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Health Forums / Health News / Man Health / Ontario rubella cases likely stems from outbreak in Netherlands; Basrur
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| Posted: 17 May 2005 17:59 | |
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Canadian Press
Monday, May 9, 2005 TORONTO (CP) - The rubella outbreak galloping through a cluster of religious communities in southwestern Ontario likely originated in a outbreak in the Netherlands, Ontario's chief medical officer of health said Monday. And Dr. Sheela Basrur confirmed a third pregnant woman has tested positive for the disease, which can trigger a miscarriage or cause birth defects in the fetus when contracted in the early stages of pregnancy. "We are speculating that it was introduced from the Netherlands, given the cross-border traffic that exists between this community and a similar community in the Netherlands," Basrur said. "They've had an outbreak going on for eight months now in what they call the Bible Belt." Ontario's health minister predicted the outbreak could drag on for some weeks yet. "We're really still in the phase of the outbreak where our investigations will lead to more people (with the virus)," George Smitherman said. "We're not at a point yet where we can declare the outbreak under control." Basrur said to date there is no evidence that the virus has moved into other, nearby religious groups that also shun vaccination. But health officials are investigating whether there are any links between the communities and whether additional measures are needed to reduce the chance of it spreading. Meanwhile, Basrur said she'll be pressing members of all the religious groups to have their children vaccinated if they are currently unprotected. "We have not yet seen spread to the Amish or Mennonite communities. (But) they do live in adjacent geographic areas. And so for that reason, those health units in which they live will be redoubling their efforts to encourage them to seek vaccination," she said. As of Monday the case count in the outbreak was 121, including the three pregnant women. Seven other pregnant women who may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus are under observation. Rubella poses its greatest risk to fetuses in the first 11 weeks of gestation. Children born with congenital rubella syndrome can suffer cognitive disabilities or may be deaf or blind. Citing confidentiality rules, Basrur wouldn't say at what point in their pregnancy these women are. Curiously, the case count also includes a 32-year-old man who was vaccinated against rubella in 1974. The man attends Westervelt community college in nearby London, Ont. Public health authorities urged any pregnant women at the college to immediately contact their physicians. Basrur said it's suspected this case of vaccine failure was likely caused by a break in what's called cold chain - the requirement to ensure vaccines are stored at temperatures no higher than 8 Celsius until they are administered. It is believed the man became infected after coming in contact with fellow students who are older siblings of children attending the religious school that has been at the heart of the outbreak - Rehoboth Christian School in Norwich, about 40 kilometres east of London. The school draws its students from four closely aligned religious denominations: the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation, the Old Reformed Congregation, the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of North America and the Netherlands Reformed Congregation. The bulk of the school's 651 students come from the latter church, which is officially neutral on the issue of vaccination. But many of its members choose not to immunize their children and about 60 per cent of the students attending Rehoboth Christian School are unvaccinated. Public health authorities have issued an indefinite school exclusion order for unvaccinated children who have never had rubella, which is also known as German measles. Rubella is a viral illness spread through coughing or sneezing. Its symptoms include rash, fever, swollen glands, joint pain, muscle pain and runny nose. Public health officials hope to eliminate the virus in the Americas by 2010 but have recognized that while the virus circulates elsewhere eradication here likely cannot occur. © The Canadian Press, 2005 |
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| Posted: 17 May 2005 18:00 | |
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Rubella outbreak rises to 90 cases, health minister to visit community
Canadian Press Thursday, May 5, 2005 TORONTO (CP) - The rubella outbreak in southwestern Ontario grew to 90 cases Thursday, including a confirmed case in a pregnant woman, as Health Minister George Smitherman planned to meet early Friday with local officials to assess the situation. "I'm concerned overall, of course, and frustrated about this circumstance," Smitherman said Thursday. "That's why I thought it was important to get down there on the ground myself to try and have a chance to talk to all the people that are dealing with it, and make sure that we're all working together in a fashion to get this under appropriate control." Smitherman said he'll meet with Dr. Doug Sider, who has been put in charge of controlling the outbreak, and other local officials. Most of the rubella cases are in the town of Norwich, about 40 kilometres east of London. The number of cases has increased steadily this week, from 56 on Wednesday to 83 on Thursday. The outbreak started in late April at Rehoboth Christian School in Norwich, where about 60 per cent of the elementary and high school pupils haven't been vaccinated. More than half the school's 561 students have been told to stay home in an effort to contain the spread of the disease. Many students in the school belong to a religious denomination that doesn't officially endorse or object to vaccinations. But many members of these and other religious denominations in this part of the province choose not to vaccinate their children. Smitherman said he will stress to community and religious leaders on Friday the benefits of vaccination. Premier Dalton McGuinty has also urged Ontarians to take advantage of free vaccinations to prevent spread of the disease. Seven other pregnant women are being tested for rubella, Sider said in an interview. Rubella is a mild virus in children and adults, but poses the greatest risk to pregnant women because it can infect a fetus in the early stages of development, causing miscarriages and birth defects. Sider said the outbreak is not yet under control, and there are concerns it could spread to parts of the province where residents have not been vaccinated. "I think it would be prudent to recognize that there is the risk of further geographic spread of the infection, and it's important that many other communities in southern Ontario recognize this," he said. Health officials are considering extending the date for when students will be able to return to classes at Rehoboth Christian School, Sider said. That date was May 13, but will likely be pushed back to avoid a second onslaught of the virus, said Martien Vanderspek, the school's acting principal. "It looks at this point that it's still a future date," he said. School work is being sent home to children unable to attend classes, he added. While local churches continue to hold services, they and local schools have stopped all social activities in an effort to keep the disease contained, Vanderspek said. But he said the school will not push for parents to have their children vaccinated, and isn't certain the outbreak will change the community's view. "For a good number it is a religious conviction, and I doubt that they will change their mind so quickly on this," he said. |
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