1,440 probable and confirmed measles cases since the outbreak began in October, marking a resurgence of a disease once considered eradicated in Canada.
This marks the first case in northwestern Ontario and follows Northern Ontario’s first case in 30 years, confirmed in North Bay in early March. Since then, cases have risen across the northeast but had not previously extended westward.
Health authorities emphasize that people born before 1970 are generally considered immune. Those born in 1970 or later should ensure they’ve received two doses of the measles vaccine, such as the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
Travelers, post-secondary students, and health-care workers are especially advised to consider a booster dose, according to the Northwestern Health Unit.
Common symptoms of measles include:
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Fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes
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Small white spots inside the mouth
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A red blotchy rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward, appearing 3–7 days after initial symptoms
Even vaccinated individuals are encouraged to monitor for symptoms, as measles is highly contagious and spreads easily through the air. Routine vaccinations are typically administered at 12 months and between 4 to 6 years of age, and the vaccine remains effective long-term.
