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By Julia Lovett-Squires

Measles update

Measles count up to 6 in Saskatchewan

Apr 3, 2025 | 5:59 PM

The latest case of the measles in Saskatchewan came from an unvaccinated adult who travelled from Mexico, and up through the United States. It brings the total number of cases in the province to six: three in the southwest, two in the southeast, and one in the northwest.

27 years ago, measles was eliminated in Canada.

That changed because of two factors: it was coming in sporadically from outside the country and more people stopped getting immunized.

“We need 95 per cent of the population at least to be immunized to have what we call a herd immunity,” said Dr. David Torr, with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

“Once an imported case comes in or somebody comes in with measles from another jurisdiction into a community that has less vaccination, more people will be infected.”

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When asked what the immunity level is in Saskatchewan currently, Torr said it’s a tricky question.

“We have such a variation depending on which area or which little small area of geography you look at, that it varies anything from 40, 50, 60, 80 per cent,” he explained.

“But either way, we are still well below what we would consider safe for having herd immunity.”

In some places more people are coming forward to get the vaccine, in other places they aren’t, said Torr.

“It’s a bit early to say how fast and how well we shall get to our target of 95 per cent,” he said.

Torr said this latest case emphasizes again how important vaccination is for measles, which is incredibly contagious, can be a very serious illness and even deadly.

“We don’t have a concrete treatment for measles; we only try to provide supportive treatment when cases come up, but we have a very effective vaccination, so vaccination is the way to go,” explained Torr.

He cautioned the public about different homeopathic methods to treat the measles, some of which he’s heard about through his work in various countries. One involved the belief that bringing meat into the home would make the condition worse

“Lots of folklore: ‘Take this, take that,’ ‘rub this, rub that,’” Torr said.

“Scientifically, we don’t have any real treatment for measles and that is a frustrating thing, being as measles affects many, many parts of the body and really what we try to do is assist in symptomatic treatment and supportive treatment to help all those areas.”

Unlike the cold or COVID, which are spread through droplets, measles is airborne.

“Measles as a disease is one of the most dangerous and most contagious illnesses on the planet, yet the vaccine is one of the best vaccines we have,” Torr added.

For those who were born in the years 1960 to 1970, and are presumed immune, do not have health records, and who may be wondering if they need an additional dose, Torr said people should have conversations with their doctors, or call 811 as to whether it is necessary.

“This is a moving target as I would call it,” Torr said, adding that with the expanding number of cases in other provinces such as Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, they are offering extra doses.

“For those ages, it’s best to consult through 811,” he said.

“You can check your health records through the MySaskHealthRecord,” he said referring to the majority of the population.

Those who were born in the years 1970 to 1995 and received their doses in Canada, don’t need to worry about updating anything.

There is only one tried and tested way of ensuring the health of the communities, Torr explained.

“Primarily, most importantly, get your vaccine, get your two doses of routine vaccination.”

—With files from CJME

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julia.lovettquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.socical