TORONTO — A Public Health Ontario report released Thursday suggests a continuing downward trend in new measles cases.
The health agency reported 12 new cases in the province, down from 33 additions last week and 96 the week before that.
Two more people were infected with the highly contagious disease in a northern region that includes Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding areas. That region had been showing the biggest increase in cases for a few weeks.
Meanwhile, four more people were infected in southwestern Ontario — the area that was hardest hit for months.
Public health officials acknowledged the declining trend but also noted that new cases still emerge weekly and that a reporting lag means it’s possible that infections from previous weeks have not yet been reported.
PHO explained that numbers will dip during an outbreak “as the proportion of susceptible people in communities become immune, through vaccination or infection.”
“PHO will continue to monitor measles data and activity closely in the coming weeks and months,” it said by email.
Ontario has had a total of 2,223 measles cases since an outbreak linked to travel in New Brunswick began last October.
Thursday’s report also deducted one case that had previously been reported in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph. PHO would not reveal details, citing privacy reasons, but said some cases may be reclassified following an investigation.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada website, New Brunswick hasn't reported any cases in 2025 as of June 21.
Alberta has the second-highest number of measles infections in the country, with 1,179 reported as of Thursday, including 74 new cases over the last week.
The majority of people infected in both Ontario and Alberta have been unvaccinated infants, children and adolescents.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2025.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press
