Health minister defends Ontario's response to worsening measles outbreak

Health Minister Sylvia Jones defended on Wednesday the province's approach to the ongoing measles outbreak as new infections increase sharply and criticism mounts.

The latest public health data released last week shows 223 new infections across Ontario in the previous week.

That brings the total number of people in the province who have fallen ill from the virus to 1,243 since October. That includes 84 people who have been hospitalized, 63 of them children.

Jones said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has been helping local public health units where the outbreaks are occurring. Moore directed public health units more than a year ago to focus their efforts on childhood vaccinations.

When asked if the province's approach was working, Jones said: "I believe it is."

"Look, there's no doubt that there are outbreaks in certain communities and the focus needs to be on first reminding caregivers, parents the value and the efficacy of a measles vaccine that has been in place for over 50 years in the province of Ontario," Jones said.

She said there's no vaccine shortage and defended the province's communications strategy, saying public health units are speaking with caregivers about the value of a measles vaccine.

Almost all of the cases are tied to a multi-jurisdictional outbreak that began with a travel-related case in New Brunswick and spread to Ontario and Manitoba. Moore sent a memo to local public health units in March, saying the origin of the outbreak was a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick last fall.

Opposition parties and some health officials have slammed Ontario's approach to the growing outbreak.

In a statement Wednesday, NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the province is failing in its effort to contain the virus.

"Mother's Day is coming this weekend, and families are worried about accidental exposure for vulnerable kids and loved ones. But in the face of the worst outbreak in decades, the government's approach is clearly not working," Stiles said.

"We need real leadership and a serious plan to protect people, with a robust public education campaign on the effective and free MMR vaccine, and a funded, coordinated strategy to support public health units."

Jones's comments came at a news conference where she announced the province would invest up to $300 million to build 17 new and expanded primary care teaching clinics in communities where people need more family doctors.