In the last two months, 37 measles cases have been reported in Saskatchewan, 10 of which occurred this week.  

Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, says eight of those ten new cases are in the west central and east central regions of the province. 

So far, those affected have been between 5 months and 57 years of age, and 70 per cent are pre-school and school-aged children. 

“The majority of cases, 95 per cent, are unvaccinated, but we have had two cases up to the Wednesday reporting period of people with one dose, and since then one additional case of a person that had two doses. This is expected that occasionally you will see breakthrough cases of people who have been vaccinated.”

There have also been four hospitalizations reported from those 37 cases.

“In Saskatchewan, for the last ten years for example, many years we would see no measles cases, and some years we would see one or two. This is extremely unusual for us in Saskatchewan. This is extremely unusual for Canada as a whole.”

Shahab says his message hasn’t changed, and until more people agree to vaccinate against measles, this North American outbreak will continue.   

“Many families are still not accepting vaccines despite public health staff reaching out to them, locally.” He says most of these families are from “hard-working, rural, agricultural communities,” who do not believe in depending on the government. 

If you develop a rash, red eyes, a runny nose, or a fever, Dr. Shahab as it is likely the onset of the measles virus, and you should isolate immediately, and continue to do so for at least four days after the start of the rash. 

He also adds that Saskatchewan is not looking into implementing a mandatory measles vaccination rule.  

To the west, Alberta’s total number of reported measles cases is 409, and over east, Manitoba is reporting 44 cases.