After an outbreak of measles cases that ended last June, Quebec has been facing a new outbreak since December 2024. As of Friday, health authorities have identified four confirmed cases of Quebecers having contracted the disease, the ministry said. of Health and Social Services Duty.
“According to the information available to Public Health, these four cases are epidemiologically linked and acquired the disease in Quebec. The first case was exposed via a person residing outside of Canada and having traveled to Quebec during their contagious period, before receiving their diagnosis,” specified Marie-Pierre Blier, responsible for media relations at the ministry.
For reasons of confidentiality, he did not want to reveal in which region each of the people infected during this new outbreak, which is still ongoing, lives. “It is, however, possible to confirm that a few cases reside in the Laurentides region,” said Mr.me Blier.
Quebec, however, invites the population to consult online the list of places frequented by people who have recently contracted measles. These include the emergency room of the Saint-Jérôme hospital and the waiting room of the Saint-Eustache hospital center.
In 2024, a first outbreak gave rise to 51 cases in Quebec, between the months of February and June. In total, 56 confirmed cases were reported in the province in the past year.
Outbreaks scattered across the planet
The years 2023 and 2024 were marked by numerous outbreaks of measles cases around the world, raises the Dre Caroline Quach-Thanh, pediatrician-microbiologist-infectious disease specialist at the Sainte-Justine university hospital center. “Since 2020, we have seen a decrease in vaccination coverage almost everywhere on the planet. So we had outbreaks in different places. »
Highly contagious, measles is a serious illness caused by a virus that is transmitted through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks. Its first symptoms can be similar to a cold accompanied by fever, cough and nasal congestion with discharge, explains the doctor. However, redness on the skin occurs afterwards, she says.
Measles is not to be taken lightly, as it can lead to loss of vision or hearing, permanent brain damage, or even death, says Dr.re Quach-Thanh. Babies under one year of age, people with weakened immune systems, and unvaccinated pregnant women are the groups most likely to develop serious symptoms.
However, adequately vaccinated people are well protected against the disease, recalls the pediatrician-microbiologist-infectious disease specialist. “Look at your vaccination record, then if you are not vaccinated, it is worth rolling up your sleeve,” she emphasizes.
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