Measles cases in New Brunswick climb to 43: Department of Health
The number of people in New Brunswick who have measles is growing and the expectation is there are more to come.
New Brunswick’s health department says, as of Thursday, the number of confirmed measles cases in the province is 43, six more than had been reported the day before.
Earlier this week, the Department of Health confirmed 26 cases.
The health department says every confirmed case is related to the initial travel-associated case reported on Oct. 24.
“So, New Brunswick is not alone in this. We’ve seen this across Canada, in the U.S. and frankly, across the planet,” said epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Labos. “And Europe is, in some respects, probably even harder hit than we are.”
Of the 43 cases, 36 involve people who are aged 19 and under.
Dr. Mark McKelvie, regional medical officer of health, says many of the cases involve people who are “quite sick.”
“In some cases, we’ve heard back from them that they did not anticipate to be this sick,” said McKelvie. “And no one does, no one chooses this in advance. Unfortunately when you encounter it, it can be more severe than we’ve perceived it to be.”
In early November, the Department of Health declared a measles outbreak in New Brunswick’s Zone 3, which includes Fredericton and the upper Saint John River Valley.
Vaccine clinics
Horizon Health continues to offer vaccination clinics in Zone 3, which are scheduled at the following times and locations:
- Horizon’s Public Health office at 300 St. Mary’s St. in Fredericton on Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Stanley Health Centre at 9 Limekiln Rd. in Stanley on Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Public Health is encouraging people to book an appointment through the provincial scheduler or by calling Tele-Services at 1-833-437-1424, available Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
While people born before 1970 are generally considered to be protected from measles, Public Health says people born later who have not received two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine should get vaccinated.
The vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) is for babies aged 12-to-18 months.
Measles symptoms
Public Health says anyone experiencing symptoms should isolate and contact Tele-Care 811 by telephone and follow the operator’s instructions. These people should not go to an emergency room, doctor’s office or clinic.
Anyone who is seriously ill and needs to go to the emergency room should call ahead to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
Symptoms of measles may include:
- fever
- cough
- sore and/or red eyes
- runny nose
- tiny white spots in the mouth
Within three-to-seven days, Public Health says a red, blotchy rash will appear, first on the face and then spreading to the body, arms and legs.
The virus is transmitted through the air or by contact with nasal or throat droplets from an infected person.
Last year, there were only 12 measles cases in Canada, but a sharp increase in outbreaks has been reported across North America throughout 2024.
According to Labos, the steep rise worldwide started after the pandemic.
“I think a lot of this can be laid at the feet of flagging vaccination rates because a lot of the misinformation that now circulates, especially with regard to the measles vaccine,” said Labos.
More information, including new potential exposures, can be found online.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.