A major measles outbreak in Windsor-Essex County has led local health authorities to ban unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students from attending classes.
According to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), 17 new cases have been confirmed since early March, adding to two identified in February, which brings the regional total to 19.
Nearby Chatham-Kent County has recorded 20 cases since January, what experts describe as the largest provincial measles flare-up in decades.
In Leamington, officials confirmed a case at Leamington District Secondary School during the first week of April.
In response, the WECHU has flagged several public exposure points, including hospitals, walk-in clinics, and a Walmart location.
The situation is so serious that Windsor Regional Hospital and Erie Shores Healthcare have imposed strict visitor restrictions.
These facilities banned anyone under 16 from entering, and all access points have measles screening checkpoints to limit further transmission.
New York State has issued its own warning, urging residents to avoid travelling to Ontario because “measles is only a car ride away.”
New York officials stressed that up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals are likely to contract the virus if they come into contact with someone who is infectious.
New York’s advisory highlights concerns about how easily the disease can cross borders.
Local health authorities say the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the best defence against the virus.
The WECHU now recommends an early dose for infants between six and 12 months who are at high risk, in addition to the usual two-dose schedule.
As a result, unvaccinated students who were exposed have been told to stay home, along with partially vaccinated students, until the end of the month.
Measles typically begins with fever, cough, and a runny nose, with red eyes and a rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body.
Experts warn that the virus can stay airborne for hours, making it easy to transmit in public spaces.
With additional cases likely, health officials on both sides of the border expect the outbreak to continue.