Canada Reports First Confirmed Measles Death Since Outbreak

Canada on Thursday announced the death of a premature infant whose mother was infected with measles — the first confirmed death linked to the disease since its resurgence in the country a year ago.

“A child, born prematurely after the mother contracted measles during pregnancy, died shortly after birth,” said Alberta’s Health Minister, Adriana LaGrange, noting that the death was “from measles.”

In June, another prematurely born infant with measles had died, but authorities had not confirmed the exact cause of death. That infant “had other medical complications.”

Since the start of the year, Canada has recorded 5,006 measles cases, mostly in Ontario (central) and Alberta (west), according to federal health data updated at the end of September.

Of these cases, 88% involved unvaccinated persons.

“Children under five, pregnant women, and people whose immune systems are weakened are most at risk from measles,” the Alberta minister continued in her statement.

Canada, which had declared measles eliminated in 1998 thanks to vaccination, now faces its worst resurgence of the disease since that time.

Measles is a highly contagious disease spread by respiratory droplets and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves.

It causes fever, respiratory symptoms, and a skin rash, but can also lead to serious complications.