Public Health Update for Clinicians: Measles Update

Alert Date

July 15, 2025

Location

Windsor-Essex County

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is sharing an important update regarding the ongoing multi-jurisdictional measles outbreak and the recent decline in measles activity within Windsor-Essex County (WEC). Locally, 2 measles cases have been reported in June and 1 case in July, so far, a significant decrease from the 82 cases reported in April¹.

As of July 2, 2025, a total of 2,223 measles cases have been reported across Ontario since the outbreak began, including 1,910 confirmed and 313 probable cases. Nationally in 2025, Canada has recorded a total of 3,703 measles cases across 9 jurisdictions including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan with 988 recent measles cases reported across the country^2,3.

Despite the downward trend in Ontario, measles continues to pose a risk for individuals who have not been vaccinated. Notably, approximately 97% of measles cases in Ontario among infants, children, and adolescents occurred in those who were not immunized².

The WECHU would like to remind Health Care Providers to remain vigilant, as local numbers are declining, by continuing to take the following measures:

Ensure measles IPAC measures are still in place at your facility. Review clinical office checklist for measles and other measles resources for Health Care Providers.
Continue to screen patients over the phone for signs/symptoms of measles at the time of booking an appointment, making efforts to arrange appointments for symptomatic patients at the end of the day, when no other patients are present.
Use your point of care risk assessment to determine the safest testing process. Urine analysis can be sufficient to confirm a measles diagnosis, if you are concerned about the risk of exposure. Additional kits can be ordered from Public Health Ontario Lab.
Complete the reporting forms, available on the WECHU website for all suspected and confirmed measles cases and cases awaiting lab results, as per the requirements in accordance with Ontario Reg 135/18 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990. Refer to the DOPHS List for all reporting requirements. Fax the reporting forms to 226-783-2132.
Encourage measles vaccination for all unvaccinated and at-risk individuals according to measles outbreak immunization schedule and recommendations. Continue to ensure that clients are kept up to date and vaccines are given on time, in accordance with the publicly funded schedule, to ensure protection as early and effectively as possible.
Remind parents/guardians to submit up-to-date immunization records for their children to the WECHU as required in the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).

For questions or concerns, please call 519-258-2146 ext. 1420 during regular office hours, and 519-973-4510 during after-hours and weekends. You can also visit our website.

For more information, visit: