Canada’s achievement of measles elimination status has been revoked, although Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, assures the region is well shielded against potential outbreaks. Despite over 5,000 reported cases nationwide in the past year, Newfoundland and Labrador has remained free of new measles cases since 2017.
Dr. Fitzgerald emphasized that measles transmission occurs in under-vaccinated communities due to the virus’s high contagiousness. Fortunately, the province has not recorded any measles cases to date. The loss of Canada’s measles-free status, maintained since 1998, resulted from prolonged transmission mainly in Ontario and Alberta.
The success in keeping Newfoundland and Labrador free of measles is attributed to high vaccination rates, with 98% of two-year-olds and 93% of five-year-olds vaccinated against the virus. Dr. Fitzgerald credits this achievement to the public’s trust in the healthcare system and the effective relationships public nurses have built with parents.
While there have been no measles cases reported in the province, Dr. Fitzgerald acknowledged the remote possibility of future cases. Nevertheless, the high vaccination rates in Newfoundland and Labrador significantly mitigate the risk of an outbreak. She stressed the importance of vaccination, especially for travelers visiting measles-prone areas, and emphasized the necessity for individuals born after 1970 to ensure they have received two vaccine doses.
To regain Canada’s measles elimination status, the current outbreak must be halted for at least 12 months. Dr. Fitzgerald highlighted the need to combat vaccine hesitancy and engage with under-vaccinated communities to promote dialogue. The pathway to restoring the country’s measles-free status is feasible but requires concerted efforts on multiple fronts.