Ontario reports six newborn measles cases from unvaccinated mothers

Ontario health authorities have reported six newborn babies with congenital measles. This condition occurs when a fetus is exposed to the virus during pregnancy, potentially causing severe health complications such as encephalitis or even death. All six infants were born to unvaccinated mothers and contracted the virus in the womb. Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said the babies are now fine but emphasized that the infections could have been avoided with routine measles vaccination.
Since last October, Ontario has reported over 2000 measles cases, surpassing the total number of cases registered in the United States in 2025. Recently, the province also counted its first death: a premature baby infected in utero who later died from complications linked to the virus. Canada had achieved measles elimination status in the late 1990s, but the current outbreak threatens to reverse that progress. Despite this, Moore said that the country’s generally high vaccination coverage has helped limit the outbreak’s potential severity.