The Grand Erie Public Health Unit is investigating four new cases of measles.
In a news release on Thursday, the health unit said the latest cases were identified in Norfolk County and Brant County.
Two of the recently ill people are recovering in hospital while the other two are at home.
Thursday’s update brings the total number of confirmed illnesses to 57, nine of which have occurred among adults and 48 within children.
The health unit has listed two potential exposure sites:
Walsingham Christian School, 6th Concession Rd., Walsingham, February 10, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Norfolk General Hospital, 365 West St., Simcoe, February 14, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Yesterday, the health unit confirmed five new cases of measles within their boundaries.
Vaccination clinics
To try to curb the spread, Grand Erie Public Health is offering a series of vaccination clinics.
The first one was held in Brant County at the Burford Agricultural Hall on Feb. 17.
“I believe there were 40 people who attended there, and most were children. We expected around 20 [people], but we doubled that expectation, luckily. Most of those were children and as I remember, I think there were two under one-year [of age],” Dr. Malcolm Lock, Grand Erie Public Health’s acting medical officer of health, said during a media update on Thursday.
“These were usually second doses, early second doses, so they would have been children over a year [of age],” he said.
Lock added the turnout was an encouraging sign.
“At least some of the population is paying attention and recognizing that also measles of itself, most of the time, doesn’t lead to any major complications, on the occasions that we do have complications they can be very serious.”
He also said some parents may not have understood the seriousness of the illness due to high vaccination numbers in the past.
“Parents haven’t seen this disease, and I think there’s a degree of complacency because they haven’t seen it, they haven’t seen the complication of it, so I think this is an indication that the messaging we’re sending out is having some impact and it’s good to see that the clinics are being well attended.”
A second vaccination clinic is happening on Thursday at Grand Erie Public Health’s office in Simcoe at 185 Robinson Street from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.
A third clinic is set for the Vittoria Community Centre on Oakes Boulevard from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Feb. 24.
