Measles and Rubella Weekly Monitoring Reports

In the past 3-4 years Canada has been experiencing outbreaks of measles. Measles was once felt to be almost completely eliminated in Canada. Discuss what has led to the outbreaks of measles in Canada. Explore strategies and rationale for addressing the outbreak of measles in Canada.

Running head: MEASLES OUTBREAK
Measles outbreak
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Cause of measles outbreak in Canada
In the past 4 years, the outbreak of measles has been a concern in Canada. There are
many factors behind high incidence of measles. For example, in the year 2017, the measles
containing vaccine coverage rate among two years old in Canada was 90%. This is however
below the minimum vaccination coverage rate of 95% which is needed to eliminate the disease.
Such gap in coverage and inability to achieve herd immunity is the main reason for measles to
spread (Government of Canada, 2017). In addition to this, increase in imported cases of measles
indicating that as unvaccinated individuals from other countries are coming to Canada, more
people are exposed to risk of the disease. Thus, low vaccine coverage or vaccine hesitancy and
importation of the disease from endemic countries are the main reason for outbreak of measles in
Canada. Brown (2019) expressed concern over those population groups who are under-
vaccinated due to religious beliefs. Thus, health care professionals have greater responsibility to
deliver relevant message about the signs and symptoms of measles.
Strategies to address the outbreak of measles in Canada:
One of the strategies to address the outbreak of measles in Canada includes increasing the
rate of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage for children below 2 years. Although
currently, there is no case of measles in Canada, however monitoring the risk of spread of
disease through unvaccinated travellers are necessary. Hence, it is necessary for the government
to issue travel advisory for travellers so that they become aware of the protection against
measles. All travellers should ensure that they take two dose of the measles vaccine. All citizens
planning to travel must visit health care provider at least 6 weeks before they leave so that they
cover the necessary dose required for measles vaccines. For adults born before 1970, providing

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the second dose is necessary as they might have received only one dose. The Government of
Canada has issues many travel health notices and all travellers should go through the notice to
identify disease risk in different countries and implement usual precautions (Government of
Canada, 2019). There is a need to monitor travel history of patients too to find out if they have
travelled to areas with high outbreak rates. Thus, monitoring unvaccinated travellers is the most
crucial strategy to control future case of measles in Canada. Health care professionals must play
an active role in addressing vaccine hesitancy in ethnic or uneducated sections of the population
(Lo & Hotez, 2017).

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References:
Brown, C. (2019). Measles resurgence comes to Canada. Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6422778/
Government of Canada (2017). Measles surveillance in Canada: 2017. Retrieved from:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/measles-
surveillance-canada-2017.html
Government of Canada (2019). Measles: Prevention and risks. Retrieved from:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/measles/prevention-risks.html
Lo, N. C., & Hotez, P. J. (2017). Public health and economic consequences of vaccine hesitancy for
measles in the United States. JAMA pediatrics, 171(9), 887-892.