South East Health Unit urges residents to ensure their immunizations are up to date amid ongoing Ontario measles outbreak

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

While no measles cases have been reported in Kingston, the South East Health Unit (SEHU), which includes the region, has reported 32 cases in Hastings County.

Public Health Ontario reported a surge of measles cases in Ontario last week, bringing the total to 470 cases of measles across the province since the initial outbreak in October 2024.

SEHU and Ontario health authorities are urging individuals to ensure they are up to date on recommended vaccines to limit the spread of the highly contagious virus. 

While only 70% of children age 7 were reported to be fully vaccinated against measles in the 2023-24 school year across the province, the latest data for the Kingston region shows 96% of children age 7 are vaccinated. 

“When we’re looking now, there is a lot of community protection because we have fairly high vaccination rates,” Dr. Ethan Toumishey, SEHU Deputy Medical Officer of Health, stated in an interview with CFRC. “… vaccination against measles is the most important way to protect your health.”

Listen to the full story here.