Over a dozen more cases of measles were recorded in midwestern Ontario over the past week.
The latest Public Health Ontario report on the ongoing outbreak, released on Thursday, shows between May 27 and June 3 there were nine additional measles cases reported by Huron Perth Public Health and four new cases reported by the Grey Bruce Health Unit. This brings the total case count since the outbreak of the highly contagious virus began in late October to 231 in Huron and Perth counties and 47 in Grey and Bruce counties.
Huron Perth has an infection rate of 148 cases per 100,000 people, while Grey Bruce's infection rate is 24.9 cases per 100,000 people. Provincially, the same rate stands at 12.7 per 100,000.
The area covered by the Huron Perth Public Health has the third highest overall case count in the province. Only the regions covered by Southwestern Public Health and Grand Erie Public Health have recorded more.
The Ministry of Health confirmed 121 new measles cases were reported in Ontario in the last week to bring the total to 2,009 probable and confirmed cases since October 28.
“The continued increase in the number of outbreak cases and geographic spread is predominantly due to ongoing exposures and transmission among individuals who have not been immunized,” the report noted.
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore also issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that an infant born in southwestern Ontario has died after being born prematurely and infected with measles.
"The infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine," Moore said. "While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus."
Moore added that no further personal or medical details would be shared publicly, out of respect for the family.
The death is the first linked to the current outbreak of measles in Ontario.