News | Measles Cases Surge as Canadian Experts Call for Stronger Protection During Pregnancy
As measles cases rise across Canada, pregnant and postpartum people—who face a significantly higher risk of infection—have rarely been included in public discussion or protection strategies. Canadian infectious disease physicians warn that measles during pregnancy can cause severe illness or death in the pregnant patient and serious complications such as miscarriage and preterm birth.
In an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), Ontario physicians involved in measles control noted that pregnant patients with measles face higher risks of pneumonia, hepatitis, and death, with potentially serious consequences for the fetus. Co-author Dr. Michelle Science, an infectious disease physician at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said: “Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) given within six days of measles exposure can effectively reduce the risk of infection or lessen disease severity, but it usually must be administered in a hospital.”
Dr. Science added that the article was designed to give clinicians practical guidance. “Many doctors have never personally encountered a measles case in their careers. We hope this article helps them quickly recognize and manage measles during pregnancy.”
Strict prevention and control are especially important during pregnancy
Because measles is highly contagious, strict infection-control procedures must begin immediately after a pregnant patient is diagnosed. Vaccination remains the most effective form of prevention. The article advises ensuring that everyone of reproductive age has completed measles vaccination to help prevent pregnancy complications and neonatal infection.
Dr. Michelle Barton, head of infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital, LHSC, and associate professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, said: “The effects of measles during pregnancy can be devastating for both the pregnant patient and the fetus. Some newborns develop complications immediately after birth, while measles-related health problems may not appear until years later.”
Call for dedicated care pathways for pregnant patients
In an accompanying editorial, CMAJ deputy editor and emergency physician Dr. Catherine Varner wrote: “It is shocking that the current measles outbreak coincides with Canada’s lowest fertility rate on record, yet the public and healthcare system have paid little attention to protecting the health and psychological well-being of pregnant people.”
Dr. Varner called for dedicated care pathways for pregnant patients. For example, a pregnant person exposed to measles who lacks immunity should be able to receive IVIG quickly. Hospitals should also update procedures promptly to prevent cross-infection from pregnant patients with confirmed or suspected measles.
“Pregnant and postpartum people are often more vulnerable than the general population during infectious disease outbreaks,” Dr. Varner emphasized. “They should not be an afterthought in control strategies. Public health systems must prioritize their protection.”
News | Measles Cases Surge as Canadian Experts Call for Stronger Protection During Pregnancy
News | Measles Cases Surge as Canadian Experts Call for Stronger Protection During Pregnancy
As measles cases rise across Canada, pregnant and postpartum people—who face a significantly higher risk of infection—have rarely been included in public discussion or protection strategies. Canadian infectious disease physicians warn that measles during pregnancy can cause severe illness or death in the pregnant patient and serious complications such as miscarriage and preterm birth.
In an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), Ontario physicians involved in measles control noted that pregnant patients with measles face higher risks of pneumonia, hepatitis, and death, with potentially serious consequences for the fetus. Co-author Dr. Michelle Science, an infectious disease physician at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said: “Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) given within six days of measles exposure can effectively reduce the risk of infection or lessen disease severity, but it usually must be administered in a hospital.”
Dr. Science added that the article was designed to give clinicians practical guidance. “Many doctors have never personally encountered a measles case in their careers. We hope this article helps them quickly recognize and manage measles during pregnancy.”
Strict prevention and control are especially important during pregnancy
Because measles is highly contagious, strict infection-control procedures must begin immediately after a pregnant patient is diagnosed. Vaccination remains the most effective form of prevention. The article advises ensuring that everyone of reproductive age has completed measles vaccination to help prevent pregnancy complications and neonatal infection.
Dr. Michelle Barton, head of infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital, LHSC, and associate professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, said: “The effects of measles during pregnancy can be devastating for both the pregnant patient and the fetus. Some newborns develop complications immediately after birth, while measles-related health problems may not appear until years later.”
Call for dedicated care pathways for pregnant patients
In an accompanying editorial, CMAJ deputy editor and emergency physician Dr. Catherine Varner wrote: “It is shocking that the current measles outbreak coincides with Canada’s lowest fertility rate on record, yet the public and healthcare system have paid little attention to protecting the health and psychological well-being of pregnant people.”
Dr. Varner called for dedicated care pathways for pregnant patients. For example, a pregnant person exposed to measles who lacks immunity should be able to receive IVIG quickly. Hospitals should also update procedures promptly to prevent cross-infection from pregnant patients with confirmed or suspected measles.
“Pregnant and postpartum people are often more vulnerable than the general population during infectious disease outbreaks,” Dr. Varner emphasized. “They should not be an afterthought in control strategies. Public health systems must prioritize their protection.”
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