The Saskatchewan Health Authority released an update on the situation regarding measles in the province, as outbreaks have been spreading across North America. Confirmed cases have included unvaccinated communities in Alberta, Ontario, Mexico, multiple U.S. states, and Saskatchewan as well.
Dr. Saqib Shahab, the Chief Medical Health Officer for the Ministry of Health, gave an update on the current transmission of measles in the province.
"At present, the outbreak is impacting unvaccinated people and mostly being transmitted through household contacts. People who were born before 1970 are generally considered immune. Persons born after 1970 need two doses of a measles-containing vaccine."
From the period of March 14th to May 7th, the province has confirmed a total of 27 measles cases in Saskatchewan, including 15 in the last week.
With case numbers rising rapidly, Shahab says that's mainly represented in the younger demographics.
"The age range is as low as five months, and we have to remember that currently, children under 12 months are not vaccinated, and children under six months cannot get the vaccine. So, we've had exposure to infants who are at higher risk and cannot be vaccinated because families and communities around them are unvaccinated, and the vast majority of our cases are in children and school-age adolescents, up to 78 per cent of them, and a few in older adults."
Only one case of measles was in a vaccinated person, with two hospitalizations having been reported from the cases.
"One in 20 people get hospitalized," said Shahab, "One in five can get other complications requiring medical care. So, we're already starting to see that."
While cases are mainly popping up in rural areas, Shahab says that will likely change as cases pop up throughout Saskatchewan.
He took the time to thank the population who had helped to slow the spread by getting vaccinated early.
"I'd like to acknowledge that the reason we are seeing at present a lower number of cases is that the vast majority of Saskatchewan residents, more than 90 per cent, have done the right thing and have themselves been vaccinated in the past and have had their children vaccinated prior to starting school. So, 91 per cent of children are fully vaccinated, two doses of measles-containing vaccine when they start school."
Children are recommended to get their first dose at 12 months and their second at 18 months. "Persons who are fully vaccinated are very unlikely to get measles," said Shahab, "But still, people, as I said, who are under the age of 12 months can get exposed, and people who were vaccinated in the past but are immune-compromised can also get seriously ill with measles."
Shahab laid out the five C's of vaccine hesitancy and how the measles vaccine clears those.
1. Confidence that the vaccine is safe and effective.
"The measles-containing vaccine has been used for five decades now. It's safe, it's effective, [and] it gives long-lasting protection."
2. Complacency, that you and your loved ones will be protected because others are vaccinated and the disease isn't in Canada.
"That was the case for three decades. Canada eliminated measles in 1998, and we would only see the occasional case due to international travel. That is no longer the case. We are now seeing transmission in many provinces, including Saskatchewan."
3. Constraints to access the vaccine
"Not the case in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Health Authority is making extra efforts to make the vaccine available throughout Saskatchewan, including rural and remote areas, and waiting for parents with children who are unvaccinated to show up."
4. Calculating the risk that the illness may be mild
"It is a pretty miserable illness for most people who get it. It's a week of fever and rash, and you have to stay home for up to eight days. If you're symptomatic, at least four days after the rash appears. Unvaccinated contacts have to stay home from day five to day 21 of exposure. But as I said before, we've had two hospitalizations, and many people can get seriously unwell."
5. Collective responsibility to help out local communities.
"We all have a role in keeping our communities and schools and daycares safe, and to protect persons at higher risk due to illness. We should not be seeing measles in 2025. That we are seeing some outbreaks in specific communities as if it were the 1950s means that the social contract of keeping each other safe and protected is broken."
Shahab expects the outbreak will likely continue for weeks to months, with an expected strain on healthcare provider resources.
He instructs people that if they're feeling unwell and suspect they may have measles, to call 811 ahead of time, rather than going straight to the hospital and potentially exposing other people. That can help keep spaces from needing to be cleaned and free up healthcare resources for others.
He expects more ongoing cases to be announced in the coming days as the situation develops.
"We will, of course, update our numbers every week on Wednesdays. But we will see cases every day now. And you will continue to see public service announcements, because they can't wait for a week to be happening almost on a daily basis."
Shahab says to expect announcements to come out when the SHA can't track everyone a person may have been in contact with.