Surge in measles cases risks 'horrific' health consequences: immunologist

Surge in measles cases risks 'horrific' health consequences: immunologist

It's time to enforce mandatory school vaccination rules, says McMaster University professor Dawn Bowdish

A worrying trend of rising measles cases in Canada is setting the stage for a host of very bad and potentially lethal health consequences for Canadians, according to an expert on immunity at Hamilton's McMaster University.

A number of factors and oversight failures resulted in the country losing its measles elimination status after 28 years last November, said Dawn Bowdish, a professor in the department of medicine who is an immunologist, the executive director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, and Canada research chair in aging and immunity.

"We don't want measles in this country because it can have horrific health consequences," Bowdish told CBC's Chris Glover on the Metro Morning radio program on Aug. 12.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), pulled Canada's measles-free status as cases of the highly contagious viral illness continue to surge.

The WHO released an alert on Aug. 8 showing Canada has a proportionately far higher measles rate than the United States, with half as many cases as the U.S., despite having a population about one-tenth its size.

Measles cases also surging in the U.S.

That comes as the U.S. is also reporting surging measles cases. The Associated Press reported on July 24 that the number of measles cases in the U.S. had already surpassed the record-breaking caseload for 2025, the worst year for measles there in more than 30 years.

Canada losing that measles elimination status is "embarassing" on the world stage, Bowdish said.

"There's no way a country as rich as Canada... should have that," she said.

Rising measles cases mean people getting infected are at risk of serious health consequences, Bowdish pointed out.

Measles — which spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes — can cause fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis and rash, and may lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness and death, according to the WHO.

Measles can also lead to lost pregnancies, hospitalizations for kids with long-term health issues and "horrible" neurological consequences, Bowdish noted.

She said factors and systematic failures contributing to the increase in measles cases in Canada include:

That skepticism has been fueled in part by an anti-vaccine movement that is gaining traction at the highest levels of government south of the border. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 10 recommending splitting the childhood measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into separate shots delivered at separate medical visits.

Bowdish worries that will result in more kids being exposed to measles.

"I despair," she said. "It is so upsetting to have the highest level of government in the U.S. spouting misinformation.:

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She continued: "Every reputable American agency, pediatric societies, public health societies, doctors, scientists, have been unanimous: we have decades of research on these vaccines. We know that they're safe."

It's critical that Canada starts enforcing the rules on the books about vaccination being mandatory in order for kids to attend school, Bowdish said: "It's been shown to be such an effective way to get people vaccinated."

Countries in the Americas must take the surge in measles cases seriously given how dangerous the viral infection can be, according to PAHO.

"Measles leaves no room for complacency," Daniel Salas, executive manager of PAHO's Special Program for Comprehensive Immunization, said in a release.

Paul Forsyth is a St. Catharines-based CBC reporter covering communities in the Niagara Region. He has decades of reporting experience in Niagara, having worked for Niagara This Week, the St. Catharines Standard and the Welland Tribune before joining CBC. You can reach him at paul.forsyth@cbc.ca.