It’s a heartbreaking reality for Ontario families: six babies have been born with congenital measles since the province’s outbreak began last fall, and one of them—a premature infant in southwestern Ontario—has died.
The infant, who contracted measles in the womb from an unvaccinated mother, marks the first fatality linked to the outbreak. Although the child also had unrelated medical complications, the infection added to an already fragile situation. Health officials say the death was preventable.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, confirmed the details on Thursday, urging the public to recognize the importance of vaccination—especially for those who are or may become pregnant.
“These infections could have been prevented if their mothers had been vaccinated,” Moore told The Canadian Press, adding that congenital measles can lead to serious complications, including brain inflammation and death.
Since the outbreak began in October 2024, Ontario has recorded over 2,000 measles cases. Of those, 40 have involved pregnant individuals—and only two were vaccinated.
The Danger of Measles in Pregnancy
Pregnancy already comes with its own set of challenges, but contracting measles adds dangerous complications for both parent and baby. Infections during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, or—like in recent cases—congenital measles passed to the fetus.
Unlike some other illnesses, you can’t get the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine once you’re pregnant. That’s because it contains a live virus, which carries a theoretical risk of being transmitted to the baby.
This makes pre-pregnancy vaccination critical. If you’re unvaccinated and pregnant when exposed to measles, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends a dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) within six days to help reduce the risk of complications.
But even that has its challenges.
“Some people, if they don’t want a vaccine, they may not want the immunoglobulin either. That may be a philosophical choice,” Moore noted.
‘We Cannot Be an Afterthought’
In a Canadian Medical Association Journal editorial published this week, emergency physician Dr. Catherine Varner emphasized that pregnant people are “bearing the burden” of Canada’s outbreak.
“Pregnant people are often at higher risk than the general population in infectious disease outbreaks,” she wrote. “As such, they cannot be an afterthought in preventive strategies and health-care systems’ responses.”
Moore acknowledged that the vast majority of pregnant individuals in Ontario are vaccinated, but it’s the small group who have chosen not to be that are seeing the most severe consequences.
“I’d love to have 100 per cent,” he said. “But we have to work with these communities that have chosen not to be vaccinated, and that is a long and difficult conversation.”
What Parents and Expecting Families Should Know
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, here are the key takeaways:
- Check your vaccination status before pregnancy.
If you’re not protected against measles, speak to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated before trying to conceive. - If exposed to measles during pregnancy and unvaccinated, seek IVIG immediately.
Time is critical—this should happen within six days of exposure. - Avoid exposure during an outbreak.
Moore suggests that pregnant people who are unvaccinated and living in outbreak areas self-isolate to reduce their risk. - Get informed from reliable sources.
Public health websites and your healthcare provider can help you make informed choices and separate fact from misinformation. - If you’re unsure whether you’re immune, ask for a blood test.
Immunity can often be confirmed through a simple blood test, especially if you’re unsure of your vaccine history.
As health officials work to contain the outbreak, one Ontario mother is urging other parents to vaccinate. Her child was born with measles after she was exposed during pregnancy—something she never thought could happen.
“I thought measles was something from the past,” she said. “I wish I had gotten vaccinated before I was pregnant.”
Her story, like those of the six affected infants, is a stark reminder that vaccine-preventable diseases are not just theoretical risks—they’re very real, and in some cases, deadly.
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