Measles Outbreak in Ontario: 572 Cases Confirmed

Measles cases are continuing to rise in Ontario, with more than 100 new cases reported in the province in the past week alone. Public Health Ontario has now confirmed a total of 572 measles cases.

The number of cases has been steadily increasing since October of last year. Since March 20, there has been a surge of 102 cases. Of these, 42 individuals are in hospital, and two are in intensive care.

While cases are also being monitored in other provinces, the number of cases outside Ontario remains low. Alberta has reported 18 cases, most of which are in children, and Quebec has seen no increase, with the number of cases remaining at 40 since last week.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases globally. According to the World Health Organization, the virus can remain active in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours.