22.24°C Vancouver

Jun 9, 2025 5:56 PM - The Canadian Press

Six infants born with congenital measles in Ontario from unvaccinated mothers

Share On
six-infants-born-with-congenital-measles-in-ontario-from-unvaccinated-mothers
He says the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Ontario's chief medical officer of health says six infants have been born with congenital measles since an outbreak began last fall, adding they were infected in the womb through mothers who were not vaccinated.

Dr. Kieran Moore says these infants recovered, but their infections could have been prevented if their mothers had been vaccinated and protected from contracting measles.

Congenital measles can result in severe complications, including inflammation of the brain and death.

On Thursday, Moore announced an infant born prematurely and infected with measles died in southwestern Ontario.

He says the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Moore says 40 pregnant people have been infected with measles in Ontario, and only two were vaccinated.

Moore suggests unvaccinated pregnant people isolate if they live in a community with active measles cases. Health officials have reported more than 2,000 cases in the province since the outbreak began in October.

The measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not recommended once a person is pregnant because it contains a live virus that could theoretically be transmitted to the fetus.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends unvaccinated pregnant people get one dose of intravenous immunoglobulin within six days if they are exposed to measles.

However, Moore said that message faces hurdles similar to those around vaccine hesitancy.

“Some people, if they don't want a vaccine, they may not want the immunoglobulin either. That may be a philosophical choice,” Moore said Friday.

In an editorial published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. Catherine Varner argues pregnant people are "bearing the burden" of Canada's measles outbreak.

“Pregnant people are often at higher risk than the general population in infectious disease outbreaks. As such, they cannot be an afterthought in preventive strategies and health-care systems’ responses,” Varner writes.

Moore said the vast majority of pregnant people in Ontario are fully vaccinated against measles.

“It's only a very small subgroup of people who have chosen not to get vaccinated who are having the complications,” he said.

"I know some will concentrate on the glass being half-empty. You know, to have that level of protection in the face of the risks globally, I think is quite an accomplishment.

"I'd love to have 100 per cent, but we have to work with these communities that have chosen not to be vaccinated, and that is a long and difficult conversation that I think all of our health-care workers are dedicated to having."

Latest news

CanadaJun 30, 2025

Man arrested in connection with slashing

A man has been arrested and White Rock RCMP are investigating after reports another man was stabbed. White Rock RCMP received 9-1-1 calls advising of a fight involving a knife in the 1100 block of Oxford Street on Sunday June 29, 2025 at 9:50 p.m. Upon arrival, police observed a vehicle attempting to leave the scene and a high-risk traffic stop was initiated. A man matching the suspect description was inside the vehicle and he was arrested and transported to White Rock RCMP cells. “We want to thank the 9-1-1 callers who gave timely information which enabled us to locate and arrest the susp
canadian-government-orders-hikvision-to-close-canadian-business-and-leave-the-country
CanadaJun 30, 2025

Canadian government orders Hikvision to close Canadian business and leave the country

The Canadian government has ordered Chinese CCTV company Hikvision to close its Canadian business and leave the country. Industry Minister Melanie Jolly said the government considered the information and evidence provided by the Department of Security and Intelligence and based on that, decided that allowing the company to continue to operate in Canada posed a threat to the country's national security. Hikvision's subsidiary in Canada had been operating since 2014. It has also faced sanctions in the US, Australia and the UK. Hikvision said it strongly disagrees with the Canadian government's d
i-am-ready-to-testify-against-majithia-charanjit-singh-channi
IndiaJun 30, 2025

I am ready to testify against Majithia: Charanjit Singh Channi

Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has made a big claim on the arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. He said that the Vigilance has registered the same case against Majithia that he had registered during the Congress government. He also said that if his testimony is required against Majithia, then he is ready for it too. Channi also alleged that the Vigilance is also preparing to arrest his party's MLA Pargat Singh. He said that I have spoken in favor of Pargat Singh, not Majithia. The former Chief Minister said that the current government has made th
90-day-moratorium-on-tariffs-expiring-on-july-9-no-intention-to-extend-trump
WorldJun 30, 2025

90-day moratorium on tariffs expiring on July 9, no intention to extend: Trump

US President Donald Trump says that he does not intend to extend the 90-day moratorium on tariffs expiring on July 9. He said that the tariffs on countries with which the deadline for negotiations expires without an agreement can remain in effect until they reach a trade agreement with the US. He said that letters will start being sent to the concerned countries before the deadline expires. Trump indicated that most countries will have to face 25 percent, 35 percent or 50 percent or even 10 percent tariffs to sell goods in the US. The President said that negotiations are ongoing but there a
liquefied-natural-gas-being-loaded-on-asia-bound-tanker-docked-in-kitimat-b-c
BCJun 30, 2025

Liquefied natural gas being loaded on Asia-bound tanker docked in Kitimat, B.C.

A tanker that is set to carry Canada's first cargoes of liquefied natural gas across the Pacific to Asian markets is docked at LNG Canada's berth in Kitimat, B.C. A spokesperson for the project says the GasLog Glasgow is being loaded with LNG produced in B.C. British Columbia Coast Pilots say two of their members boarded the tanker at Triple Island and navigated the vessel on a 15-hour, nearly 300-kilometre journey to Kitimat. LNG is natural gas that has been chilled into a liquid state so that it can be transported in specialized marine vessels. LNG Canada is a joint venture between Shell and

Related News